Meeting Venue

[Note: this information also is available in languages other than English]

All events associated with the 2006 annual meeting will be located in close proximity in either the San Jose McEnery Convention Center or the San Jose Hilton & Towers, which is connected directly to the Convention Center. Plenary sessions will be held across the street from the Convention Center in the San Jose Civic Auditorium.

Founded in 1777, San Jose is one of the oldest settlements in California. 2003 population was approximately 925,000, making San Jose the third largest city in California and the eleventh largest city in the United States. San Jose lies northeast of the Santa Cruz Mountains and west of the Diablo Range, about 50 miles (80 km) south of San Francisco and 72 miles (116 km) north of Monterey. Average maximum and minimum temperatures in June are 79.2°F (26°C) and 54.6°F (13°C). Average June rainfall is less than 1 inch (2.5 cm).

Air Transportation

San Jose International Airport (SJC) is located approximately three miles from the Convention Center and the meeting hotels. All major United States airlines serve SJC. Currently, direct flights to SJC are available from Mexico and Japan. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 58 km to the north of San Jose. A shuttle runs between SJC and SFO every hour. SFO is linked to regional public transportation through Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains. BART also connects to CalTrain, a heavy rail service that stops in downtown San Jose. SFO is an international hub for United Airlines and is served by many of the major international airlines. San Jose also is accessible from Oakland International Airport (OAK), about 45 minutes west. Note: Los Angeles is approximately 350 miles (560 km) south of San Jose. Do not fly into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) unless you wish to drive or fly between Los Angeles and San Jose.

Downtown San Jose

More than 100 restaurants are located within a 15-minute walk of the Convention Center. Two major attractions suitable for both adults and children also are located within walking distance of the Convention Center: the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose and the Tech Museum of Innovation. A light-rail line that runs every 10-15 minutes stops at the Convention Center. Paramount's Great America amusement park is within a 15-minute drive, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and amusement park is within a 30-minute drive. Many attractions in and around San Francisco (1 to 1.5 hours driving time) include Alcatraz Island, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Muir Woods National Monument.

Setting The greater San Jose / San Francisco area is embedded in a rich matrix of ecosystems and social systems. Deciduous and evergreen woodlands and savanna, coniferous forests, native grasslands, chaparral, tidal wetlands, subtidal bay, and deep ocean are within easy reach of the meeting venue. A world-class local network of local, state, and federal protected areas illustrate the web of connections between science, management, and community outreach. Similarly, diverse resident and "migrant" populations of humans in Silicon Valley and the surrounding region emphasize the influences of culture, education, and economics on conservation and land-use planning.

Possible scientific excursions within a one to two hour drive of the venue include Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Point Reyes National Seashore, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, and dozens more parks and open space preserves. More information will be available soon.

Possible excursions within a four to five hour drive of the venue include Big Sur, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Mono Lake, Bodega Marine Reserve (University of California), and vineyards in Napa and Sonoma counties.