CONFERENCE INFORMATION

  12th Annual High Plains Conference
  September 4-5, 2008
Hays, Kansas

The 12th Annual High Plains Conference (12HPC) will be held in Hays, Kansas on September 4-5, 2008.  The conference is sponsored by a joint session of the High Plains Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and the High Plains Chapter of the National Weather Association.  The National Weather Service Office in Goodland, KS is organizing this year's event.

The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn, 3603 Vine Street, Hays, KS 67601.  This facility is just off Interstate 70 at exit 159 (Hwy 183).  The Holiday Inn honors government rates and can be contacted as follows:  785-625-7371 (Voice) ... 785-625-6251 (Fax).  Other hotels within walking distance of the conference include Baymont Inn & Suites, and Days Inn.  Both offer reasonable room rates around $60.00, similar to the Holiday Inn.

Eve Gruntfest, University of Colorado ... (Societal Impacts of Weather and Forecasting)

Greg Carbin, Storm Prediction Center ... (High Plains Severe Weather)

Mary Ann Cooper, MD, University of Chicago ... (Physiological Impacts of Lightning on Survivors)

Pat Market, University of Missouri ... (High Plains Winter Weather)

Registration for this year’s conference is $65.00, which includes lunch on Thursday.  The cost of the Thursday evening banquet is $17.00 per person.  We are pleased to announce that our guest speaker for the banquet is Dr. Mary Ann Cooper.  Dr Cooper is with the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Chicago.  She specializes in the treatment of lightning strike victims, and is a strong advocate of lightning safety and awareness. 

Sessions

Sessions will begin the morning of September 4th (Thursday) and run through noon on the 5th (Friday).  Papers submitted for presentation at the High Plains Conference should focus on weather events that impact the High Plains; severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, temperature extremes, drought, dust storms, flash flooding, high wind events and winter weather.  Topics from both the research and the operational communities are welcome.  Each session in the conference will be opened with an invited speaker making a 60 minute presentation, with remaining speakers each receiving 20 minutes for their presentations and any questions.

Student Competition

The High Plains Chapter is again proud to sponsor a student competition.  Students are encouraged to submit abstracts for presentation on all topics in meteorology.  Competition entries will be separated into undergraduate and graduate divisions.  Scholarship amounts will be $400 for first place in each of the graduate and undergraduate competitions.

Contact Us

For any questions or to request further information, visit the Chapter website at http://www.highplains-amsnwa.org or contact the 12HPC Committee at the following locations:

Updated May 22 2008

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