American Meteorological Society 96th Annual Meeting
Jan. 10–14, 2016
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans

CHALLENGES Because so many attendees and potential attendees are U.S. government employees whose travel has been curtailed, AMS wanted to offer special rates. (Read our Pre Con profile.) “Extending the early-registration deadline for our government employees helped to keep the program strong,” said Marjorie Maloney, AMS’s meetings and exhibits manager. “If this [initiative] was not put into place, we would have had a higher chance of presenters canceling due to the travel budget not being approved in time. We did take a hit financially, but we are hoping that we will be able to go back to the same early-/late-registration schedule for all presenters for our 2017 Annual Meeting.”

INITIATIVES AMS launched 23|5 Talks — named for Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt on its axis — in 2015 and expanded the program this year. “The hour-long set of public talks followed the format of the well-known TED Talks,” Maloney said, “and featured various views and perspectives on weather, water, and climate from engaging, thought-provoking people representing all facets of the enterprise.”