SEJ's 14th annual conference, hosted by Carnegie Mellon University, took place October 20-24. On Wednesday, attendees heard a variety of views on the role of celebrities in environmental advocacy, received a surprise welcome to Pittsburgh from Teresa Heinz Kerry, and winners of SEJ's third annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment [2] were announced. Ken Ward Jr. took home the Stolberg Award [3] for distinguished volunteer service. Thursday, ten different tours transported conferees to sites ranging from dams and longwall mining to brownfields and the continent's largest bird-banding operation. In the evening, the venue was the Carnegie Museum of Natural History with a keynote by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and behind-the-scenes peeks at the museum's vast insect collection. Friday and Saturday were spent in sessions at the Carnegie Mellon campus or local mini-tours, hearing from EPA Administrator Michael O. Leavitt and other representatives of government, as well as industry leaders, top scientists, and environmental advocates on a multitude of topics. Saturday night, attendees rocked the boat to No Bad JuJu during a 3-hour cruise on Pittsburgh's rivers. The conference wrapped up Sunday morning at the National Aviary with tours of its many exhibits, and a plenary on Pittsburgh's environmental history. Agenda [4] and speaker bios [5]. Conference coverage [6]. Photo gallery [7]. SEJournal coverage [8] (stories on pages 4 and 7). Conference exhibitors [9] and independent hospitality events [10].

Conference host / co-chair: Carnegie Mellon University / Don Hopey