ISOPE-2008 Conference to be Held in Vancouver, Canada

July 6-11

Cupertino, California, December 6, 2006 – Following ISOPE-2007, to be held July 1-6, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal, the 18th (2008) Annual International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference (ISOPE) will be held from July 6 – 11, 2008, at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre in spectacular Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada—host city to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Vancouver is located in the centre of the world, with almost equal flying times from Europe and Asia.  Direct flights from most major hubs will bring delegates to this scenic and cosmopolitan city on the Pacific west coast of Canada via the Vancouver International Airport—rated by the International Air Transport Association as first in North America for passenger satisfaction. On arrival by air, take the convenient Airporter bus for the 25-minute ride to the Sheraton.

Renowned as the most livable city in the world on many indices, this clean, safe and lively city offers summer temperatures around 24°C (78°F) in early July. The Sheraton is located in the heart of the downtown peninsula and is within easy walking distance of international cuisine, nightlife, theatres, museums, the famous Robson Street shopping district and Stanley Park, the largest city park in North America at 400 hectares (1,000 acres). It offers nature trails, beaches and swimming, and is surrounded by a stunningly scenic seawall that accommodates leisurely walks, jogging, cycling and rollerblading (with equipment rental shops close at hand). 

Within a 30-minute drive from the ocean, you can also find yourself atop Grouse Mountain for a panoramic view that stretches from Vancouver Island to Mount Baker in the United States via a gondola ride or, for the more adventurous, via the Grouse Grind – a hiking trail to the top that is a test of endurance reserved only for the strong of heart.  Be sure to bring plenty of water and a little money for your “I survived the Grouse Grind” t-shirt when you reach the top!

Vancouver is also home to The University of British Columbia (UBC), one of the world’s great public universities. UBC’s Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Professor of Civil Engineering Michael Isaacson successfully co-founded ISOPE in 1989 and the first ISOPE-91 Edinburgh Conference, as well as the first Pacific/Asia Offshore Mechanics Symposium in Seoul in 1990. He extends an invitation to each delegate and looks forward to welcoming you to Vancouver.

ISOPE is organizing about 80 sessions of referred papers in cooperation with its Technical Program Committee members from 25 countries and 27 international cooperating organizations. Click on Call for Papers. As in previous years, delegates from over 45 countries are expected. ISOPE has held 36 successful international conferences and symposia to date.

Further information will be posted on www.isope.org or ISOPE-2008 Vancouver or can be obtained from ISOPE TPC, P.O. Box 189, Cupertino, California 950-0189, USA. (Tel: 1-650-254-1871; Fax: 1-650-254-2038; meetings@isope.org; www.isope.org).

To learn more about exploring Vancouver and experiencing all that it has to offer during your stay, visit: http://www.tourismvancouver.com.
　

By Sherry Green, The University of British Columbia