Blog

Emma Marris writes back from Saint Louis, where thousands of scientists and policy experts are meeting to swap news in all areas of research, from climate change to bioterrorism. The American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting runs from 16-20 February.

Kendall Powell travels to Kansas City for the first public screening and discussion of a controversial film about the intelligent design debate. She writes back from the scene to tell us about Flock of Dodos: the Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus.

Geoff Brumfiel writes back from Washington DC, where astronomers gather to discuss everything from black holes to white dwarves, and the meaning of the Universe.

The ground is practically shaking in San Francisco as roughly 12,000 earth scientists gather for the annual earthfest of the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting. Alexandra Witze reports.

Amanda Haag reports from the biggest international climate change conference since the signing of the Kyoto treaty.

When 5,000 materials scientists get together, is their behaviour ordered or disordered? Jenny Hogan is at the Materials Research Society's meeting in Boston to find out.

Jim Giles reports back from the annual brain science jamboree, from 12-16 November in Washington DC.

The stunning backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains frames this annual gathering of all things geological. Alexandra Witze reports back from Salt Lake City.

Erika Check goes to Montreal to mingle with the scientists and doctors who are gaining ever more mastery over the earliest stages of human life.

About 800 scientists have arrived in Cambridge, UK, for the American Astronomical Society's Division of Planetary Science meeting. From 5-9 September, Mark Peplow brings you the latest news from the outskirts of our Solar System and beyond.

Jenny Hogan joins scientists and politicians in Edinburgh to find out what the science of the very small can do for her well-being.

More than a thousand of the biggest movers and shakers in spaceflight have gathered in Long Beach, California, to discuss how to get back to the Moon, defend space and replace NASA's shuttle. From 30 August to 1 September, Mark Peplow follows the buzz.

Andreas von Bubnoff writes from Washington DC, where thousands of chemists have converged to discuss everything from drug discovery to detergents.

The Mars Society is an open membership group with one main purpose-to send humans to the red planet for exploration and colonization. Its annual convention brings together hundreds of enthusiasts, engineers, and entrepreneurs in Boulder, Colorado. Their conversations include how to travel the distance, construct habitats and civilizations, survive and keep sane. From 11 to 14 August, Kendall Powell eavesdrops on their 8th international 'Mars or bust' meeting.

Michael Hopkin travels to Canada - home of spectacular wilderness and wildlife - to discover the state of the world?s ecosystems, and hear about how they can be safeguarded for the future.

This year's annual meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology is in Bras©lia, the capital of Brazil that was designed, in 1960, to be a futuristic dream city. From 15 to 19 July, against a backdrop of innovative architecture and high-tech recycling bins, scientists are gathering to discuss the Earth's ecosystems and the various ways we humans are disturbing them. Washington correspondent Emma Marris packs her sunblock and jets down south to catch the sizzling science behind saving the planet.

Mark Peplow watched NASA's probe smash into a comet live from London , over morning coffee at the UK press briefing. He reports back from the scene.