IGS Symposium 2010 on Earth's Disappearing Ice — Useful & Important Information

Details

Shuttle Services

Ice Breaker on Sunday

We will have a shuttle beginning at 5:45 PM Sunday, August 15th, that will pick up participants and take them to the Thompson Library on the OSU Main Campus. The Ice Breaker will be on the 11th floor of the library from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Starting at 5:45, the shuttle will stop first at the University Plaza Hotel (3110 Olentangy River Road), then at the Fairfield Inn & Suites (3031 Olentangy River Road), and finally the Holiday Inn Express (3045 Olentangy River Rd). The shuttle will make three or four rounds to be sure anyone who needs a ride can get to the Ice Breaker. The driver will be wearing Byrd Polar Research Center apparel and will have a sign indicating he is there to pick up IGS participants. This same shuttle service will be available to take people back to the hotels after the Ice Breaker.

For those who have cars and will be driving to campus, it is best to park in the Tuttle Park Place parking garage (2050 Tuttle Park) or the Northwest parking garage (271 Ives Drive). See the OSU campus map for details.

Anyone staying in the Norton House Dormitory or the Blackwell Hotel can easily walk to the Library for the reception. See the local map for details. We will make the shuttle available for those who do not want to walk back after the reception.

Monday morning through Friday afternoon

Starting Monday morning, August 16th, a shuttle will pick up people at the same hotels above and transport them to meeting. The shuttle will begin at 7:45 AM and bring passengers to the Ohio Union on the corner of High Street and 12th Avenue. Likewise, we will have a shuttle available to take you back to your hotels at the conclusion of the day's sessions. If in doubt, check in at the registration desk that will be staffed at all times.

If you miss the shuttle and the hotel will not bring you over in their shuttle, contact Lynn Everett at 614-292-9909. Someone will come and get you.

Campus Transportation

The Ohio State University has an on-campus bus service called CABS. During the week of the symposium, busses run every 11 minutes from 6:45 AM to 7:00 PM. A campus map and CABS schedule will be available at the registration desk Monday. A CABS bus map and further information is available on the Transportation & Parking website.

Blackwell Hotel: A CABS bus stop is located across the street from the Blackwell (for riders going to the Ohio Union), and directly in front of the Blackwell for West-bound riders (towards BPRC).

North Dorms: A CABS bus stop is located at the corner of College Road and Woodruff Ave (in front of Watts Hall) for riders going to the Ohio Union.

Byrd Polar Research Center Open House and Polar Archives Tour

On Monday, August 16, the Byrd Polar Research Center will hold an open house from 17:15 to 20:00. BPRC has a number of digital displays highlighting recent field activities, real time and archived model output and scientific results. Our scientists and students will be available for discussions and questions. Light refreshments (finger food and soft drinks) will be provided. To help with planning, please sign up on Monday morning if you plan to visit BPRC Monday evening.

As part of the BPRC Open House a tour is available for a limited number of participants (up to 15) to the OSU Polar Archives, a building on campus which houses historical collections from polar and alpine expeditions and research. Participation in this tour is on a first come basis so please sign up Monday morning as well.

Transportation: You can reach BPRC several ways. You can walk from the Ohio Union building to West Campus (~30 minutes) or take the OSU campus bus service (see the Campus Transportation section above). We will also have a 15 passenger shuttle for those who do not wish to walk or take the bus. If riding CABS, take the bus named Campus Loop North or South from the West side of the Ohio Union building, directly to the Bevis Hall stop on West Campus. Exit the bus at the Bevis Hall stop, walk up the stairs and just past the greenhouses on your left is Scott Hall (building 310 on the campus map), home of the Byrd Polar Research Center. Note that the IGS council meeting will also be held at BPRC that evening.

To return to your dorms or hotels we will use our 15 passenger shuttle, private automobiles and hotel shuttles. Do not worry — we will see that you get where you need to go.

Local Food and Drink

For a list of restaurants in the OSU Campus and Columbus areas, visit Urbanspoon Columbus. Campus-area bars and pubs can be found on Metromix Columbus, or simply take a stroll up High Street east of the Ohio Union!

Wireless Internet access

All conference meeting locations on the OSU campus, including the main venue, library, and the Byrd Polar Research Center, have free wireless Internet access. Connect to the osuguest network on your laptop or wireless device, and follow the instructions displayed in your web browser. Byrd Center IT staff will be on-site at conference events to give out passwords that are required to use this network.

Important Phone Numbers

The majority of events for the Symposium take place at The Ohio Union.

Emergency (Police / Fire / Ambulance)911
The Ohio Union (Front Desk)+1 614-688-4636
Byrd Polar Research Center+1 614-292-6531