LAS VEGAS - Whether you?EUR??,,????'???re facing erosion problems for the first time or you?EUR??,,????'???re a seasoned veteran of battling the forces of air and water to keep soil in place, you'll find an abundance of ideas and techniques for solving those problems at the 2003 Annual International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Conference & Expo. Offering a chance to learn new skills, expand your network of colleagues and discover the latest in erosion control technology, the show will be held Feb. 24-28, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nev. Then and there, professionals from around the globe will combine their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for controlling erosion in a "Gathering of Global Solutions." "Many of the techniques that work in one area of the world to control erosion and sediment can be just as effective in another part of the world," says Kate Nowak, IECA director of conferences and meetings. "Here?EUR??,,????'???s a perfect opportunity to apply lessons learned elsewhere by engineers, contractors, project designers and manufacturers to solving your own particular challenges in minimizing accelerated soil erosion." That opportunity includes a variety of new and improved conference events such as: ?EUR??,,????'???? 18 short courses, including six brand new offerings ?EUR??,,????'???? Technical sessions covering the gamut of erosion control challenges and practices ?EUR??,,????'???? A new product symposium to showcase the latest in erosion-fighting weapons ?EUR??,,????'???? A revamped opening session ?EUR??,,????'???? An expanded HydRodeo competition ?EUR??,,????'???? A new Photo Gallery featuring successes as well as failures in solving erosion problems. During the first two days of the 34th Annual Conference & Expo, attendees can choose from a variety of day-long short courses that will cover the in-depth, practical information necessary to put ideas and theory into effective erosion and sediment control practices. The selections range from the more basic, such as selecting and using plants and complying with NPDES requirements, to more advanced topics, like estimating soil losses at construction sites to minimizing impacts of low-traffic roads on wildlife and aquatic resources. These courses are followed by three days of technical sessions. They include oral and poster presentations, training workshops and forum. A wide array of topics will be featured, including: Slope technology, stream restoration, vegetative establishment, stormwater management, wetlands technology, erosion and sediment control and beach and shoreline stabilization. New for 2003 is the Product Symposium where inventors and manufacturers will describe their newest tools for controlling erosion. The Trade Expo offers a chance to visit with the industry?EUR??,,????'???s leading product manufacturers and service providers in the largest exhibit of erosion control technology anywhere. What ever you need in the way of low-tech, high-tech or new-tech erosion and sediment control, you?EUR??,,????'???ll find it among the booths of more than 125 exhibitors. Nine scholarship students attended the 2002 conference in Orlando, Fla. The goal for 2003 is 15 students, reports Kim Kline, IECA?EUR??,,????'???s Event Coordinator. "The students in Orlando were amazed with the amount of knowledge and ideas that were presented in the classroom sessions and the Expo," she says. "One week at the conference can provide more hands-on, applicable information than an entire semester at school can. The conference provides them an invaluable chance to network with people in the industry and get a good feel for what a career in erosion control is really like." The 34th Annual Conference & Expo will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas. For details contact IECA at: P.O. Box 774904, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 80477-4904; (970) 879-3010; Fax: (970) 879-8563; E-mail: ecinfo@ieca.org or online at www.ieca.org.