ERGS 2003
Elston Relativity & Gravitation Symposium


March 29, 2003
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL

  
Dr. Frederick Elston (1947-2000)
The Department of Physical Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is proud to sponsor this second annual symposium in memory of Fred Elston, a valued colleague and friend.

Financial support comes from the Office of Sponsored Programs and the College of Arts and Sciences.

General Information

The 2003 Elston Relativity & Gravitation Symposium will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday, March 29, 2003.  All sessions will be in the Capt. Willie Miller Instructional Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  Located just 50 miles east of Orlando, and 40 miles north of Kennedy Space Center, the city of Daytona Beach has many miles of beaches, just a short drive from the University.

For more information on Daytona Beach visit the city's web site: www.daytonabeach.com.
 

Fred Elston Memorial Lecture

Cosmic Inflation and the Accelerating Universe
Alan H. Guth
Victor F. Weisskopf Professor of Physics
Massachussetts Institute of Technology

Saturday, March 29, 2003
8:00 pm
Capt. Willie Miller Instructional Center Auditorium

Press release

Conference Program 

2:30 pm - Technical talks

A short session of technical talks will take place 2:30 pm -5:30 pm in room 104 of the Instructional Center.  The tentative schedule is:

Jim Webb, "Gravitational Lens Models of AO 0235+164 Outbursts"
John Safko, "Quantization Conditions in Curved Spacetime and Uncertainty-Driven Inflation"
Pawel Mazur, "Quasi Black Hole Objects as Remnants of the Gravitational Collapse"
Ali Nayeri, "A Review of Brane-World Cosmology"
Alan Guth, "Cosmic Inflation"

6:00 pm - Reception

A reception will take place beginning at 6:00 pm in the atrium of Spruance Hall, just a short walk from the Instructional Center.  Food and beverages will be provided.  This event is sponsored by the Society of Physics Students and SPS, the national physics honor society.

8:00 pm - Fred Elston Memorial Lecture

The highlight of the symposium will the second annual lecture, in memory of Fred Elston, long time faculty member at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  This year's speaker will be Alan Guth, MIT, who will discuss, among other things, his inflationary model for the universe.  The lecture is free and open to the public, and will begin at 8:00 pm.

For more information, please contact Chris Vuille, (386) 226-6724.

Air and Ground Transportation

There are three airports servicing Daytona Beach:

(1) Daytona Beach Airport (DAB)

The Daytona Beach Airport is adjacent to Embry-Riddle University, only a short taxi ride away.

(2) Jacksonville Airport

The Jacksonville International Airport is a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Daytona Beach.

(3) Orlando International Airport (MCO)

The Orlando International Airport is a 90-minute drive from Daytona Beach. There are several shuttle and taxi services available from the airport. It is suggested that you arrange ground transportation in advance.

Daytona Shuttle (386) 255-2294 Orlando Airport Shuttle 1 (800) 231-1965 or (386) 257-5411

Accommodations

The official conference hotel, the Hampton Inn, is a short 20-minute walk from the center of Embry-Riddle University's campus.  The Hampton Inn has 24-hour shuttle service between the airport, hotel, and campus.  You also receive a complimentary continental breakfast.
Hampton Inn  www.hampton-inn.com/hi/daytona-airport
1715 W. International Speedway Blvd.
(386) 257-4030
Single: $72 (mention ERGS/Embry-Riddle to receive this special rate)
 

There are other hotels also a short distance away
Hilton Garden Inn   www.elitehospitality.com/dabahgi/
189 Midway Avenue
(386) 944-4000
Ramada Inn Speedway  www.ramadaspeedway.com/
1798 W. International Speedway Blvd
(386) 255-2422
Holiday Inn  www.holiday-inn.com
2620 W. International Speedway Blvd.
 

Finally, there is a multitude of accommodations on the beach, 5 miles from the campus.  One elegant choice is:
Adams Mark Resort   www.visitdaytona.com/adamsmark/rates.html
100 North Atlantic Avenue
(386) 254-8200   [1-800-444-ADAM]
 

Other accommodations can be found through www.daytonabeach.com.
Hotel reservations must be made directly with the hotel.

Local Organizing Committee

Chris Vuille, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Robert Fleck, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Anthony Reynolds, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

ERGS 2002
 Last updated 19 March 2003