The World Tribology Congress will cross the Atlantic in 2005, as the International Tribology Council has voted to hold the meetings third edition in Washington, D.C.
The council selected the U.S. capital last week during the second congress in Vienna, after hearing a presentation by the Society for Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers and the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers, co-hosts of the 2005 meeting.
We think its great news that the organizations will be able to bring the event to the United States, said STLE President Phil Miller, of Gateway Additives.
The International Tribology Council includes voting members from more than 30 nations and its congresses attract attendees from many more. More than 1,000 people attended last weeks meeting. The first congress was held in London eight years ago.
Miller said the STLE-ASME bid beat out an incomplete proposal from a Japanese tribology organization, which did not meet council deadlines. The U.S.-based organizations considered proposing other North American cities, including Montreal and New York, but decided to follow the tradition of keeping the event in host-nation capitals.
In their pitch, the societies committed to keeping the 2005 congress affordable for attendees from poor nations – both by holding down prices and by subsidizing attendance for some individuals. Miller said the council also wants the next meeting to have more sessions that are approachable for individuals not involved in research or study.