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Dr. Michael H. Shapiro, deputy assistant administrator, Office of Water, for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), will deliver the keynote speech for the Water Environment Research Foundation's (WERF) Virtual Research Forum at approximately 1:00 p.m. EST. WERF will use an exciting new electronic format to bring its 5th Annual Research Forum to desktops across the world. The virtual forum will feature audio, video, chat tools, and application sharing to provide real-time interaction in an online environment that mimics the experience of an actual conference or trade show. Participants do not have to travel a single step.

Dr. Shapiro will discuss the importance of sound science as the backbone of U.S. EPA's programs and highlight key partnerships between WERF and U.S. EPA in the areas of biosolids, stormwater management, nutrients, climate change, and others. Also included will be a special announcement of WERF's lead role in U.S. EPA's $10M project, Innovation and Research for Water Infrastructure for the 21st Century.

From climate change, alternative energy production, and trace organics, to the ongoing challenges in nutrient removal, asset management, and pathogen detection, this year's Forum covers the issues that matter most to water environment professionals. The entire program will run from 12:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST. WERF will end the meeting with a virtual panel discussion, inviting participation from all WERF subscribers to explore their needs for future research. By using real-time polling and an interactive Q&A capability during this "future needs" panel, WERF expects an intensive prioritization of vexing research challenges. This session has been expanded to an hour and a half so there will be ample time for interactive discussion.

Participation is free to all employees of WERF's subscriber organizations. Non-subscribers and members of educational institutions can register, for a small fee, to participate in all presentations but the "future needs" panel. Registration will close at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7.

The benefits, however, go beyond the presentations. Event sponsors, Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Black &Veatch, CDM, EMA, Inc., Freese and Nichols, GHD, Greeley and Hansen, HDR, Malcolm Pirnie, MWH Global, and SAIC will have their own virtual trade show pavilion, where they will be able to share information on their products and services. Participants will have immediate access to electronic files of resource materials, and they can also network with WERF staff, board members and each other at a virtual networking lounge.

For more information, visit: www.werf.org/forum09.

About The Water Environment Research Foundation
The Water Environment Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed in 1989, is America's leading independent scientific research organization dedicated to wastewater and stormwater issues.

SOURCE: EPA