Page 52 - April 2008

show their friends and relatives.
In addition, Jim West was an invit- ed plenary speaker. His talk on hospital noise was the subject of many interest- ing comments and exciting discussions by a large audience in an overflowing
conference room.
Next year’s joint conference will be held in Nashville. Plans for increasing acoustics exposure and minority mem- bership include a poster competition. Expansion of this noble endeavor to increase diversity in acoustics requires the collective strength of many commit-
ted members. Therefore, a Committee for Diversity in Acoustics (CDA) is forming with the charter of increasing diversity in this scientific field. Interested members may contact: Juan Arvelo at chair@ASAchapterDC.org. Juan Arvelo
USA Meetings Calendar
Listed below is a summary of meetings related to acoustics to be held in the U.S. in the near future. The month/year notation refers to the issue in which a complete meeting announcement appeared.
2008
29 June - 4 July 28 July - 1 Aug
10-14 Nov
2009
18-22 May
Joint Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, European Acoustics Association and the French Acoustical Society, Paris, France \[Acoustical Society of America, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747- 4502; Tel.: 516-576-2360; Fax: 516-576-2377; Email: asa@aip.org; WWW: http://asa.aip.org\].
9th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem (Quintennial meeting of ICBEN, the International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise). Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, CT \[Jerry V. Tobias, ICBEN 9, Post Office Box 1609, Groton CT 06340-1609, Tel. 860-572-0680; Web: www.icben.org. Email icben2008@att.net\].
156th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Miami, FL \[Acoustical Society of America, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502; Tel.: 516-576-2360; Fax: 516-576-2377; Email: asa@aip.org; WWW: http://asa.aip.org\].
157th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Portland, OR\[Acoustical Society of America, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502; Tel.: 516-576-2360; Fax: 516-576-2377; Email: asa@aip.org; WWW: http://asa.aip.org\].
7,272,075
43.30.Vh PERSONAL SONAR SYSTEM
Matthew Pope, Los Angeles, California
18 September 2007 (Class 367/131); filed 10 October 2006
With the fear of sharks the motivation, this document describes a surfboard or scuba mounted system that somehow detects only large animals and warns the water sports enthusiast. It also, more tractably, warns him when he drifts away from his friends.—GFE
50 Acoustics Today, April 2008