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If you are at all inclined to dip your toes into the world of scientific visual communications there are two must-attend events this summer: the Guild of Natural Illustrators' Annual Conference (Bar Harbor, ME from July 7-13, 2013) and the Association of Medical Illustrators' Annual Conference (Salt Lake City, UT from July 17-20, 2013).
The Guild of Natural Illustrators' Annual Conference
This conference, held in a different part of the country every year, is a collection of 100-150 professional illustrators and enthusiasts working in all media and a broad array of disciplines including biology, anatomy, paleontology, geology, medicine, botany, and more. The conference is organized into two tracks: traditional media and digital media, with the core conference consisting of presentations and technique demonstrations followed by three days of hands-on workshops and field trips. The conference is open to members, students, and non-members alike and is characterized by the open, friendly, non-competitive environment and chances to learn from some of the best natural science illustrators in the country in an intimate setting for an unbeatable price (workshops range from $50 to $100 for 3-6 hours of instruction). Early registration ends June 5th; after that, the early bird discount of $45 no longer applies.
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For residents of Bar Harbor and the surrounding area, the Guild's Annual Juried Exhibit will be on display at Dorr Museum at the College of the Atlantic from July 7 through August 25, 2013. Drop by if you are in the area.
The Association of Medical Illustrators' Annual Conference
This year's Association of Medical Illustrators' conference will be held in Salt Lake City, UT from July 17-20. A larger conference with a slightly different slice of science communication and biovisualization professionals, the AMI gathering is a four-day event complete with educational sessions, workshops, demonstrations, and networking opportunities. This year's focus is FUSION: Connecting Minds, Visualizing Science and Medicine and is organized around three tracks: mobile media/new technology, the latest breakthroughs in biomedical science and professional business practices. If you're ready to commit, advance registration ends tomorrow, Wednesday, May 29th; after that, the early registration discount of $125-$135 (professional/student) expires.
The AMI displays their members' work in their much anticipated Salon, a media exhibit which showcases AMI members’ submissions in all forms of visual communication including illustration, animation, interactive and online media, game design, and educational models and simulators. The Salon is open for viewing for the duration of the conference.