CLIVAR Panel/RF meetings alongside with OSC 2016

Local logistic information
 

1.    Meeting arrangements

1.1 Meeting rooms/times
Meeting time: Sep 17(Sat)-18(Sun), 2016
Meeting place: Salon function rooms, 3rd floor, Hyatt Regency Hotel Qingdao (the same floor as the Conference venue).
Meeting schedule: The panel/RF meeting schedule table can be found on google drive: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kkVFatwX9Av2dB2AAVEDZHZhKRIZzQs6nxdQDmU3ChU 
But in case you cannot access google within China, the table is copied here:

      Quick links to meeting pages of panels with agendas:
      OMDP-3 
      GSOP-9
      Climate Dynamics-2
      PRP-11 
      SORP-11 
      ENSO RF - 1 
      DCVP RF-2
      ARP-15
      EBUS

      Floor plan of the meeting area: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B3vHt8-mHvhSSkVvOHVSLUpmeHM 
      and also copied at below:

 

All the meeting rooms will be opened before 8:30 in the morning and closed at 18:00. Coffee breaks will be served 10:00-10:30 in the morning and 15:00-15:30 in the afternoon on both days. Panels are free to schedule the timings of their meeting agendas based on the overall arrangements.

1.2 Meeting facilities:
   The room will be set up to be U-shape to facilitate interactive discussions among the participants.  Each room is equipped with a projector and will be checked by the hotel staff before the meeting starts. Voices can be well heard in the room so no microphones will be prepared. The presenting computers will not be provided by the hotel; meeting participants should us their personal laptops for presenting.  Bilingual OSC volunteers in distinctive green polos will be in the meeting area to provide help and information as needed. Hotel staff will be also standing by outside the meeting room to offer help.

2.     Registration

All Panel and RF members attending the meetings on Saturday and Sunday before the OSC should register for the OSC at coffee break at the desk that will be located in the central area just outside the meeting rooms (ie not in the Hyatt lobby where the rest of the participants will register).

3.    Lunch

On Saturday and Sunday the hotel will offer special a la carte choices (sandwiches) for sale in the central area of the meeting venue from 12:00 to 13:00. 

4.    Arrival in Qingdao

If you arrive at Qingdao airport on either Friday or Saturday, look for the OSC volunteers in green shirts holding a sign with the Conference logo.  They can help guide you to the taxi stand, etc.

Taxis: TAXIS ARE LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT, between the two terminals.  Follow the Taxi signs and take the escalator or elevator to the basement.  Do not take rides from taxis or cars located outside the airport terminal; these are not licensed. A taxi ride from the airport to the Conference venue costs about 100 RMB (payment by RMB cash only). Addresses of the hotels in English and Chinese are posted on the Conference website. You can print these out to show to the taxi driver.

Cash: There are exchange bureaus in the airport terminals but their opening hours are limited. The most economical and easiest way to obtain RMB is via ATM machines, but in China, different bank ATMs accept different cards to withdraw cash. Hence it might be a process of trial and error. Safest would be to change at least a small amount of cash before coming to China. The Hyatt and most other big hotels in China accept international credit cards, and there is an ATM next to the Hyatt that accepts international cards.
 

5.    Group dinners

The Lion Mall, located about 1km from the Hyatt, offers a wide range of dining options. We have prepared a list of those that have tables large enough to seat 8-10 people (see attached).  Could the panel and RF chairs please indicate to Lina Kang (lina.kang@clivar.org) no later than 9 September if you wish to have a group dinner, on which night, what time and where.  Lina will get back to you if your choice is already booked up.

Do not hesitate to contact me or the other ICPO staff if you have questions or need more information.  You can also visit clivar2016.org for more information about the OSC and Qingdao.  A Conference Handbook will be distributed with the registration package and has been posted on the meeting website.