GeoU ATX 2020 Rescheduled for November Due to COVID-19
GeoU ATX 2020 Rescheduled for November Due to COVID-19
The global spread of the COVID-19 virus has caused events around the world to be rescheduled. The organizers of GeoU 2020 are following suit, considering it in the best interest of the geosynthetics field to move the event further on the calendar.
The new dates for GeoU ATX 2020 are 16 – 19 November 2020. It will remain at the Sonesta Bee Cave Hotel in Austin, Texas.
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GEOU 2020 ANNOUNCEMENT ON COVID-19
The organizers released a statement on March 11:
We are a Texas company with a big passion to drive innovation and sustainability in all things involving environmental engineering. We believe in forging ahead and playing our part in keeping our great Lone Star State and nation strong in work and commerce. So, it is with great care, concern, and responsibility that we will move GeoU ATX 2020 to later in the year, amid the current COVID19 (Coronavirus) global health alert.
Both the GeoU host city (Austin) and its county (Travis) have issued local disaster declarations. We firmly believe moving the event is the right thing to do.
City of Austin Local State of Disaster Declaration
Travis County Local State of Disaster Declaration
GeoU 2020 had already been recognized by many in the field as a welcomed change of format. It set itself apart from other professional development events by focusing on co-located, high-level geosynthetics short courses and significant networking events. The “work hard, play hard” event had landed a number of luminaries in the field to serve as course leaders (e.g., Jorge Zornberg and George Koerner). TRI Environmental, which had originally conceived of the event, had even added its renowned geosynthetics CQA training course to the GeoU 2020 curriculum. Registrations were reportedly robust.
In November, the event will follow the same program, with courses centered around geosynthetics in landfill design and sustainability, landfill CQA, reinforcement applications, and stormwater controls and hydraulic engineering. Instructors are currently confirming their availability with the new dates.
“We are fully aware of the logistical and scheduling conflicts this may cause our registrants,” said Taunya Allen, GeoU’s Business Director. “All current registrations may be carried forward to the November GeoU and the organizers are working with the Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hotel on moving all reservations to November at no additional cost to the event registrant.”
The event plans to absorb any price increases on rooms that may result from the date change. Also of note, refunds for associated course fees are available for current registrants who are unable to attend in November.
Taunya Allen will be contacting every instructor and registrant individually to facilitate any arrangements necessary associated with this date change, the release states.
“We look forward to executing GeoU in November and being an integral part of educating the world and driving the correct and responsible use of geosynthetics in infrastructure,” said Allen.
For all GeoU 2020 registration and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Taunya Allen at 817.521.7272, Taunya@geosynthetica.com.
