• Strange Quarks as a Probe of Hot and Dense Matter
• Strangeness Production from the MeV to the TeV Range
• Heavy Flavor Production in Heavy-Ion Collisions
• Astrophysics of Strangeness
• Strangeness and the QCD Equation of State

Location: Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, USA

Dates: March 12-17, 2003
Conference will begin at 9:00 a.m. on March 12, 2003, and end at noon on March 17, 2003

Expected Number of Participants: 300

Registration: November 1, 2002 - March 1, 2003

Conference Registration Fee: $350.00
Late Registration Fee: $400.00 (applies after February 10, 2003)
On-Site Registration Fee: $425.00

• For the 6 day event, the registration fee includes the conference proceedings, 6 breakfasts, 5 morning breaks, 6 lunches, 3 afternoon breaks, 1 evening reception, 1 poster session reception, and 1 banquet dinner (all other dinners at participant's expense). The registration fee applies to all participants who book their room reservations through the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Hotel. If you choose not to book reservations through the Sheraton, but wish to have breakfast at the Sheraton, the cost is an additional $10.00 per day.
• Companion Fee:
  • $30.00 - Banquet
  • $12.00 - Wine & Cheese Reception for Poster Session
  • $10.00/day - Breakfast
  • $12.00/day - Lunch
  • $7.00/day break
• Excursion Fee: Additional expense to participants and their guests.

Hotel Reservation:
You are responsible for booking your hotel accommodations. Please call or fax the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel by February 10, 2003, and reference "SQM" to receive special conference rates. More detailed information can be found here.

Student Support:
A limited number of scholarships will be available for graduate students and postdocs, covering either the registration fee or local expenses. Eligible registrants wishing to apply for support should please check the respective box on the registration form and need to submit an abstract for a contributed talk or poster.

Evening Schools:
Several general talks addressing physics topics covered in this conference will be given on the evenings of Wednesday, March 12, and Friday, March 14, 2003. These talks will be aimed specifically at a graduate student audience. Information regarding times and location within the hotel will be included in your Conference Packet.

Companion Information
A Get-Acquainted Coffee will be offered at 10:00 a.m. in the lobby of the Sheraton on Wednesday, March 12, 2003.

Important Deadlines:
Submission of Abstracts: December 15th, 2002
Advise Travel Plans & Bus Transportation Request: January 10, 2003
Advance Registration: February 10, 2003
Hotel Registration: February 10, 2003
Registration: March 1, 2003

Computer Access:
It is planned that a limited number of stationary laptop computers will be available for you to access your e-mail. We will also provide hubs for those who bring their own laptop as well as wireless networking around the conference rooms. Information regarding hours of operation and location within the hotel will be included in your Conference Packet.

Reception: Thursday March 13, 2003 (details)

Excursions: Saturday, March 15, 2003 (details)

Poster Session: Friday, March 14, 2003 afternoon