Baltimore and the 100th ESA meeting

After returning back to Ottawa (from Colorado) on August 2nd, I spent most of my days preparing for my presentation at the Ecological Society of America (ESA) centennial meeting in Baltimore (August 9th to 14th).  My labmates and I departed for Baltimore on the morning of the 9th, drove more than eight hours, and arrived at Baltimore just before midnight; and my presentation took place in the following afternoon.

With ESA being the largest ecological society in the world, there was an incredible number of ecologists present, as well as numerous sessions taking place at the Baltimore Convention Center.  Overall, I thought my own presentation went well, and I enjoyed most of the presentations that I attended.  Unfortunately, I was unable to tour Baltimore as much as I would have liked.  Here are some of the photos I took when I was not busy inside the convention center speed-walking from one session to another.

The convention center lobby.  This place is completely packed in the morning, during lunchtime, and at the end of the day.  I snapped this photo when I took a break between sessions.


In addition to the oral presentations, there were many new posters presented each day.  There were some good ones (although most were text-heavy), but this one might be the most interesting/controversial.

During one of the lunch breaks, I walked around Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Chesapeake (LV-116) docked near the very expensive National Aquarium.

USS Constellation

Domino Sugar Plant across the Chesapeake Bay.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), the only interesting "wildlife" I saw in Baltimore, aside from House Sparrows, Rock Pigeons, European Starlings, Mallards, gulls, etc.

To me, the most interesting parts about Baltimore are probably some of the architectures and its seafood (especially the crab cakes).

Strange-looking apartment building.


Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards


Honoring Bath Ruth.


Camden Yards. I have not been to any professional baseball stadiums before, but Camden Yards is quite unique and well-designed for a sports stadium.


Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower


Space between buildings.  A pretty common view in downtown Baltimore, but I thought this made an interesting abstract image.


Ceiling of the Amtrak Baltimore Penn Station.

The hotel I was staying at was in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, which is considered a National Landmark Historic District and quite unique and safe.

Compared to other parts of downtown Baltimore, people are able to sit on the benches and enjoy the day without being harassed or approached by panhandlers.  I walked through this area countless times traveling between the hotel and the convention center.


Spectacular-looking buildings.


Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church.

Close by is the Peabody Institute.


Peabody Institute.  Too bad non-staff members are not able to walk up to the upper floors and take pictures from other perspectives.


Baltimore City Hall


Baltimore Public Works Museum


Seven Foot Knoll Light


Pratt Street Power Plant

Aside from enjoying Baltimore from walking on the streets, the only place that I toured in Baltimore was the the Walters Art Museum (because it is close to where I live and free).

Thanks to the Walters.

Below are just some of the artworks and things that intrigued me.

The Mongol Invasion. This is a very impressive artwork because it is a large-scale (almost 4 x 3 metres) silk tapestry.


Most of the artwork descriptions are about how one of the Walters acquired the art instead of about the art itself.


Gatchina Palace Egg.




Unknown artwork 1


Unknown artwork 2


Interior of a Mosque at Cordova




Bell with Feline Deity




The Ideal City

There were also collections of various things.

Keys and locks.


Guns.


Swords.


An eye-like staircase in the museum.

This trip to Baltimore conclude my travelings for the summer.  I returned back to Ottawa last night and I shall be spending the coming weeks working on data analyses and preparing for the upcoming school semester.