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TULSA, OKLAHOMA - Tulsa will host more than two thousand Native American scientists and engineers this fall at the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) 2002 National Conference, to be held November 7-10 at the Tulsa Convention Center.

The Oklahoma professional AISES chapter thought that Tulsa would be a prime location for this year’s conference.

“This is a chance to demonstrate Native American self-empowerment for individuals and tribal governments,” said Cara Cowan, chair of the local planning committee. “We have an opportunity to bring talented Indian people to Oklahoma and show them corporate and tribal opportunities that only exist here in Oklahoma.”

The impact of the convention on Oklahoma is twofold. First, the thousands of visitors will be a significant boost to Tulsa's economy.

“The economic impact on the Tulsa economy for the AISES conference is $2.4 million,” said Heather Williams, Director of Multicultural Resources for the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce.

Secondly, companies and tribes in this area will gain exposure to the top Native American scientists, engineers, doctors and physicists of this and the next generation.

“I would never have moved away from Oklahoma if there had been a group of employers committed to hiring Native people and the strong industries that Oklahoma has today,” Cowan said. “Hopefully this convention will spark interest in Oklahoma among educated Indian people so they will stay to build Oklahoma’s economy.”

“We wanted to have it in Tulsa because it is a very centralized location,” said Tonia Williams, a Cherokee Nation employee and AISES planning committee member. “Students and professionals come from all over the United States for this conference and Oklahoma was good because of all of the tribes that are represented here.”

Among the 2000 expected attendees are Native American college students, scientific, engineering and technology professionals, and other AISES corporate, federal agency, and tribal partners. Participants will attend a career fair, powwow and professional training seminars during the conference. Hotels providing arrangements for the conference include the Downtown Doubletree, Downtown Ramada Inn, and the Adams Mark Hotel.

The local planning committee chairperson for this conference is Cara Cowan. Cowan, a member of the Cherokee Nation, is an engineer for International Network Planning with Williams Communications in Tulsa and a member of the National AISES Board of Directors.

For more information on the AISES conference, contact Cowan, by phone: 918-852-9155 or by e-mail.

AISES is a national, nonprofit organization for Native Americans who are in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. AISES provides opportunities for American Indians and Native Alaskans to earn scholarships to further their educations and networking opportunities for professionals. AISES chapters are established nationally, statewide, and at universities and high schools. All members of an AISES group are invited to attend this conference. For more information on the Oklahoma Professional Chapter of AISES, visit OPCAISES. For more information on the national AISES organization, visit their web site.