The 4th European Mars Conference October 8-10, 2005

Saturday 9th October
Read what delegates had to say about the weekend

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Event Review - Friday Night

Friday kicked-off with the media finally sitting up and taking notice of the event: no fewer than a dozen calls came through to the office from newspapers, television and radio.

Things got off to an early start for Robert Zubrin, with an appearance on the Breakfast Show with "gorgeous George" of BBC Three Counties radio. For all his jocular fashion, George had been well-briefed on the event and on the work of the Society, and gave Robert ample room to discuss the prospects of human exploration of Mars in some depth over a 5-minutes segment.

From the BBC radio studios in north Milton Keynes, it was a dash back to the office, then a run to the Open University for the first of two television interviews. This was with ITV Anglia, for a feature being put out on the conference, the Society and the Mars Analogue Research Station project in the afternoon and evening news programmes. Interviewing both Robert Zubrin and UK President Bo Maxwell, the ITV team again proved co-operative and friendly, allowing numerous plugs for the conference.

30 minutes after this and Robert was again in front of the camera. this time for BBC Look East's regional news magazine programme, for a piece to be broadcast on the Saturday.

While this was going on, Paul Allen handled an interview with Association Press, which went out on the news wires on Saturday morning, to be picked up by a number of printed and on-line news outlets.

Back at the office, the team gathered, anxiously awaiting the arrival of material such as fact sheets on Aurora, CD-ROMs and other goodies that would go into the "executive briefcases" (aka plastic bags) that would form part of each delegate's conference pack. While the conference programmes had arrived from the printers in good time, everything else was running late.

With time passing, and word that the first of the display stands had arrived at the OU early, the team split-up: some heading for the Open University to get the registration desk set-up, others to try and ascertain what had happened to the conference packs, while Jerry Stone headed for Luton Airport to collect Richard Fisackerly of ESA.

At the OU, operations were soon bought under control: the registration desk was set up, and a team dispatched to collect the EADS "ExoMars rover" display, which had been delivered to the university's Goods Receiving dock and which - in keeping with good British labour relations - the Goods In staff were refusing to shift. Sequestering a pump-truck to move the pallet of kit with the kind co-operation of the Goods In staff ("Oi! You better make sure you bring that thing back 'ere!"), Paul Allen, Bo Maxwell and Robert Zubrin headed back towards the Berrill Building with the cases containing ExoMars safely on the pallet.

They arrived back at base to find Phil Dembo had organised the Registration Desk and delegates were already arriving. Setting-up the additional registration forms and the conference's laptop PC, Bo Maxwell then got the main hall sorted out: the OU had decided to send most of their support staff out for an "offsite" meeting for most of Friday, leaving only the head technician, Mark Butler, to assist with things. Getting Mark and Jerry Stone together, Bo made sure the main hall set-up was in good hands and...made himself scarce (just where did he go?).

I know a fairly major leaflet-drop had taken placed in the week leading up to the conference, with something like 1,000 leaflets being dropped through letterboxes in the neighbourhood around the university campus, and it had been hoped that the leaflets would draw in a fair few from the local district to the evening's conference. I haven't a clue if this was the case, but when I entered the main hall for the start of the panel discussion, it was a little disappointing to see about 1/3 of the 200-odd seats in the house occupied. Still, it was a Friday night...

Bo Maxwell kicked things off fairly informally - the proper opening address wasn't due until Saturday morning - before handing over to Jerry Stone, who would moderate the evening's discussion. On the panel to answer questions from Jerry and the audience were: ESA's Loredana Bessone, documentary maker Sam Burbank, who had literally just fallen through the front door after arriving from California earlier in the day and THEN gone directly to a production meeting for his new film (which he'd be talking about on Saturday) - yet he was still sounding chipper and looking totally at home in is floppy hat (apparently his travelling companion); Andrew Ball of the Planetary and Space Science Research Institute and good old Robert Zubrin.

What followed was an entertaining hour and 20 minutes which featured lively debate and interaction with the audience, which set up much promise for the rest of the weekend. Certainly, the panel between them knew their onions - even if they didn't always agree on things (which added to the fun), and it was clear that despite differing opinions in some areas, this was very much a meeting of minds. Really good stuff.

After the panel had ended, it was time to bail out of the OU and head up the hill to the Accenture Centre, where most of us were staying. Transport hadn't been laid-on (I gather a slight problem with the university prevented the anticipated shuttle bus from being available). Fortunately, the night was mild, the sky clear, and bunches of us simply made the journey on foot while others cadged rides from the available cars at the university.

We I hear the word "buffet", I'm always filled which mixed reactions: on the one hand I have images of a veritable feast of food - both nothing I like. On the other, I get images of people scrabbling over too few finger rolls, bruised bananas and dried cheese on sticks. I did worry the Friday buffet reception would be the same - after all, it was included in the registration fee.

Well, I was wrong. Big time.

At the Accenture Centre we were directed to a private section of the dining room that had been specifically set-up for us: tables for the 60 expected buffeteers, and a long table of hot and cold foods that was both mouthwatering and highly edible. With drinks available from the bar upstairs, it wasn't long before this delegate was happily engaged in conversation all things Mars, his plate piled high with pasta, cold cuts, salad, warm cuts, crispy bread and creamy sauce.

And there were seconds! In fact there was enough for thirds, but I got sidetracked by the desserts: a selection of exotic fruits, a moist banana cake and other goodies.

Truth is, it seemed like way too much food; I found out later that 60 had booked for the buffet, but only something like 48 actually turned up. What happened to the other 12 is anyone's guess - but I got a little alarmed when I heard Bo, Paul and Phil standing by the food table discussing putting the leftovers into the delegate packs for the morning!!

Having porked it at the buffet, I retreated upstairs to the bar / lounge area. From the programme, I had been expecting to hear Sam Burbank and Frank Schubert pa lying songs from their "Extremophiles" album - but they were in evidence. Instead, another party, occupying the far side of the lounge area were engaged in a riotous karaoke session. I tackled Paul Allen on why Frank and Sam weren't playing, and got gobsmacked with the news that Frank hadn't been allowed out of the USA! Thinking my leg was being pulled, I checked this out with Bo - who has been friends with Frank for years.

Turns out, it was true - Frank's passport has expired a while back, and he'd put in for a new one, only to have the US immigration service refuse to issue him with one - as his name appears to be on some list to do with terrorists!! Bo made light of it, saying that it was just the US trying to redress the balance: they hadn't let a musician into the country (Cat Stevens), so now they weren't letting one out. Even so, finding your name on some list somewhere must be pretty unnerving.

Anyway, that left us sans music for the evening - which was a shame, but given the amount of noise the other party was generating - even when not singing - it was probably for the best. Instead, we all made ourselves comfortable in the lounge area around the bar, supped, chatted and played pool. Except for those that were drawn to the free cyber cafe like moths to a flame, and simply had to log on! I ask you, what did people do with themselves before the advent of the Internet - and more recently - mobile 'phones? :)

Anyway, times ticked on, those not staying at Accenture drifted off, and I found myself in need of a hot bath and time to unwind. I therefore headed off for my room. Going on the conviviality of the evening, and the atmosphere at the discussion panel, this was going to be a good weekend, and I wanted to be up and bright-eyed for Saturday.