The Pennsylvania Convention Center will host Powering Innovation in Chem & Bio, the Pittcon Conference and Expo, the world’s premier annual conference and exposition on laboratory science.
Hosted by the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, the event is expected to attract approximately 17,000 scientists and professionals from 90 countries around the world. The convention, which will take place March 17-21, is projected to have an economic impact of $39.3 million.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter will welcome convention delegates at Pittcon’s opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 18 outside the Convention Center’s Hall E (Level 200). The governor and mayor will be joined by Ahmeenah Young, president and CEO of the convention center; Ron Bargiel, Pittcon 2013 president; Janeth Pifer, Pittcon 2014 president; Charles Holifield, Pittcon 2015 president; and Jack Ferguson, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, for a ribbon cutting to officially open the show.
“Pittcon 2013 brings the Pennsylvania Convention Center an opportunity to showcase our expanded facility and a chance for its members to contribute to our city in a meaningful way,” said Young. “The scientists will not only work with our teachers and schools to strengthen education, but our hospitality community and the Commonwealth will benefit from their investment in our region.”
With more than 1,000 exhibitors, the event will generate work for hundreds of local carpenters, electricians, laborers, stagehands, teamsters and riggers. More than 450 union workers will be on site at the Convention Center on Thursday helping to prepare the show floor and exhibition space for the conference.
The recent expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center was a major factor in their selection of Philadelphia as the location for this year’s conference because of the show’s space needs, Pittcon organizers said. The conference will utilize six halls at the center, occupying 653,000-square feet of exhibit hall space. Pittcon already has booked the center for its conference in 2019.
