Workshop Venue
The Workshop will be held on the campus of the University of New Mexico, in the Science and Math Learning Center [SMLC]. The Sunday evening welcome reception will take place in the courtyard and shaded patio of the Casas del Rio housing complex. Invited talks will be given in the SMLC Auditorium; on-site registration and poster sessions will be held in the SMLC foyer. The Tuesday night banquet will take place a short walk from the SMLC in historic Hodgin Hall; see the annotated campus map for conference venues and on-campus parking locations.
Transportation
The major carriers serving the Albuquerque International Sunport (a 10 min. taxi ride from the UNM campus or downtown Albuquerque hotels) are Delta, American, United, and Southwest. Car rentals are available at the airport; Albuquerque also has good taxi service (Yellow Cab: 505.247.8888) as well as a good Uber network. The #766 Rapid Ride route provides regular bus service along Central Avenue (the famous “Route 66”); get off at the UNM/Frontier stop and walk to the Science and Math Learning Center Workshop venue, or to Casas del Rio (see campus map).
Parking information
If you are staying in the dormitory, we recommend that you leave your car at the dorm and walk to the Workshop venue (see campus map). Conference venues are circled in blue on the map, and underlined in blue on the map key; parking locations are circled in red.
If you are staying in a hotel and wish to drive to campus, parking day-permits valid in all campus parking zones are available at a cost of $8 per day or $24/week. Be sure to request an “all-zone” pass. No permits are required on Sunday. Permits can be purchased at the PATS office (see map), which is open 7:30 AM to 5 PM Monday thru Friday. There is validated parking for PATS customers while purchasing a permit; stop at the Visitor Booth located at the entrance to the Cornell Parking Structure and let the booth attendant know you will be visiting the PATS office. To purchase a permit, you will need to give your vehicle information (make, model, color, license plate) and the name of the event (Electronic Structure 2016). For additional information see the Parking and Transportation Services Department website.
Climate
Despite its southern location, Albuquerque’s elevation of more than 5000 ft/1524 m means that the city enjoys four full seasons, and summer is an especially beautiful time of year to visit. The average temperature during the day is 90°F/32°C, with a rapid drop in temperature at nightfall (as much as 20°F) due to Albuquerque’s location in the high desert. Evenings can be cool, so bring a sweater or light jacket. Due to the very low humidity (typically 15-20%), outdoor temperatures often feel cooler than you might expect, but the relatively high elevation also means that the sun will feel more intense.
From the Albuquerque Convention and Visitor’s Bureau:
Before coming to Albuquerque, visitors should be aware of the city’s high elevation of over 5,000 feet. When staying in Albuquerque it may take your body a couple of days to adjust to the high altitude. At this elevation the air is thinner and you may become tired faster during physical activity. Albuquerque’s high desert climate also causes people to dehydrate faster. It is important to drink a lot of water to keep your body hydrated; this is the easiest way to avoid altitude sickness. If you plan on visiting any of our excellent restaurants or bars while in town, you should be aware that alcohol may affect your body faster at higher elevations. Also, sunscreen is vital while vacationing in Albuquerque. Whether it is sunny or cloudy, summer or winter, the UV rays are stronger at higher altitudes. Visitors should wear a high SPF sunscreen at all times to avoid sunburn and wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.