More than 11,000 members of the American Chemical Society will descend on Denver today, with the world’s top chemists, chemical engineers and academics attending what the group is billing as “The World Series of Science.”
During its five-day run, 7,500 reports on new science discoveries will be presented to attendees from more than 60 countries.
Michael Woods, ACS’s assistant director for science communications, said the event is the biggest scientific convention in Denver in years, adding that the ACS last met here in 1993.
Richard Scharf, president and chief executive of Visit Denver, said the ACS convention will pump $20 million into the local economy.
Scharf said the ACS convention follows the Global Business Travel Association convention, which brought 6,000 business travel executives, travel media and destination marketing representatives to Denver.
The start of the ACS conference coincides with the downtown finish of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge near Civic Center.
“The last four out of five years have been the best in our 102-year history,” Scharf said of the city’s convention business.
The biggest year for Denver conventions was 2008, when the Democratic National Convention was held.
The second best, Scharf said, was 2010.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
