Venue: Pittsburgh
City of Pittsburgh
The City of Pittsburgh has grown up around the point where three rivers meet – and that location has driven the city’s economic growth and socio-economic diversity since the late 1700s. Once known for its gritty appearance and steel production, the city has transformed into a sleek symbol of leadership in today’s technological, educational, and healthcare arenas. Pittsburgh is a leader in the health care sector as it is home to large medical providers such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Allegheny Health Network. The Western Pennsylvania region is home to 68 colleges and universities, including leading research leaders Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). Google, Apple Inc., Bosch, Facebook, Uber, Nokia, Autodesk, Amazon, Microsoft and IBM are among 1,600 technology firms generating $20.7 billion in annual payrolls. The area has served as the long-time federal agency headquarters for cyber defense, software engineering, robotics, energy research and the nuclear navy. The nation’s eighth-largest bank, eight Fortune 500 companies, and six of the top 300 U.S. law firms have their global headquarters in the area, while RAND Corporation, BNY Mellon, Nova, FedEx, Bayer, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have regional bases that helped Pittsburgh become the sixth-best area for U.S. job growth.
Not just a great place to work, Pittsburgh is recognized for its 400+ bridges, 90 diverse and quirky neighborhoods, and a plethora of museums and arts organizations which add greatly to the vitality of the region. A burgeoning food scene, a rich appreciation of its own history, and more than 75 parks have resulted in the city being touted for its livability and quality of life.
The city has won numerous accolades over the years for its quality of life, economic growth, and amenities. For example, Pittsburgh was the 5th best city for STEM professionals in 2019 according to WalletHub and it was recognized by Condé Nast Traveler as a 2019 Reader’s Choice Awards as one of the top 10 large cities in the U.S.
Oakland Neighborhood
The Oakland neighborhood in the City of Pittsburgh is the academic and cultural center of the city. It is home to the main campuses of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, and the major University (UPMC) flagship hospitals. The neighborhood is urban and vibrant with activity.
Within walking distance to our conference venue, there are 9 museums/historical sites (including Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Museum of Art), 7 performance venues, 4 libraries, and one of the region’s largest parks, Schenley Park. In addition, more than 80 restaurants/coffee shops are within a 15 minute walk of the proposed conference venue. There are 8 hotels/motels in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, making it possible for conference attendees to choose the type of accommodation that best suits their needs.
Our proposed venue is on Pitt’s campus and we intend to hold workshops and social events using Pitt’s facilities. Pitt is an R1 research University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), which comprises 63 preeminent doctorate-granting research institutions in North America. Pitt is a major recipient of research funding from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Pitt is consistently ranked No. 1 public college in the Northeast in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking, and is among the top 20 public universities in the U.S., ranked by U.S. New and World Report.