Following the initial Phase-II planning meeting in Dalian this past fall, UC Santa Barbara will host a reciprocal planning meeting, inviting the Chinese sernior faculty to visit our campus and labs, meet with faculty and students, and share research to foster new collaborations. Also in attendence will be researchers from Georg-August Universität Göttingen, who is helping to co-sponsor the workshop. The German contingent is an exciting new component to the PIRE-ECCI's rapidly growing network of collaborators in the second phase.

The planning meeting will begin Tuesday, August 2nd and end on Friday, August 5th. It will be held the large Engineering conference room, ESB 1001, for all sessions except thursday afternoon, which will be held at the Marine Science Institute Auditorium, room 1302. Most meals will be provided during the workshop, and students are encouraged to attend the talks and be inspired by our visitors. Propose research collaborations and become the next generation of PIRE fellows!

SBA, Santa Barbara Airport, is within close proximity to campus and local accommodations. This is the most convenient airport to attend the meeting, and has daily connections from both LAX (Los Angeles) and SFO (San Francisco). Please see "travel by ground" below for instructions on getting to the hotel from the airport.

LAX, or Los Angelese International Airport, is about 90 miles south of Santa Barbara. If travelers prefer to fly into LAX, there is a convenient shuttle service from the airport to Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Airbus. Fares run about $40 each way. Please take bus to the "Goleta" stop (not Santa Barbara). This is the closest to campus and your hotel. From here, there is an office for the Air Bus that has phones where you can call the hotel for your complimentary shuttle (hotel information is listed below). There should be people at the desk who can help you make the call, if needed.

There is a complimentary shuttle from the airport to the hotel - please consult the courtesy phone near the baggage claim to call for your ride (hotel information is listed below). If you prefer, there are taxis waiting outside of the terminal that will take you to the hotel. Though it is within a five mile drive, taxis may charge $20 to fares going to and coming from the airport. The hotel will also provide a complimentary (no-charge) ride to the airport following your stay. Please consult the front desk of the hotel to make this arrangement.

Travelers flying into Santa Barbara will find plenty of taxis available outside of the airport to take you to your hotel. Visitors will be staying at the Best Western South Coast Inn in Goleta, CA. Below, please find business cars to print and take with you so you have the accurate address and location. Expect the fare to be around $20.

If you are driving to Santa Barbara, we are located off of the US-101 freeway, about 90 miles North of Los Angeles, and about 375 miles South of San Francisco. UC Santa Barbara, as well as the airport and lodging location, is technically in the city of Goleta, ten miles north of Santa Barbara proper. Hotel information is listed below.

PIRE-ECCI guests will lodge at the Best Western South Coast Inn. The hotel is convenient to campus and the airport, and includes continental breakfast as well as a complimentary shuttle to and from campus. Your room will be reserved under your name at the hotel, for the nights of August 1-5, 2011, depending on your arrival/departure dates. Any dates spent in Santa Barbara outside of those supported by the conference must be the responsibility of the traveler.

Travelers supported by the PIRE-ECCI will be reimbursed for their round-trip, economy class airfare to Santa Barbara. Please submit all original receipts for travel costs (airfare, taxi, etc.) to the Program Coordinator, Carrie Kuffel. If your airafare is on an e-ticket, the receipt must show the itinerary and method of payment. International travel costs incurred by the traveler will be reimbursed for up to $1500.00 USD.Domestic travel will be reimbursed up to $500.00 USD. All travelers will be asked to complete a travel reimbursement worksheet (domestic or foreign), signed, and with an address to send the check to, along with all applicable receipts.

Travelers coming to Santa Barbara from outside of the US must submit copies of their passport photo page and U.S. travel visa for reimbursement.