• American Astronomical Society -- Jan. 14-18, San Antonio, Tx. Among the top science stories at the meeting is news about the possible composition of the dark halo surrounding our galaxy. The research team, which includes a UC Davis physics graduate student, will give a press conference about the dark matter in the halo at 2:45 p.m., Tuesday, Jan 16. Media contact: Stephen Maran, AAS press officer, (301) 286-5154. • Astronaut James Lovell Lecture -- Jan. 30, Rec Hall, UC Davis, Calif. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, the commander of the Apollo 13 space craft will talk about the space disaster that nearly cost him and his fellow astronauts their lives. Lovell will discuss the mission, which was documented in his book, "Lost Moon," that inspired the popular film, Apollo 13. Media contact: John Reedy, Student Forums Director, 752-7318. • American Association for the Advancement of Science -- Feb. 8-13, Baltimore, Md. UC Davis researchers will be discussing the limits of agricultural productivity, as well as regional factors affecting the future of research universities. Media contact: Ellen Cooper, AAAS Communications, (202) 326-6431, ecooper@aaas.org. The program is posted on the AAAS web site, http://www.aaas.org/meetings/sessions.htm. • American Geophysical Union & American Society of Limnology and Oceanography -- Feb. 12-16, San Diego, Calif. The latest research in ocean sciences will be presented to more than 2,000 participants. Media contact: Dave Thomas or Patricia Azriel, AGU Public Information, (202) 939-3212. • Egg Drop Challenge -- Feb. 23, Davis, Calif. To help UC Davis students celebrate National Engineers Week, participants of all ages throw raw, Grade A large eggs from the roof of the UC Davis Physics/Geology Building to a target six stories below. Egg survival counts greatly toward winning. Media contact: Mike Paskowitz, The Materials Society, (916) 754-8915 or 752-2082. • Cognitive Neuroscience Society -- March 31 to April 2, San Francisco. Organized through the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience, the national meeting will include topics such as imaging and memory, frontal lobe function, brain mechanisms and emotion, mechanisms of facial recognition and more. Media contact: Kate Gazzaniga, (916) 757-8974, kmgazzaniga@ucdavis.edu. • Neurobehavioral Teratology Society -- June 23-26, Keystone, Colo. Researchers will discuss the latest findings about effects of drugs and environmental chemicals on brain development in fetuses and infants, including updates on the effects of cocaine and Prozac. Media contact: Mari Golub, adjunct professor in the UC Davis medical school, (916) 752-5119, msgolub@ucdavis.edu.