Scientists from around the country will join park rangers, educators, photographers, and volunteers in Gatlinburg Dec. 4-7 to report findings on new forms of life discovered in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) Annual Conference and the ATBI Photograpy Workshop are open to the public. The meeting presents current research on this unique project, including the discovery of more than 300 organisms new to science and over 2,500 species that are new records for the park. Partners who are involved in the work include the nonprofit Discover Life in America (DLIA), Friends of the Smokies, and Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association. The event will be held at the Glenstone Lodge on Historic Nature Trail Rd. in Gatlinburg.

On the agenda is keynote speaker Richard Conniff, winner of the 1997 National Magazine Award for his writing in Smithsonian magazine and the 1998 Wildscreen Prize for the Best Natural History Television script for his work with the BBC.

He is the author of six books, including Spineless Wonders and A Natural History of the Rich. He is the winner of the 2001 John Burroughs Award for Outstanding Nature Essay of the Year. He will address the conference on Thursday morning, Dec. 5 and present an additional program Thursday evening. To register to attend this evening reception, contact Emily Jones at 865.453.2428 or fotsej@icx.net

The ATBI Photography Workshop will be held Wednesday, Dec. 4, with guest presenter Connie Toops and the Photography Project Team of Discover Life in America.