ASHG president Huntington F. Willard addressed it head-on: "Let the clearest and loudest message of this week be that at a time when others would take away freedom of thought and action, more than 4,400 geneticists from over 20 countries came together to share new information and to speak their shared conviction that the open pursuit of knowledge is far more powerful than the fear of terror."
Although security was heightened, attendance was down, but only about 15%, according to Harry T. Orr, ASHG program committee chair. He estimated that about 10% of the speakers--most from outside the United States--canceled. A few of Arabic lineage, he said, expressed concern about being "highly visible" or cited a general "uncomfortableness." As scientists and students mingled around chocolates, bargain-priced books, mouse-shaped pads, and science guy action figures in the exhibit hall, there were festive, convivial moments where things almost seemed normal. Still, there ...
