Discover Exciting Innovations with CSS at the 70th AALAS National Meeting

It’s finally fall, which means the AALAS’s National Meeting is just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited.

This year, the Consolidated Sterilizer Systems team will be showcasing our state-of-the-art X1 sterilizer control system at booth number 545. Designed and programmed with “ease-of-use” in mind, the X1 Controller enables technicians to program up to 50 sterilization cycles and features the ability to create “favorite” cycle recipes.

“We look forward to the AALAS National Meeting every year because it gives us an opportunity to meet with some of the best and brightest in the industry and to share the exciting projects we’ve been working on,” said Arthur Trapotsis, CEO of Consolidated Sterilizer Systems.

Hosted by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, the National Meeting is the largest gathering in the world of professionals concerned with the production, care and use of laboratory animals. Scheduled to take place in Denver from October 13–17, this year’s meeting — AALAS’s 70th — seems especially promising, with an exciting slate of workshops, panel sessions and seminars hosted by members of the academic community, research institutions, government organizations and more.

This year’s Spotlight Forum theme — One Health: Connections Between Animal, Human, and Environmental Health — recognizes the connection between the health of people and the health of animals and the environment.

Those of us at CSS consider ourselves to be unofficial AALAS National Meeting experts — after all, this is CSS’ 12th consecutive year attending — which is why we’ve put together a quick list of tips to help first-time attendees make the most out of their experience.

Tips for AALAS National Meeting Attendees

• Keep a copy of the map handy. With hundreds of booths and exhibitors to navigate through, it can be easy to get turned around. Having a map of the exhibit hall at the ready will help keep you on track. You can see the interactive map here.
• Keep a copy of the schedule handy, too. Highlight which workshops and seminars you want to see in advance, so you never miss a session, and be mindful of the time once you arrive. You can get a copy of the preliminary program here.
• Bring plenty of business cards. The AALAS National Meeting is your chance to talk to and learn from thousands of like-minded professionals, so you’ll want to take advantage of every opportunity to network you get.
• Don’t forget your swag bag. From pamphlets to vendor tchotchkes to raffle prizes, there will be ample opportunities to get some really cool free stuff, so make sure you have a bag to carry it all.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The Colorado Convention Center’s pretty big, and you’ll likely do a lot of walking, either from booth to booth, from session to session, or both, so wear your most comfortable shoes — your feet will thank you later.
• Know when to visit. The exhibit hall floor can get a bit chaotic during peak hours, so try to schedule time to peruse exhibits and talk to vendors on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning, when there’ll be less traffic.
• Participate in the Technician Fun Fair. Fun fairs aren’t just for kids — AALAS’s Technician Fun Fair is an educational scavenger hunt designed to help technicians learn more about the National Meeting and interact with vendors. Whether you take home the top prize — a certificate of completion worth 4 CEUs toward the AALAS Technician Certification Registry — or walk away from the experience having learned something new, everyone wins.

Enjoy the show; we hope to see you in Denver! If you’d like to get in touch with anyone on the CSS team in advance of the National Meeting, feel free to drop us a line and we’ll be in touch with you shortly.