Social Events

On March 2, 1836, with the Alamo under siege, delegates from across Texas met and declared their independence from Mexico. Various flags have flown over Texas – Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States, and the Confederacy.

Join IGARSS in celebrating some of the unique heritage of Texas.

Sunday, July 23: Welcome Reception

Location: Fort Worth Water Gardens
Time: 19:30 to 21:30
Cost: Included in registration

Greet old friends and meet new ones as the convention kicks off at the Fort Worth Water Gardens, a beautiful and refreshing oasis adjacent to the Fort Worth Convention Center. Designed by Phillip Johnson, the Fort Worth Water Gardens is an architectural and engineering marvel to be enjoyed any time of the year. Visitors can experience a variety of water features as they wander through this relaxing urban park.

Monday, July 24: Tex-Mex Dinner

Location: Joe T. Garcia’s Restaurant
Time: Load buses in front of the Omni beginning at 19:00. Dinner begins at 19:30.
Cost: $35 in advance; $45 on-site

Enjoy a mouthwatering Tex-Mex meal at Joe T. Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant. Tex-Mex cuisine melds traditional Mexican flavors with spicier Texan influences. Joe T’s was established on July 4, 1935, by Mr. and Mrs. Joe T. Garcia and remains in the same family today. Customers waited for hours just to try the famous enchiladas and handmade tortillas. By the 1970’s Joe T. Garcia’s was one of the most popular restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With its loyal customers, the restaurant began to grow not only in popularity, but in size. Even though the restaurant continues to grow, the same style of cooking and original recipes are used, and the same determination and love for the business that was instilled by parents and grandparents is evident in the younger generation.

We are also privileged to have 3 members of the Julio Alvarez Mariachi band entertain us; part of a rich and vibrant culture; a dynamic influence and part of Texas.

Shuttle bus transportation will be available for the evening back to the Omni hotel.

Tuesday, July 25: Women in Geoscience and Remote Sensing Luncheon

Location: Fort Worth Ballrom 4
Time: 12:20-13:40
Cost: $25 in advance; $30 on-site

Everyone is welcome! Be sure to register for the Women in GRSS Luncheon on Tuesday July 25, 2017. This will be the sixth consecutive year for the Women in GRSS Luncheon; links to past luncheons can be found on our website. The luncheon immediately follows the Women in STEM Forum, which we hope you can attend. The luncheon provides a forum for men & women interested in supporting diversity to interact in an informal setting. After a short welcome and introductions, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss & network with other participants and the Women in STEM Forum speakers over lunch.

Tuesday, July 25: Texas Night at Billy Bob’s

Location: Billy Bob’s Texas
Time: Load buses in front of the Omni beginning at 19:00. Dinner begins at 19:30.
Cost: $35 in advance; $45 on-site

Billy Bob’s Texas is the World’s Largest Honky-Tonk — a 127,000-square-foot dancehall, complete with live indoor professional bull riding every Friday and Saturday night. Billy Bob’s Texas provides live music nightly and an authentic western atmosphere. Have a delicious meal and step out with your friends as you channel your inner cowboy with line dancing or two-step lessons and have your photo taken on their signature faux bucking bull, or participate in a cowboy quick draw competition.

Shuttle bus transportation back to the Omni hotel will be available for the evening.

Please note the following policy on bags/containers at Billy Bob's Texas:

Wednesday, July 26: TIE Forum Luncheon

Location: Fort Worth Convention Center: Room 104
Time: 12:20 – 13:40
Cost: $25 in advance; $30 on-site

The TIE forum luncheon provides an opportunity for further interaction between all forum speakers and conference attendees. The lunch will be held on Wednesday between two sessions focusing on current topics related the remote sensing private sector. Brief introductory remarks will be provided by the TIE forum organizer and industry session moderator.

Wednesday, July 26: Technical Committee and Chapter Chairs' Dinner

Location: Fort Worth Ballrom 4
Time: 19:00 - 22:00
Cost: $35 in advance; $40 on-site

This event provides a venue for discussion of GRSS Technical Committee activities accompanied by a fine meal. The best 2016 Chapters as well as the data contest winners are awarded during the evening and some other surprises will be offered. Members of GRSS Technical Committees and GRSS Chapter Chairs are especially invited, but all IGARSS delegates (and guests) are welcome to participate.

Wednesday, July 26: IGARSS World Cup

Location: Campus Recreation Fields complex (CRFC), 1100 Allan Saxe Parkway (between W.Park Row drive and W. Mitchell Street off of Fielder Road)
Time: Load bus in front of the Omni beginning at 18:15. The game begins at 19:30.
Cost: $25 for participants (includes transportation and refreshment); $15 for spectators (includes transportation only)

It’s your shot for athletic glory as attendees from around the world vie for bragging rights at the IGARSS World Cup! The University of Texas at Arlington is your host. The weather likely will be very hot and humid! Further, since the World Cup will consist of two teams playing a single game, we are all likely to do quite a bit of running in the heat. The IGARSS committee will provide water bottles, energy drinks, fruit, and energy bars for the players, but we recommend coming equipped with additional sources of water to make sure we all stay hydrated. Wear light clothing (such as soccer shorts); t-shirts and penny jerseys will be provided. With regard to safety, soccer is a physical sport! Players will be of varying levels of experience, but we want to ensure that everyone is prepared for a competitive game. For that reason, we recommend bringing the proper safety equipment, such as shin guards and soccer cleats. The IGARSS committee will have medical support at the facility just in case there are any issues.

Finally, the IGARSS committee has also arranged for a grill to make burgers and hot dogs for the spectators (and players, though not recommended until after the game!), so that everyone can have the complete ‘at the ball game’ experience!

Looking forward to seeing everyone for a fun evening on the field!

Thursday, July 27: Young Professionals Luncheon

Location: Omni: Sundance 1
Time: 12:00 - 13:30
Cost:$25 in advance; $30 on-site

The Young Professionals (YP) GRSS luncheon provides an informal forum for YP to interact with their peers and IEEE senior members in an informal setting. The lunch will provide a forum for discussion on career paths, skill sets beneficial to secure employment in the geosciences and remote sensing industries, as well as professional development opportunities. The event will also include invited guests selected from among the GRSS professionals with extensive careers in the field.

Thursday, July 27: IGARSS 2017 Award Banquet

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Time: Load buses in front of the Omni beginning at 17:30.
Cost: $60 in advance; $75 on-site (not available past July 24th)

The IGARSS 2017 Awards Banquet will be held at AT&T Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys. The $1.2 billion stadium is an architectural marvel. In addition to professional football, it has hosted professional soccer matches, high school sporting events, professional bowling, monster trucks and supercross, professional wrestling, and dozens of concerts by artists such as The Rolling Stones, U2, George Strait, Tim McGraw, and One Direction. Not just a stadium or concert venue, AT&T Stadium is also home to a large collection of modern art. The collection is accessible to the public and meant to be seen by tourists and regulars alike. The Dallas Cowboys Art Collection consists of 16 site-specific works of art, along with 42 additional works that were acquired for the stadium collection. Each artist in the collection has pieces in permanent collections of prestigious museums around the world.

Once you arrive at the stadium you’ll begin your “backstage” technical tour of the facility. The tour will be about 45-minutes and involves a great deal of walking, so please wear good walking shoes. Dinner will await you as you return from the tour. Please join us for this special evening — facts, fun, awards, and more!

Buses will board for the return trip to the Omni at 21:40.

Friday, July 28: Rodeo Night at the Stockyards

Location: Cowtown Coliseum
Time: Load bus in front of the Omni beginning at 19:00. Rodeo from 20:00 to 22:00.
Cost: $28 in advance; $30 on-site

The Cowtown Coliseum was built in 1908 and is one of the architectural gems of the Fort Worth Stockyards. It was the site of the first-ever indoor rodeo, and it currently hosts the world’s only year-round rodeo. Grab a seat at the Stockyards Championship Rodeo, held every Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. You’ll see thrilling, authentic rodeo – bull riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping, bronc riding and more.

Upon arrival we suggest that you begin the evening by walking in the stockyard area; another unique experience. There are plenty of places to eat before you walk into the coliseum for the rodeo. The rodeo will end around 22:00, and our bus will be waiting for you in the front yard.