Nottingham Conferences, the conference and events portfolio of the University of Nottingham has won the contract to host the annual The Association for Science Education Conference in 2010.

Around 1,000 visitors and exhibitors are expected to attend the conference (7-9 January 2010) on each of the three days. The value of the event, which is returning to the University after 22 years, is around £60,000 but will also see further economic benefit being invested into the surrounding area as a result of delegates staying on campus, as well as in local hotels. A number of the delegates also come from outside of the UK providing Nottingham with an ideal opportunity to showcase the destination to an international audience.

The Annual Conference of the ASE is one of the largest science professional development events in the world. It typically involves over 3,000 science educators from all phases of science education, who choose from a selection of over 400 talks, workshops, seminars and booked courses during its three day run. The event will also include a major exhibition of science textbooks and resources, materials and apparatus, which will fill 3,000 square metres of marquee space.

Kirstie Danzey, Marketing Manager for Nottingham Conferences added; "We're delighted to be welcoming back the ASE Conference. With our science faculties we are an ideal choice of venue and we're delighted to be helping to showcase Nottingham as a destination."

Belinda Blakeney, ASE Director of Conferences, said: "We need a full range of facilities for our event, which includes everything from an auditorium, to smaller meeting rooms, laboratories and enough space to hold the two exhibition marquees. Nottingham Conferences was able to accommodate all our needs. They have welcomed us and been very professional and we're looking forward to coming back."