What do you get when you put a bunch of lawyers on a college campus? That may sound like the start to a joke, but in fact, you get an event that brings people from all around the world to Eugene.

The Public Interest Environmental Law Conference at the University of Oregon brings together thousands of lawyers, scientists, students, and activists.

For those who choose the path of environmental law over something else, like corporate or trial law, this weekend offers a chance to work together, with like-minded people, towards a common passion.

"I think it's about where your heart is," explains Martin Wagner, an attorney with Oakland, California-based Earthjustice. "I think if you really care about the environment, you look around you, you see the kinds of problems our planet is facing, and you realize you have a law degree and you want to do something good with it, well, you follow your heart."

The four-day event includes more than 100 panel discussion, on topics ranging from litigation over national forest lands, to climate change in Alaska.

But even more importantly, they say, this weekend is a chance to network, share strategies, and an opportunity to bounce ideas off one another.

"And to learn from each other and further the movement and the efforts," explains conference co-director Amanda Freeman. "In addition, it's really a place for people to recharge and get hope, learn what's going on, in the field, gather their energies, and go back and do our work with more energy."

The conference continues through Sunday, all over campus, from the law school to the EMU. The panel discussions and conversations are free, and the public is welcome to attend.

For more information, and a schedule of events for the rest of the weekend, just click on "News Links".