Volcano's delays prevent Internet pioneer from speaking at USF symposium

TAMPA — Volcano-induced delays in European air travel will keep a second pioneer in his field from a speaking date at the University of South Florida.

Robert E. Kahn, an engineer and computer scientist considered to be one of the inventors of the Internet, canceled his Wednesday evening address at USF's conference on wireless technology after being stranded in Geneva, the university said.

On Monday, USF said world-renowned shipwreck explorer David L. Mearns was similarly caught in Norway. He had been scheduled to give a lecture Tuesday at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

A winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kahn had been scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. But organizers said the rest of the wireless telecommunications symposium will continue as scheduled Wednesday through Friday at the Embassy Suites at USF, 3705 Spectrum Blvd.

The event will draw experts from the private sector, universities and government for presentations and discussions on "Global Wireless Communications — the Next Generation."

For the symposium schedule, visit www.csupomona.edu/~wtsi/wts/index.htm