A delegation from PEN-International, lead by Professor E. William Clymer, coordinator of PEN-International, traveled to Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU) to conduct a series of workshops focusing on issues related to deaf education. The conference coincided with the formal dedication and opening of an expansion to the PEN-International multimedia lab at the Center on Deafness at BMSTU on November 19, 2004.

Members of the PEN-International delegation included Professor Maria Shustorovich, NTID Department of Science and Mathematics, Kathleen Darroch, NTID Interpreting Services, and Nancy M. Castle, Ph.D. Professor, Rehabilitation Counseling at Northern Illinois University. PhDr. Daniela Janakova, Csc. of Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic met the delegation in Moscow and attended the conference.

The conference, organized by Dr. Alexander G. Stanevsky, director of the BMSTU Center on Deafness and Director of PEN-Russia, attracted over 50 educators of the deaf, from Bauman, school and governmental officials from Moscow and other educators from across Russia.

The conference program included speakers from the United States and members of the Center on Deafness faculty, including Dr. Stanevsky, Dr. V. Safronov, Dr. O. Oreshkina and Professor G. Kirasonva. All the presentations provided both theoretical constructs and practical examples of the topics being addressed. Additionally at the close of the first day of presentations a round table discussion and summary was lead by Dr. Stanevsky.

Professor Clymer had the opportunity to meet with the leaders of three programs serving postsecondary deaf students from other areas of Russia. The purpose of these discussions was to begin the process of expanding the PEN-International structure within Russia. Additionally, Clymer met with representatives of Armenian Republic government to share information regarding the implementation of programs serving deaf students.

The highlight of the conference was the opening of the expansion of the PEN-International Multimedia Lab. The celebration was led by the Rector of the BMSTU, I.B.Fedorov. Dr. James DeCaro, director of PEN-International, offered an email message of congratulations that was read to the audience at the beginning of the remarks by the assembled dignitaries.

The sophistication of the new capabilities of the lab resulted in significant local and national media coverage in newspapers such as Izvestia.