"The cops anticipated something large. The SWAT team is here as well as riot police. They're very, very prepared," said James L. Augusta, the shift supervisor for security at the convention center.

But compared to police fears, "it's quiet right now," he said.

Participants in the conference seemed similarly unfazed by the demonstrators.

"I would say it is not affecting the conference," said an information agent for BIO 2000. "People didn't know they were here."

Richard Braun, the CEO of a biotech company and a conference speaker, said the protests were "a peaceful way of showing one's concern," but said they did not affect his decision to attend the conference.

" I've seen enough of these [protests] at conferences in different countries," Braun said. "I'm personally convinced that biotech will be important. As with any new technology we must realize the limitations and come to a social agreement on how to use it."

Arriving at such an agreement was part of the goal of the conference, which included sessions on "New Directions in Biotechnology Education" and "Biotechnology and Environmental Health" among others.