HOUSTON - The annual Turbomachinery & Pump Symposium for 2020 has been canceled, Turbo Lab director Eric Petersen said in an email to exhibitors.

The event was scheduled for Sept. 15-17 in Houston, with short courses on Sept. 14, but like many other events, has been called off due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Petersen said a virtual version of the event, likely in early December, would be held in its place with details to follow.

The Turbo Lab coronavirus task force took into account a survey with more than 290 responses in making a decision to cancel the live event.

Of course, this heavy decision is based on a combination of factors but is due in large part to the global COVID-19 pandemic," Petersen said in the letter. "Above all, I have the utmost concern for the health and safety of the Turbomachinery Laboratory staff, our local city and contracted support teams, and the many potential participants of the symposia. In addition, uncertainties in the regional, national, and international situation over the duration of the calendar year make planning for a live or even hybrid event extremely difficult at best. These uncertainties include the economic environment of the industry, fluid administrative constraints at all levels, and the future travel policies of engineering companies both large and small, among many others.

Next year's TPS is scheduled for December 14-16 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.