This awards helps support the 2011 Graduate Climate Conference workshop from October 28-30, 2011 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Specifically, the award provides support to approximately ten students for travel, housing, conference fees, and other costs incidental to participating in the two day climate science conference.
This graduate student organized conference is now in its fifth year and is a good venue for early career scientists to exchange ideas, formally and informally, on climate research and to foster interdisciplinary interactions. The general science topics planned for the meeting include paleoclimatology, atmosphere/ocean dynamics, biogeochemical cycles, the cryosphere, clouds/aerosols, climate forcing and feedbacks, and the biosphere. A unique feature of this year's conference is the attendance of advanced undergraduate science students. The abstract for all presentations made at the conference will be published online at MIT and archived for two years.
The goal of the Graduate Climate Conference (GCC) is to provide a discussion forum for graduate students undertaking research on climate and climate change in an array of disciplines, including atmospheric, biological, earth and ocean sciences. The format is designed to encourage new climate scientists to become acquainted with the details of diverse areas of climate research and to place their own research in the broader context of the climate science community. This year the conference was run by students in the MIT Program in Atmospheres, Oceans and Climate, and was be held at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod over 3 days, 28-30 October 2011. Selection for attendance was competitive and resulted in a strong and diverse pool of attendees. The attendance far exceeded expectations: 73 graduate students (4 from international institutions) and 2 undergraduate students. It was the first time that undergraduate students participated in the conference and their feedback was very positive. The keynote speaker was Professor Peter Huybers of Harvard University. The program consisted of 7 oral sessions and 3 poster sessions. Each oral session was preceded by an introductory talk given by the session chair to introduce the field. The complete program can be found at gcc2011.scripts.mit.edu. The NSF grant assisted with meals and housing, and most importantly it provided travel support for US students. Many attendees said that this was essential for their attendance, and it allowed to retain the highest quality speakers. The NSF grant was absolutely necessary for the success of the conference.
