The 2010 Rock Deformation Gordon Research Conference, held August 8-13, 2010 at Tilton School, New Hampshire, highlights the latest research and future trends in brittle and ductile rock mechanics, with experimental, field and theoretical contributions. This conference brings together experts and students in these research areas with experimentalists and theoreticians studying the same processes. Participants explore what is known about non steady-state deformation and how to advance current understanding through geological and geophysical field investigations, laboratory experiments and modeling. Thematic sessions are: 1) what is steady-state?; 2) seismogenic faulting and brittle fault rocks; 3) episodic creep during the seismic cycle; 4) deformation in zones of temperature and stress cycling; 5) deformation, metamorphism and fluids; 6) mechanism and microstructure transitions during deformation; 7) mechanism and microstructure transitions related to mantle geophysics. Participants include specialists in rock mechanics, seismology, tectonics, rheology, geodesy, and structural geology reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the conference theme. The program includes significant time for all conference participants to debate current problems and future research directions. The principal goal of this conference is not so much to assess or present what has already been accomplished, but rather to look towards the future and open up new research directions. The conference format is designed to involve established leaders, both men and women, in a range of disciplines, in discussion with all participants, and to inspire the postdoctoral scientists and graduate students who will carry the field forward.
The Gordon Research Conference on ROCK DEFORMATION was held at Tilton School, Tilton, New Hampshire, August 8-13, 2010. The Conference was well-attended with 127 participants (attendees list attached). The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students. Of the 127 attendees, 56 voluntarily responded to a general inquiry regarding ethnicity which appears on our registration forms. Of the 56 respondents, 4% were Minorities – 2% Hispanic and 2% Asian. Approximately 37% of the participants at the 2010 meeting were women. In designing the formal speakers program, emphasis was placed on current unpublished research and discussion of the future target areas in this field. There was a conscious effort to stimulate lively discussion about the key issues in the field today. Time for formal presentations was limited in the interest of group discussions. In order that more scientists could communicate their most recent results, poster presentation time was scheduled. Attached is a copy of the formal schedule and speaker program and the poster program. In addition to these formal interactions, "free time" was scheduled to allow informal discussions. Such discussions are fostering new collaborations and joint efforts in the field. Thank you for your support of this Conference. As you know, in the interest of promoting the presentation of unpublished and frontier-breaking research, Gordon Research Conferences does not permit publication of meeting proceedings
