The 2012 V. M. Goldschmidt Conference in Montreal, Canada will provide an excellent opportunity for young geochemists to share their research with the scientific community, learn about cutting edge research taking place around the world, and interact with senior scientists specializing in their specific realm of interest. Thematic issues to be addressed at the conference span a broad range of sub-disciplines in low- and high- temperature geochemistry, including evolution of the early Earth, the solar system, climate, ocean chemistry, and continental crust; formation, evolution and dynamics of deep earth materials; subduction, the mantle wedge and arc volcanism; earth surface processes; interfacial geochemistry; earth resources; atmospheric aerosols; global geochemical cycles; environmental impacts of human activities; computational geochemistry; analytical techniques; geomicrobiology; evolution of life and astrobiology; geochemical kinetics; medical geochemistry; geoengineering and remediation; and hydrogeochemistry and the water cycle. In addition to oral and poster presentation sessions, students will have an opportunity to participate in field trips as well as short courses. This proposal puts forth a method for fairly selecting and distributing travel support funds to the most qualified student applicants, to ensure that 30 or more have an opportunity to benefit from all the resources to be assembled at the conference. In addition to the funding requested from NSF, the Geochemical Society will contribute $10,000, bringing the total number of student opportunities to 40.
International scientific meetings are the primary networking outlet for researchers of all experience levels. For students, these meetings are often the first opportunity to interact with members of the international scientific community. As the premier international geochemical conference, the Goldschmidt Conference plays a critical role in introducing young researchers to the world of geochemistry beyond their home institutions. The lingering effects of such an international learning and networking experience can be life changing for a student struggling to gain a foothold in the scientific community.
The proposed student travel support program will enable the best and brightest students from the US and US Territories, students who might otherwise be unable to attend due to financial constraints at their home institutions, to benefit from all the advantages this meeting has to offer at this turning point in their respective careers. Every effort will be made to encourage women, underrepresented minorities, and people with disabilities to apply for funding, and to ensure, as much as possible, that the full range of demographic diversity sampled by today's geosciences graduate student community is represented among the awardees. Encouraging participation by underrepresented groups in international events such as the Goldschmidt Conference will increase the diversity of the core group of senior geoscientists in the years to come.
This National Science Foundation award was used to subsidize travel and conference costs for 30 outstanding young scientists pursuing degrees in geochemistry at 24 different U.S. colleges and universities. Specifically, the award helped them attend and present their scientific work at the 2012 Goldschmidt Conference in Montreal Canada, held June 24-29, 2012. The Goldschmidt Conference is the premier international venue for the dissemination of cutting-edge geochemistry research in a wide range of disciplines, ranging from planetary geology to energy resources to environmental geology. The 2012 conference included 2,968 total participants, of whom 790 were students, representing institutions from around the globe. Over 120 applications for NSF-sponsored student travel funds were received from eligible students. These applications were evaluated by a 16-member review committee, comprised of scientists from 15 internationally-ranked institutions. Each student receiving an NSF award presented a talk or poster at the Goldschmidt Conference, and had the unique opportunity to meet with and learn from an oustanding, international group of scientists. Student feedback indicated that the experience was excellent, with many students reporting significant opportunities to learn, network and establish new collaboration with colleagues from around the world. This professional development opportunity also served to encourage students to continue their STEM education and career paths.
