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On Mon, 12 Sep 2005, Andy Rindsberg wrote:
> Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:59:35 -0500
> From: Andy Rindsberg <arindsberg@gsa.state.al.us>
> Reply-To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
> To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk, vrtpaleo@usc.edu
> Subject: paleonet Student travel to meetings
>
> With travel costs lurching upward, it would be a good year for societies and
> agencies to increase support to students to attend meetings. Any ideas on
> ways and means?
>
> Andrew K. Rindsberg
> Geological Survey of Alabama
>
Dear Meeting-Organisers,
one important purpose of a meeting is exchanging information,
particularly keeping the participants on the forefront of the respective
field (e.g. that nothing is overlooked).
Thus I propose:
1) That participants hand in the "normal" abstract that is burned on CD
and distributed as abstract volume to participants.
2) That participants hand in an extended abstract of 4+ pages that
is also burned on the CD and put on the web after and/or during the
meeting. This ensures maximum spread of information, also of the
speakers.
The same might apply to posters (each one "A4" page that can be zoomed
in at the computer). That is: To be delivered as Wordfile of 1 A4 page.
Technically it can be the standard A0 (e.g. enough information on it)
bpu there)tup t here).wise, as said, A4 (the file before sent to the
plotter and zoomed up there).
The same might apply / applies to Power Point Presentations, possibly
in a commented form.
INQUA set after the Reno meeting a lucid example in this direction
as after the meeting they made the abstracts available as download
in the internet for those who could not come (for example for health
reasons).
The extended abstract approach was also applied at the IGC in Rio 2000.
****************
For those traveling physically:
A sharing-platform might be introduced.
Proven example:
I attended the EUG meeting 2001 in Strasbourg with no Hotel available
short before the meeting. Of course I knew that the Holiday Inn nearby
regularly gets free rooms on a standby basis (e.g. no-shows).
At that time: None.
At the same time Bulgarian geologists arrived who had been late because
while their bus crossed Yugoslavia the bombings started (not a joke,
they told me so and the news had been consistent with this).
One star hotels where also short.
As we all stood at the same time at the Hotel-desk of the conference:
My proposition (which we did):
We took a room at the Hilton, which was also nearby and more expensive.
They gave me the 1 star rate (so I did not pay more than the Holiday
Inn) and they did not pay more than one star.
This concept can be applied systematically through the internet
by conference-organisers. It might apply only for some.
If however this way people could participate that otherwise couldn t
it is worth trying.
Estimated percentage: 10%. On the IGC/AGU meetings this would mean
500-1000 people.
As names and institutes are known, safety is higher than generally.
Possibly there should be an additional field: Not with a person
from inst/working group (name) and other exclude(!) fields (such as
no smoker).
3) I found out a decade ago that attending a large meeting is as
expensive as attending a small meeting (Hotel costs).
I focused then on the IGCs, the EUG meetings and of course those of
a program where I am involved (ODP, now IODP).
Above cost-aspect in mind societies might think more and more about
holding meetings together.
In addition Societies might think to _intentionally_ (not a joke)
locate meetings from Friday 15(3 pm) until 20 (8 pm) and to Monday 12
am. An announcement: Preprepared non-diate breads ("full load of
nutrients") are available at USD (n) might convince hesitant
participants to have such "late night" sessions.
As on the IGC there are regularly evening sessions (18-20) this
should work.
This way reduced weekend rates are possibly. If the societies are
of medium size they should either book a holiday resort with
such incentive rates or locate the meeting in a large city well away
from other meetings / trade fairs so Hotel rates keep low.
I am aware that several people might not be perfectly happy spending
the weekend on Geology.
The question addressed budget issues. In this context I provided the
a possible answer.
In addition political issues should be considered.
I really wanted to go to the recent NHM computer-methods meeting
(London), particularly as we in Muenster have a long tradition with it.
Knowing however that I am not able to run fast if a subway is bombed
(in a war the "other side" normally shoots back) I did not do so.
(Official Lufthansa-line: By their spokesman: "Rabbit-hearts live
longer").
Locating the meetings at low-interest places and in regions where at
a certain time railways/busses/airlines normally provide discounts
might also be a suggestion.
And a last suggestion, mainly for Europe and the US:
If one cannot afford a flight one should rent the plane.
That is (not a joke): The process to rent a whole plane is the same
as renting a bus for an excursion. The whole plane (such as a 70 seat
BAe or a short 737) is often, also by well-known airlines, remarkably
low to rent. Of course the organiser has the financial risk.
Airlines rent also to students (at least in the late seventies)
provided that the cash is handed in before departure.
Best regards
Peter
**********************************************************************
Dr. Peter P. Smolka
University Muenster
Geological Institute
Corrensstr. 24
D-48149 Muenster
Tel.: +49/251/833-3989 +49/2533/4401
Fax: +49/251/833-3989 +49/2533/4401
E-Mail: smolka@uni-muenster.de
E-Mail: PSmolka@T-Online.de
**********************************************************************
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