The Theoretical and Experimental Institute (TEI) for the Subduction Cycles and Deformation (SCD) initiative is now open for applications. The TEI is held on the three full days of October 12-14 and is intended to provide a summary of progress made in the science objectives of the SCD initiative (as discussed in the Science and Implementation plan available through geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com). Applicants do not have to have worked on projects funded by GeoPRISMS. We expect a broad and diverse audience drawn from domestic and international researchers, including graduate students and early career scientists, who are interested in the structure and dynamics of subduction zones.
Funding
The TEI is funded by the National Science Foundation through the GeoPRISMS Office at the University of Michigan. There is no registration fee. Due to space restrictions the meeting will be strictly limited to 150 participants. We will be able to cover on-site expenses (venue costs, hotel expenses based on double occupancy, and breakfast+lunch) for up to 120 participants. Most participants will have to cover travel to and from the meeting. Partial funding for travel is available for students and postdocs. We will not be able to provide dinner on-site but there are plenty of restaurants nearby.
Confirmed participants whose on-site expenses are covered are expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon and leave on Thursday morning.
Organizing Committee
Jeff Freymueller (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Sarah Penniston-Dorland (University of Maryland), Donna Shillington (Columbia/LDEO), Kelin Wang (Pacific Geoscience Centre), Erin Wirth (University of Washington), Gene Yogodzinski (University of South Carolina). Ex officio: Peter van Keken (GeoPRISMS Office/University of Michigan).
Important Dates
Monday July 27: Applications are invited via the meeting webpage at /tei-scd-2015/
Friday August 21: Application deadline
Friday August 28: Successful applicants are invited to confirm participation
Friday September 11: Deadline for confirmation of attendance
Late September: Final meeting agenda is released
Location
The Portofino hotel at Redondo Beach, CA. The hotel is located just 8 miles (13 km) south of the main Los Angeles airport (LAX). Shuttle service is available for transport from and to the airport in addition to cab services).
Student and postdoc symposium
On Sunday before the meeting we will hold a student and postdoc symposium which will feature short presentations by the attendees and discussion with the conveners and NSF program managers. The meeting starts at 3 pm. We encourage all students and postdocs to attend and to arrange their travel accordingly, after confirmation of attendance.
Draft agenda
The agenda will develop as the list of participants is completed. We will have five sessions focused on different components of the subduction system (each featuring a keynote speaker and invited and contributed presentations) and a summary session. There will be ample time for discussion. We will have dedicated poster sessions in the afternoons.
Sessions with confirmed keynote and invited speakers:
Possible field trip to Santa Catalina Island
We may be able to organize an optional field trip (led by Sarah Penniston-Dorland) to Santa Catalina Island on Thursday October 15. This will give participants the opportunity to see amphibolite- and blueschist-facies rocks that have been exhumed from a paleosubduction zone. There is no NSF funding for this trip and participants will need to cover all expenses. We estimate that the cost (including transport from hotel to ferry terminal, ferry ride, transport on Catalina, breakfast and lunch; accommodation at the Portofino for one more night) is around $400-$500 per person. The departure time from the hotel (to catch the first ferry to the island) will be at 5:15am. Cost for participants who do not require an additional night of accommodation will be adjusted. Capacity for the field trip is limited and we will confirm participants on a first-come, first-served basis after receipt of payment.
If you are interested in participating in the field trip please send an email to Peter van Keken (keken@umich.edu) as soon as possible but certainly before the application deadline. We will follow up with details on logistics. Payment to confirm participation will be due by the end of August.