Submitting an abstract to EGU GA 2012

Writing Your Abstract

• Abstracts should be short (300–500 words), clear, concise and written in English with correct spelling and good sentence structure.
• Mathematical symbols and equations must be typed in, and metric symbols should be used. Figures and tables should not be included.
• We recommend that the abstract is carefully compiled and thoroughly checked, in particular with regard to the list of authors, before submission in order to avoid last minute changes.
• The submission of an abstract carries with it the obligation that it is actually presented at the meeting by the author or, at least, by one of the co-authors.

Submitting Your Abstract

1. Use a text editor of your choice to compile your abstract: Title, Author(s), Affiliation(s) of author(s), and the Abstract Text;
2. Browse through the Session Programme and select the session of your interest;
3. Use the link “Abstract Submission” at the respective session;
4. You are asked to login to the Copernicus Office Meeting Organizer. Use your account data or create a new account;
5. Fill in the information about Title, Author(s), and Affiliation(s) of author(s);
6. Choose between Plain Text, LaTeX or WORD content with regard to the Abstract Text;
7. Copy-and-Paste your information into the form or download and use the WORD template;
8. Check the generated PDF file of your edited and formatted abstract;
9. If the conversion of your abstract fails please specify your problems when contacting Copernicus;
10. In any case, please indicate your invoice details for the Abstract Processing Charge as well as your payment details;
11. Submit your abstract. Your credit card will be checked and debited.

Authors may decide to submit their abstract with a preference either for a poster presentation or for an oral presentation. However, there is no guarantee that an oral preference can be realized.

First Author Rule: Regarding the oral preference, you are allowed as first author to submit either ONE regular abstract plus ONE abstract solicited by a convener, or TWO solicited abstracts. Each further abstract has to be submitted with a poster preference. If you submit to a session belonging to the programme group EOS, you are allowed as first author to submit ONE more abstract with an oral preference (THREE in total).

The Abstract Processing Charge

• An Abstract Processing Charge (APC) of €40 gross must be paid for each abstract submission.
• Abstracts are only processed and available for the session organization by conveners after the payment is completed. Please note that this is a processing charge and not a publishing fee.
• APCs are not refundable in case of an abstract withdrawal, rejection or double submission. The charges collected cover the cost to process the abstracts whether or not one attends the meeting.
• The APC does not register you for the EGU2012 General Assembly. Separate registration fees apply.
• Solicited Speakers do not receive discounted APCs, registration fees, or travel reimbursement.

In case of any questions, please contact us.

This information can also be found on the EGU GA 2012 webpages.

Sand Dunes at EGU GA 2012

Several participants in the Geoblogsphere having been posting recently about sand dunes. Its part of Sand Dune Week declared on twitter by Brian Romans. Some of the posts are listed by Matthew Francis or find more by searching on twitter for “sand dune week”.

There are three sessions at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2012 directly related to sand dunes, these are listed below. To submit an abstract visit the meeting website.

GM5.1 Aeolian Processes and Landforms

Convener: J.M. Nield, Co-Convener: J. King
Aeolian geomorphology covers a wide spectrum of research from the small scale study of processes in the field or laboratory to modelling projects predicting long-term dune field evolution. This session aims to bring together a diverse group of researchers that study wind-blown sediment (both sand and dust) and associated bedforms in a range of environments, from coastal and semi-arid regions, to hyper arid deserts. Contributions that use novel instrumentation in field studies, remote sensing at the landscape scale or innovative numerical modelling methods, are encouraged, particularly those which attempt to elucidate feedback between surface properties and sediment transport.

GM10.1/PS2.9 Planetary Geomorphology

Convener: S. Conway, Co-Conveners: M. Balme , C. Gallagher
This session aims to give a different perspective on planetary science by bringing together geomorphologists from terrestrial sciences with those who spend more time on other planets. Studies of landscapes on any scale on any solid body are welcome. We particularly encourage those who use Earth analogues (either in the field or laboratory) to present their work. Submissions can include studies on glacial, periglacial, aeolian, volcanic or fluvial landforms. We welcome submissions from geomorphologists who are new to planetary science.

AS4.13/CL4.7 Aeolian dust, initiator, player, and recorder of environmental change

Convener: P. Knippertz, Co-Convener: J.-B. Stuut

The interactions between aerosols, climate, and weather are among the large uncertainties of current climate and atmospheric research. Mineral dust is an important natural source of aerosol with significant implications on radiation, cloud microphysics, atmospheric chemistry and the carbon cycle via the fertilization of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
In addition, properties of dust deposited in sediments and ice cores are important (paleo-)climate indicators.

This interdivision session is open to contributions dealing with:
(1) measurements of all aspects of the dust cycle (emission, transport, deposition, size distribution, particle characteristics) with in situ and remote sensing techniques,
(2) numerical simulations of dust on global and regional scales,
(3) meteorological conditions for dust storms, dust transport and deposition,
(4) interactions of dust with clouds and radiation,
(5) influence of dust on atmospheric chemistry,
(6) fertilization of ecosystems through dust deposition,
(7) any study using dust as a (paleo-)climate indicator including investigations of Loess, ice cores, lake sediments, ocean sediments and dunes.

We especially encourage our colleagues to submit papers on the integration of different disciplines and/or modeling of past, present and future climates.

Image by Ioannis Daglis, distributed by EGU under a Creative Commons licence.

Townhall and Splinter Meetings at EGU GA 2012

Townhall Meetings
Townhall Meetings are meetings open for all participants in the conference at which new initiatives or decisions are announced to a larger audience following an open discussion on the matter raised.

Anyone may organize such a Townhall Meeting subject to approval by the Programme Committee chair. Townhall Meetings will be scheduled from Monday – Friday, 23 – 27 April 2012, 19:00–20:00 in the lecture rooms of the congress centre. Applications should be forwarded to the Programme Committee chair by using the Townhall Meeting Request Form. Upon acceptance, the respective meeting will appear in the Townhall Meetings Programme as a regular session.

Splinter Meetings
Splinter Meetings can be organized by participants during the course of the conference, 23 – 27 April 2012. Splinter Meetings can be public or by invitation only. The EGU has reserved 8 extra rooms free of charge for the Splinter Meeting organizer(s). Please note, that these splinter meeting rooms are not available for booking as an extension of a session or a Poster Summary Discussion (PSD). These kind of requests will automatically be withdrawn. Conveners can request a PSD room in their Session Organizing Tool SOII from 30 January to 02 February 2012. To request a Splinter meeting fill in the online form.

Deadline approaching: applications for the GIFT Symposium

Applications for the 2012 GIFT Symposium should be received by November 30, 2011. Send your application via email to any of the members of the Committee on Education preferentially the member in your country if there is one. Details for the application are below.

The 2012-GIFT (Geosciences Information for Teachers) symposium will take place on April 23-25, 2012 during the General Assembly of EGU in Vienna Austria. The general theme of the workshop is « Water!» and will be dedicated to the study of the hydrological problems of our planet.

The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. It also involves the exchange of heat energy, which leads to temperature changes. The water cycle figures significantly in the maintenance of life, society and ecosystems on Earth. However, several problems threaten water resources today, which are related to the unsustainable use of water and the lack of adequate supply of water in many parts of the world. Such problems are caused by an ever increasing population, consumerism, urbanization and changes in agricultural practice.

In addition, as the water cycle involves heat exchange, it has a two-way feedback with our climate as well. In particular, the effects of atmospheric global warming on the water cycle are significant. Observed warming over several decades has been linked to changes in the large-scale hydrological cycle such as:

• increasing atmospheric water vapor content;
• changing precipitation patterns, intensity and extremes;
• reduced snow cover and widespread melting of ice;
• and changes in soil moisture and runoff.

As a consequence, water resources have already been deeply affected by global warming: sea levels have risen, glaciers have retreated. The hydrological cycle is heavily affected by land use change which in turn affects groundwater recharge. The above problems cause concerns in almost every sector of everyday life, and geo-engineers are seeking ways of mitigation. All water bodies are going to be affected by global warming, making knowledge of the water cycle essential for any kind of human activity. Entire regions on Earth would face extreme temperatures eventually associated with torrential rainfalls whilst other regions would experience scarcity of water and droughts.

In the GIFT workshop “Water!” all the different aspects of the water cycle will be described and discussed. Talks will focus on global freshwater availability and distribution, overexploitation of water, strategies for sustainable use of water in the future and the threats by environmental change. Particular regions where global warming will have a major impact, such as the regions depending on the water supply from the Himalayan, Alpine and Andes mountain glaciers will be used as exemplars. The use of naturally occurring isotopes to “fingerprint” sources of water in precipitation and rivers, and the presence of ‘ancient’ water beneath the deserts and other areas, will also be discussed..

Focus will also be put on climate model simulations for the 21st century, mitigation measures to reduce the magnitude of impacts of global warming on water resources, and water resources management and its impacts on other policy areas.

As in every GIFT Symposium, contributions by the attending teachers on particular “off-the-program” activities that they may have had in their classrooms are particularly welcomed, either as poster or oral presentations, even if their subject is not directly related to the theme of the workshop.

Also, a first step will be a guided visit to the Vienna Museum of Natural Sciences, on Sunday April 22 afternoon, followed by a small reception as an ice-breaker event.

Grants are available to support teachers to participate in the 2012 Geosciences Information for Teachers (GIFT) Symposium at the 2012 European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. Selected teachers will receive a travel /hotel stipend and free registration to the meeting.

Participating teachers will be selected based on their teaching experience and a supporting statement from their school administration. Selected teachers will be expected to attend the entire workshop and submit a statement within 1 year after the workshop on their impression of the workshop and how they plan to use this experience in their future teaching activities.

To apply please submit the following information:

• Applicant name, contact information, E-mail address
• School name and address
• List the subjects you teach, and the ages of students
• The workshop will be conducted in English. Please describe your capability to understand and speak English.
• A description of any leadership activities you have taken at your school or in national educational activities (examples: training new teachers, developing curriculum, etc.).
• A letter of recommendation from the senior administrator in your school supporting your application (by attached pdf document).
• (Optional) There will be opportunities for teachers to present any creative science activities they have developed for their classrooms to other teachers at the workshop. These presentations can be in the form of a talk, a poster or a demonstration. If you would like to present a science activity, please provide a title and description for inclusion in the program.

Applications should be received as soon as possible and in any case no later than November 30, 2011.

This information is also available in pdf format.

Financial Support for EGU GA 2012

A limited amount of the overall budget of the EGU General Assembly 2012 is reserved to assist young scientists to attend the assembly. The financial support may include waiving of the registration fee and a refund of the Abstract Processing Charge (APC) related to the abstract for which support was requested. Additionally, the grant may include a support for travel expenditures.

The European Geosciences Union’s definition of Young Scientist is available online and is below: by 1 January of the year when the award is presented the scientist should be:

• be in age 35* or younger.
• be an undergraduate or postgraduate (Masters/PhD) student or have received her/his highest degree qualification (e.g., BSc, MSc, PhD) within the last seven years*.

* Where appropriate, up to one year of parental leave time may be added per child.

Please note, that the Abstract Processing Charge (APC) is also applied in case of support applications.

Each support award is granted to the contact author for a particular abstract. Should this abstract be withdrawn before the meeting or should this abstract not be presented at the meeting although the author who has been awarded is present at the meeting, the award has to be returned, i.e. the author in question will be asked to register and, if necessary, to pay back the money received. Awards cannot be transferred!

There are currently three different financial support schemes run by the European Geosciences Union.

1. Young Scientist’s Travel Award for Europeans (YSTA): This award includes a free registration together with a refund of the Abstract Processing Charge (APC) related to the abstract for which support was requested. Depending on the decision of the Support Committee an additional financial support for the travel expenditures with a maximum of €300 could be granted as well. Only the granted amount mentioned in the financial support email will be paid out to the supported contact author personally during the EGU General Assembly 2012.
2. Adrian Gill Travel Award (AGTA): For a young scientist from Britain to take part in a session of the Atmospheric Sciences or Ocean Sciences programme. This award includes a free registration together with a refund of the Abstract Processing Charge (APC) related to the abstract for which support was requested. Depending on the decision of the Support Committee an additional financial support for the travel expenditures with a maximum of €300 could be granted as well. Only the granted amount mentioned in the financial support email will be paid out to the supported contact author personally during the EGU General Assembly 2012.
3. Keith Runcorn Travel Award for Non-Europeans (KRTA): This award includes a free registration together with a refund of the Abstract Processing Charge (APC) related to the abstract for which support was requested. Depending on the decision of the Support Committee an additional financial support for the travel expenditures with a maximum of €500 could be granted as well. Only the granted amount mentioned in the financial support email will be paid out to the supported contact author personally during the EGU General Assembly 2012.

Scientists, who wish to apply for financial support must be the principal author of their contribution, and they must submit an abstract by 15 December 2011. The EGU support selection committee will decide about the support of individual contribution until 28 January 2012. All applicants will be informed afterwards.

For the submission of your abstract/application for financial support, please follow the normal procedure and tick the appropriate boxes during submission. A screenshot of the first screen of the abstract submission process is shown below, the support application section is in the red box.

This information is also available on the EGU GA 2012 webpages.

EGU General Assembly 2012 Call for Papers

Abstract submission for the EGU General Assembly 2012 (EGU2012) is now open. The General Assembly is being held from Sunday 22 Apr 2012 to Friday 27 Apr 2012 at the Austria Center Vienna, Austria.

You can browse through the Sessions online.

Each Session shows the link Abstract Submission. Using this link you are asked to log in to the Copernicus Office Meeting Organizer. You may submit the text of your contribution as plain text, LaTeX, or MS Word content. Please pay attention to the First Author Rule.

The deadline for the receipt of Abstracts is 17 January 2012. In case you would like to apply for support, please submit no later than 15 December 2011. Information about the financial support available can be found on the Support and Distinction part of the EGU GA 2012 website.

Further information about the EGU General Assembly 2012 on it’s webpages. If you have any questions email the meeting organisers Copernicus.

Glacial Balance

Some of you may know me already since Jennifer was kind enough to introduce me in a previous blog post. For those of you who don’t, I am EGU’s Media and Communications Officer, who joined the EGU Executive Office in Munich in early September.

One of the perks of this job is receiving e-mails advertising interesting and exciting geosciences-related initiatives. In my first post on the EGU blog, I’d like to tell you about one of these, which popped up in my inbox just a few days ago.

The e-mail was from Ethan Steinman, a filmmaker based in Seattle, US, who wrote to me about his latest project, “Glacial Balance”. This documentary film shows the effects of climate change on Andean glaciers. In Ethan’s words:

“Glacial Balance” is a look at the effects of Andean glaciers on the lives of those depending on their existence. Getting to know the individuals and lives of those who will be first affected by the dwindling glacier reserve, the canaries in the mine. For our journey we will be accompanied by an international team of glaciologists and paleoclimatologists who will give us a perspective on what is really happening and what we can expect. Our end goal, to bring home the global warming debate and understand just how this will affect us, the viewer. Regardless of the city, country, racial or ethnic background… we will all be affected, unless action is taken.

The film features stunning views of the Andean landscape, and takes the viewer in an exciting journey through the Andes, from Argentina to Colombia. It includes interviews with famous personalities and renowned geoscientists, such as Al Gore and Dr. Lonnie Thompson, a member of the team accompanying Ethan to South America.

Ethan’s goal is to have the film completed in early March next year. At the moment, he’s trying to raise money for post-production expenses.

I’d love to see this documentary ready in time for EGU’s General Assembly in April, not only because I think it is a worthwhile and interesting project, but also because Ethan accepted to show it in the 2012 edition of the GeoCinema. There’s a campaign on at IndieGoGo, and I have donated already. Maybe you’d like to help Ethan out too?

This post expresses the personal opinion of the author, whose views may differ from those of the European Geosciences Union.

New official twitter account for the EGU: @EuroGeosciences

The European Geosciences Union has a new official twitter account: @EuroGeosciences.

This account will be a constant account throughout the year, replacing @egu2011 (which replaced @egu2010). It will have news from the EGU year round, along with General Assembly items for the EGU GA 2012 and beyond.

This is the first of several developments concerning media and social media activities of the European Geosciences Union following the appointment of our new Media and Communications Officer: Bárbara Ferreira.

Deadline for call for session for EGU GA 2012 Approaching

The deadline for the call for sessions for the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2012 is 16th September 2011. To submit a session proposal visit the EGU GA 2012 website and visit the Call for Sessions Tool. You will need to log in with your user name and password.

Come and meet EGU at AOGS

Are you going to be at the AOGS 2011 8th Annual Meeting and Geosciences World Community Exhibition? If so, come and meet the European Geosciences Union at Booth B4 of the Exhibition Area in Room 101 on Level 1 of the Taipei International Convention Center. The exhibits will be open Monday 8th to Thursday 11th August between 08:30 and 18:00 each day. The Executive Secretary Philippe Courtial and the EGU Science Communications Postdoctoral Fellow Jennifer Holden will be in attendance.