($400-$600 Travel Awards)

The University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) is a non-profit organization of over fifty universities and other research institutions dedicated to expanding and strengthening geographic information science. The organization will hold its Annual Assembly and Summer Retreat from June 21-24 at the Resort at the Mountain (western base of Mt. Hood east of Portland, Oregon). See www.ucgis.org/oregon/ for continually updated information on the conference.

Graduate students from UCGIS member institutions are invited to submit an abstract for participation in the Annual Assembly. Our goal is to attract high quality presentations from across the U.S. to foster interdisciplinary discussions among computer science, engineering, geography, natural resources, physical science, social science and other academic programs engaged in geographic information science investigations and research.

One student will be selected from each UCGIS institution to receive a travel stipend to attend the meeting. Selected students will present a poster on their research and will be encouraged to prepare an article for
the electronic proceedings. From those accepted, nine students will be selected to present their papers orally in a plenary session. Additional students from each UCGIS institution are invited to attend, present posters, and fully participate even if not receiving a travel award. Deadline for all abstracts, regardless of funding source, is March 31, 2000.

Stipends will be $400 west of the Mississippi River and $600 east of the
Mississippi, plus a complimentary registration to the Assembly. The stipend covers travel, meals and accommodations up to the stated limit.

Funding Details:

Travel - Air travel arrangements will be made through, and paid for, by UCGIS. Airline reservations must include a Saturday night stay, if required for the most economic fare. Those driving will be reimbursed for mileage, up to the cost of an airline ticket to the Assembly.

Accommodations - Housing will be at the Resort at the Mountain from Wednesday, June 21st through Saturday, June 24th. Students are expected to share a room and therefore UCGIS is willing to reimburse only up to $50 per night for your room.

Meals - The complimentary student registration covers continental breakfast and lunch Thursday through Saturday, dinner on Thursday, and a social reception Wednesday evening.

Other Expenses - Additional expenses will be paid up to the established
total offer of $400 or $600 but only to the extent that additional expenses are actual and are within the limit established at the standard federal government rate for Welches, Oregon. UCGIS will not reimburse for meals when provided by the registration fee nor will it cover the cost of alcoholic beverages.

Expense reports, including receipts, must be submitted to UCGIS for payment using the standard UCGIS expense report, following the Assembly.

If needed, students are encouraged to apply for additional funds from their home universities. In order to receive the award, the student must attend the assembly and present a poster.

Abstract Details:

The submission should take the following form, and the information should be numbered as follows with no other formatting:

1.Full name
2.Name of department and university
3.Mailing address
4.Phone, fax, e-mail
5.Title of poster/paper presentation
6.Abstract - The abstract should not exceed 500 words and should describe a proposed, ongoing, or completed research investigation or project. The abstract should include a statement of objectives, methods employed, potential impact of the project on advancing knowledge, science, education, or resource development, and should report any findings to date.

Please send your submission as part of the text of an e-mail message (NOT an attachment) to Dawn Wright at dawn@dusk.geo.orst.edu ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 2000. Your abstract will be placed on a password protected web site and assessed by a panel of referees drawn from across the nation.

Award notifications will be made on or before April 15, 2000.

This should be a great event!