World Association of Young Scientists

Are You a Green Talent?

In February 2009, the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education has launched an initiative to invite talented young researchers from throughout the world to visit the leading environmental technology location Germany. 

The 'Green Talents' competition under the patronage of Research Minister Dr. Annette Schavan addresses excellent young researchers and engineering scientists in the field of environmental technologies to apply for participation in the 'International Forum for High Potentials in Green Technologies'.

The International Forum will take place in August/September 2009. For one week, the selected participants will travel through Germany, visit leading universities, research institutes and companies, gather specific information about research activities on site and learn about the possibilities of cooperating with German partners. Individual meetings with experts and the presentation of their own research will be part of the forum - as well as a cultural program and a meeting with Minister Dr. Annette Schavan as a special highlight.

APPLY NOW for a seat on the Green Talents International Forum, if you want to meet Germany's leading environmental scientists and get to know one of the world's largest technology exporters.

Further information on the competition and an application guideline are provided on the 'Green Talents' website http://www.research-in-germany.de/greentalents.

Please give this information also to other interested persons.

Contact:
Dr. Marion Mienert, International Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research; e-mail: greentalents@research-in-germany.de  

Dear WAYS members,

For those of you attending the AGU conference, to be held in San

Francisco December 15-19, the U.S. Permafrost Association (USPA, http://uspermafrost.org/)

has generously offered to sponsor two awards, $200 each, to

members of the Permafrost Young Researchers Network for the best
presentation (oral or poster) on permafrost.

The deadline to apply is Friday, December 6, 2008.

All attendees of the AGU Fall Meeting are free to register to compete for this award by sending an email to awards@pyrn.org specifying:

1. authors


2. title of the talk/poster


3. time and location of the presentation

All presentations related to permafrost research and engineering are

eligible. Applicants must be first authors and presenters of their

posters/talk, students or within six years of their terminal degree,

and PYRN members. To become a PYRN member, simply click here: http://pyrn.ways.org/user/register

Do forward this email to all relevant parties!

Good luck!

The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) will provide
travel grants for early career scientists (less than 5 years after
completion of PhD) presenting papers to the ASSW 2009 Science Symposium
held in Bergen (Norway), 24-26 March 2009. The maximum travel support
will be 2000 EUR per person. Some of the travel grants are specially
allocated to Russian early career scientists. Several of the sessions
are related to permafrost.

Applications should be sent to the

IASC Secretariat

P.O. Box 50003

?104 05 Stockholm, Sweden

Phone: +46-8-6739613

E-mail: iasc@iasc.se

and include the abstract submitted to the conference, a short but
informative CV and an estimate of the travel costs. The deadline for
application is 15 December 2008. Please note that applications will
only be considered if the abstract has also been submitted through the
conference website (www.imr.no/assw2009).

The Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN) is proud to announce the
release of the latest version of its bibliography, PYRN-Bib. PYRN-Bib is
a synthesizing international bibliographical database aiming at
collecting and distributing information on all theses submitted for
earning a scientific degree in permafrost-related research.



It can be reached at:

http://pyrn.ways.org/resources/pyrn-bib-permafrost-bibliography



PYRN-Bib currently hosts 916 entries and is offered in different file
formats: tagged Endnote library, XML, BibTex, PDF.

PYRN-Bib is hosted by the Permafrost Young Researchers Network
(http://pyrn.ways.org), an international network of early career
students and young scientists in permafrost related research with
currently 581 members (2008-10-27). PYRN-Bib is also published under the
patronage of the International Permafrost Association (IPA,
http://www.ipa-permafrost.org).

PYRN-Bib is a comprehensive database that includes all degree-earning
theses (e.g. Diploma, Ph.D., Master, etc.), coming from any country and
any scientific field, under the single condition that the thesis is
strongly related to research on permafrost and/or periglacial processes.

It attempts at referencing buried sources of information including
theses published in languages other than English. It is completely open
and can be searched and exported online (e.g. as Endnote format)

The PYRN-Bib database is growing rapidly and is accepting new entries
related to permafrost research. You can submit new entries at:
http://pyrn.ways.org/node/add/biblio or simply by contacting Guido
Grosse (ggrosse@gi.alaska.edu). Large amounts of citation information
(in any database or non-database format) can be submitted at once by
contacting us before hand. Any submission (small or large) is welcome.

You can reference the bibliography it using the following information:



Grosse, G., Lantuit, H.(2008). PYRN-Bib 3.2: The Permafrost Young
Researchers Network Bibliography of Permafrost-Related Theses,
Permafrost Young Researchers Network, 3.2, 72 pp.
http://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.31101



More information on PYRN-Bib and the methods and criteria used to
compile the references can be found in the companion paper:
http://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.31101



Guido Grosse, Hugues Lantuit

Dear WAYS members,
I have looked around on the internet and found some interesting layers related to permafrost to display in Google Earth. I have listed them below. If you find some more interesting layers, please add them to this thread.
NSIDC-IPA Permafrost and Ground ice map
http://nsidc.org/data/virtual_globes/noaa/NSIDC_cryosphere.kml
Climate Change: Google monitors Permafrost Melting:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=722766
The related web entry: http://www.geostrategis.com/p_mapm2.html
Permafrost Melting north of Lake Winnipeg:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Number=973498
Permafrost melting: Retrogressive thaw slump in the Yukon
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=1116622
Forum entry: http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Number=1116622
Methane Hydrate hot spots:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=1178979
Permafrost and glaciers from Alaska (virtual trip):
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=1228514
Permafrost Lake Bank failure
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=1000232
Enjoy! Hugues

Dear WAYS members, the following workshop may be of itnerest to you.
IMPETUS 2008: Techniques in Polar Ocean Observation and Monitoring
St. Petersburg, Russia
19-22 November, 2008
For those who already applied: if you did not receive an email confirming your registration, please contact: impetus2008@ifm-geomar.de
In November 2008, the Otto-Schmidt Laboratory for Polar and Marine Research in Saint-Petersburg (OSL), located at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), the Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN) and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) are organizing a training workshop on monitoring techniques in polar ocean and sea-ice observation in St. Petersburg. The workshop is funded by the IMPETUS-project of the German Ministry of Education and Research, the OSL, and the AARI. It is endorsed by the Arctic Ocean Science Board (AOSB).
There are AT LEAST TEN FULL FELLOWSHIPS for young and early career researchers to participate in the workshop!
The workshop will provide early career scientists with know-how and hand-on skills in the fields of ecology, oceanography, meteorology, geology, sea-ice, submarine permafrost, and engineering. It aims to improve existing and build up new collaborations and networks along the continuum of senior to early career scientists. It offers the opportunity to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of modern monitoring techniques and methods of data transmission. It is intended to install new interdisciplinary monitoring projects and methods across national boundaries.
Senior scientists will give lectures on topics that are usually not convened by traditional science conferences. They will focus on practical issues, methods and techniques associated with modern research and future forecasting needs. Early career scientists will present and discuss their research in a poster session. New approaches to current and future challenges will be presented through panels and open forums.
The workshop will be held at the Otto-Schmidt Laboratory at the Russian Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute in St. Petersburg from November 19-22, 2008.
Funding will be available through the IMPETUS program itself (see: http://www.otto-schmidt-laboratory.de/?Events:IMPETUS_2008:Registration) and through the AOSB Fund “New Research Generation” (see: http://www.aosb.org/programs.html). The US Arctic Research Commission has providing funding for US young researchers interested in Arctic Policy Issues and the Betty and Gordon Moore Foundation have also agreed to sponsor several US young researchers interested in Polar Marine Microbiology.
The application deadline is Tuesday, 30 September 2008.
For further information, please go to:
http://www.otto-schmidt-laboratory.de/?Events:IMPETUS_2008
Or contact:
Carolyn Wegner
Email: impetus2008@ifm-geomar.de

PYRN- Permafrost Young Researchers Network
http://pyrn.ways.org
PYRN - newsletter n. 25 – 23/01/2008

1. NICOP stipends for PYRN members
2. NICOP polar runners
3. (Extended!!) Deadlines
4. Permafrost summer schools
5. 33rd International Geological Congress in Norway
6. Jobs & workshops
7. Permafrost in the news- a permafrost satellite, a prophetic mammoth and your own research on BBC television?

1. NICOP stipends for PYRN members
The NICOP organizing committee, with financial support from the IPA and other sponsors, is making available a Young Person Financial Support Program. Applicants have to be a PYRN member. The only other stipulation is that you must make a presentation (oral or poster) at NICOP, so if you did not submit a paper, you can still attend and receive support if you submit an extended abstract by March 15. While it is obviously best if you actually submit your extended abstract by Feb. 15, this is not required. However, if you submit a stipend application on Feb. 15 but no abstract by Mar. 15, the stipend will automatically be rejected.

The financial support will cover:
(1) Conference registration (but no hard-copy proceedings, only the CD-version),
(2) Meals (on campus through University of Alaska Fairbanks Meal tickets), and
(3) Lodging (shared UAF dormitory rooms).

For more information please have a look at Oliver’s blog: http://pyrn.ways.org/newsblog/nicop-travel-support-pyrn-members
or the NICOP website: http://nicop.org/stipend.html

2. NICOP polar runners
Tanya O’ Neill and some other Anchorage/Fairbanks University/ PYRN/APECS Representatives got the idea to run the Mayor's Anchorage Marathon (the weekend before the conference), under the NICOP banner. This is a fantastic opportunity to get fit, challenge yourself and accomplish something you possibly never thought you could and the incentive is there for all those passionate about getting their science into the public arena! You can find more information about the gig at Tanya’s blog:
NICOP polar runners : http://pyrn.ways.org/newsblog/nicop-polar-runners
If you’re interested in joining them, please contact Tanya: oneilltanya@hotmail.com

Information on other PYRN activities at NICOP can be found at: http://pyrn.ways.org/activities/pyrn-meetings/2008-fairbanks

3. (Extended!!) Deadlines
Two highly interesting deadlines have been postponed!
(1) NICOP: deadline for extended abstracts has moved to March 15;
(2) SCAR/IASC IPY Open Science Conference (St. Petersburg, 8-11 July 2008): deadline for abstracts and early career scientist travel grant applications is now February 15. For further information, please go to:
http://www.scar-iasc-ipy2008.org

4. Permafrost Summer Schools

* Permafrost summer course in West Siberia, Russia in July 2008

"Dynamics of Cryogenic Processes, Technogenic and Environmental Permafrost Observatories, West Siberia (DCP/TEPO)"

The Geography Faculty, Moscow State University, is hosting the Russian International University Courses on Permafrost (IUCP) as continuation of IPA’s activities for International Polar Year.
A summer field course (the 5th to 26th of July, 2008) is offered primarily for graduate students, but may include undergraduates, at two locations in West Siberia: Novyi Urengoi and Yamburg. The courses will be offered in English. This is a unique opportunity to get an insight into Russian permafrost science and traditions. Curriculum details are posted under 2008 TEPO-Yamburg at: http://www.permafrostcourses.org
The maximum costs for participation will be about 740 Euro. The costs include transfer, accommodation and food for the participants and in addition the costs for the flight Moscow-Novoi Urengoy and accommodation in Yamburg. Nowadays, we are searching for several funding sources. We are hoping to lower the prices through external funding. In this case, the costs for participants would only be about 350 Euros. Visa and arrival costs to Moscow or Tyumen are not included!In order to facilitate access to these field sites, applications are required no later than March 2007. To express your interest in the courses and receive more information, please contact: Valeri Grebenets (vgreb@inbox.ru), Irina Streletskaya (strelets@gol.ru) or Anna Kurchatova (kanni@mail.ru)

* IPY Summer field class, northern Alaska

An IPY summer field class, "Alaska Soil Geography Field Study Class: The genesis and classification of permafrost-affected soils," will be held in northern Alaska on 6-15 July 2008. Participants are required to register through the University of Alaska Fairbanks Summer Session (http://www.uaf.edu/summer)

* Modelling of Arctic Climate summer school, Fairbanks

Another interesting summerschool at Fairbanks, organized by the International Arctic Research Center (IARC) is "The Modelling of Arctic Climate," will be due on 26 May - 7 June 2008. For further information, please go to:
http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/education_outreach/summer/2008/

Funding might be available, please have a look at Hugues’ blog for more information: http://pyrn.ways.org/newsblog/two-nice-opportunities-travel-funding-st-p...

5. 33rd International Geological Congress in Oslo, Norway
On August 6th -14th 2008, the 33rd International Geological Congress in Oslo, Norway will be held. A symposium of particular interest to young permafrost researchers is: AAA08: Permafrost on a warming planet, convener: Jerry Brown, International Permafrost Association. Check it out on the website: http://www.33igc.org

6. Jobs & workshops
PhD position “The role of permafrost in climate change”, VU Amsterdam
http://www.geo.vu.nl/~renh/PhD-permafrost-advertisement.doc

PhD position in Peatland Research, University of Alaska Fairbanks
http://pyrn.ways.org/graduate-assistantship-peatland-research-university...

Two Postdoc and five PhD positions in Ice and Climate, Niels
Bohr Institute, Univ. of Copenhagen
http://www.iceandclimate.dk

APECS career development workshop on July 7th, St. Petersburg.
A 1-day professional development workshop is organized by APECS on the day before the SCAR/IASC IPY Open Science Conference (St. Petersburg, 8-11 July 2008). For more information, please look at: http://www.arcticportal.org/apecs
Application deadline: 29th of February

7. Permafrost in the News
1. Your own research on TV!?
If you are doing any climate change related field research from February to May this year, the BBC might be interested to follow and film you. So, to all of you hardcore heroes out there: you might want to contact Davina Bristow from the BBC (davina.bristow@bbc.co.uk)!
2. Satellite launched to monitor permafrost
On the 14th of December, a satellite has been launched that can actually monitor permafrost and sea ice. Check it out on: http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/climate/80118_865.html
3. The baby mammoth that was all over the news this summer has made career in Japan..Lyuba will now “shed a light on the fate of human beings”
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j7A9CmX1fuoxYE-iME4g3Puu4aWgD8TV5D300
4. Last but not least: Clean your Fridge with Permafrost..
http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071201/BUSINES...

If you have contributions to this newsletter, please send them to:
PYRNnewsletter@gmail.com
Contributions to the PYRN website: simply log in and go to "create content"

All of these items plus jobs, events, fellowships, etc. available on the website
(http://pyrn.ways.org)

Hey everyone, I hope you all made some time to enjoy the pictures and the videos on the ICSU website. Hopefully we'll get the booth stuff sometime soon.

This meeting was truly a step forward in the promotion of intergenerational exchanges among the scientific community.
While most of the talks focused on trans-disciplinary, trans-national or trans-whatever collaboration, my feeling is that a true "down-to-earth" kind of contact was established with the senior community and that is one of the main points.

During the many coffee breaks of the meeting, collaboration, "getting together", "raising the profile of young scientists", "get involve" were words that were often used. It is a sign that there is a growing need to bring the community of young researchers under the same roof.

More importantly, I think that there is a growing need to involve young researchers in the decision-making process. The Lindau meeting was one step in that direction, and my feeling is that these meetings MUST be organized again within the framework of a young researchers organization, and by bringing high profile senior scientists at the table. Talking is key, let's make some time to do it.

Hugues

Are you a graduate student, postdoc, a starting professor or even an undergraduate student involved in polar or cryosphere research? The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) is made for you!

APECS is a new initiative that aims to bring together early career scientists from around the world who share an interest in the Polar Regions and the Cryosphere as a whole. The mission is to raise the profile of polar scientists by providing a continuum of leadership that is both internationally and interdisciplinarily focused.

An interactive website has been established to serve as the main contact point for APECS members and provides a forum to share news, connect with other polar researchers, and find jobs and events that might be of interest. APECS is an endorsed International Polar Year project and the official early career association recognized.

Visit APECS at www.kent.edu/Polar

Who are We?

Because of increasing concern about climate and the escalating changes in Polar Regions and the cryosphere, it is imperative that young scientists and engineers develop collaborations with international counterparts as well as researchers in other disciplines to address questions facing these regions that play such an important role for the function of this Planet. The International Polar Year (IPY) comes at a time when focus on the Poles is a pressing concern. The IPY aims to create large international and interdisciplinary research addressing the delicate Polar Regions on Earth and to increase the general public’s awareness, understanding, and importance of these ecosystems. The APECS organization taps into the momentum surrounding the IPY to unite early career researchers in a network that ensures the development of international and interdisciplinary collaborations early in our careers that will last well beyond the IPY.

APECS was founded by three early career scientists in 2006, as a directive from the International Polar Year international office; Dr. Jenny Baeseman – a microbial ecologist studying life in extreme environments – with the help of Hugues Lantuit – a permafrost researcher – and Dr. Rhian Salmon – an atmospheric chemist and the Education and Outreach coordinator for the IPY. This network represents people with a wide range of scientific expertise and interests including glaciology, geology, anthropology, sociology, atmospheric science, oceanography, polar biology, culture and heritage studies, linguistics, space studies, biogeochemistry, and paleontology, as well as studies in the broader cryosphere.

Who can join?

Membership in APECS is open to all early career scientists interested in natural and social sciences of Polar Regions, from undergraduates through assistant professors or equivalent for non-academic positions. Participation by engineers and those interested in the cryosphere in general is also being sought. We encourage senior scientists to register on the APECS website and serve as mentors for the organization as well as post job openings and events at their institutions. All pages on the website are public except the discussion forums, which are open only to members of APECS. Being a member gives you advantages: you can post information to the site, participate in discussion boards, network with other researchers through the membership database, as well as receive periodic updates from the APECS organization. For more information or to get involved in APECS and start your international and interdisciplinary collaborations today, visit http://www.kent.edu/Polar or email APECS@kent.edu?

Future plans:

APECS will be sponsoring several early career gatherings at IPY events and major research conferences around the world during the International Polar Year. For more information on hosting these events or to suggest a conference where a gathering of early career scientists would be welcome, email Jenny Baeseman at jbaesema@kent.edu