|
|
FRONTIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ANTARCTIC GEOSCIENCES
| |
August 29-31, 2004
Certosa di Pontignano (Siena), Italy
Scheduled to follow the 32nd IGC
Conveners: C.A.Ricci (Italy), C. Siddoway and T. Wilson (USA)
Workshop Aims
This international workshop will be a forum for discussion of
scientific goals and outstanding problems in Antarctic earth
science, new techniques or technologies suited to the Antarctic
continent and near-shore environment, and potential international
collaborative ventures. The workshop will offer an opportunity to
gain information about current and future geosciences research in
Antarctica, for researchers who have interest in undertaking new
studies of the continent and for geoscientists presently engaged in
Antarctic research. Those with prior experience can acquaint others
with outcomes of recent research, successful international
collaborations, and interdisciplinary scientific programs in
geology, geophysics and glaciology. Individuals who are new to
Antarctic research may outline ideas for new investigations and gain
valuable knowledge of sources of support from international
Antarctic programs, and of possible collaborative opportunities
within the international research community.
Workshop details are posted under "Forthcoming Events" at the Museo
Nationale dell'Antartide website.
Limited funds are
available for grants-in-aid of travel or registration for U.S.
participants. For further information, please contact
Christine
Siddoway.
Workshop Agenda
1. Overview of Research Activities in Antarctica and offshore.
a. National Antarctic programmes: programmatic goals according to
discipline(s) and geographic region of primary activity
b. Current research activities, with major findings; and future
directions, as determined from planning workshops and long range
planning.
2. Collaborative international programmes and joint technological
implementation
a. International Polar Year: developing research initiatives for IPY
b. Antarctic drilling programmes (e.g. ANDRILL; glacial lake exploration)
c. Exploration of the Antarctic lithosphere: Tectonic boundaries and
lithospheric structure of continental interior, continental shelves,
and Antarctic ocean basins
3. Maintaining a strong role of Geology/Geophysics in Antarctic research
a. Trends in funding and national programme priorities
b. Strategies and science objectives
c. Outreach and eduction: Dissemination of objectives and
findings in public and political sectors
4. Theme session I. Geological investigations focused on crustal
structure, evolution of Antarctic continental crust, and
paleoenvironments.
5. Theme session II. New techniques and technologies:
Instrumentation, Analytical methods (e.g. isotope systems and
methods), and Numerical Modelling
6. Theme session III. Multidisciplinary approaches: Opportunities
at the interfaces between disciplines
7. Theme session IV. Geodynamics
8. Discussions and Small working groups (throughout the workshop).
The workshop will serve as a forum for discussion of shared
scientific objectives and future directions for national and
international collaborative research, including International Polar
Year. We expect to identify and discuss ways to maintain a strong
role for earth sciences in future research in Antarctica, as
priorities for research in climate and life in extreme environments
increase. We invite input from participants on the themes for the
research sessions.
Workshop results: Synthesis of scientific goals and outstanding
problems in Antarctic research, together with themes of discussion
and abstracts of volunteered presentations will be presented in a
Workshop Summary on the conference website on www.mna.itWorkshop
Proceedings will be published in a special issue of Terra Antartica
Reports [ See http://www.mna.it publications directory ].
|
