International Scientist Travel Award Application
Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS)
25th Annual Meeting
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington USA
July 18 – 23, 2004
“Charting the Future:
A Quarter Century of Lessons Learned”
The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), a nonprofit international organization dedicated to promoting wetland science and the exchange of information related to wetlands, is offering a limited number of international travel awards to the SWS 25th Annual Meeting to be held July 18 – 23, 2004 at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. These awards are designed to help international scientists reduce overall costs associated with international travel to and attendance at the SWS annual meeting and are not necessarily full payment of total travel and meeting expenses. Additional funding by outside sources other than SWS is preferred and may be required by the traveler to be able to attend this conference. A limited number of awards, valued up to a maximum of $2,000 (US), will be awarded to selected scientists from outside the U.S. who not only meet the eligibility criteria listed below, but who would best further the goals of the SWS in their respective country.
Eligibility:
1. Any scientist outside the U.S., who conducts wetland research or is involved in applied wetlands science, is eligible to submit an application for funding.
2. Graduate and undergraduate students are not eligible; however, students may apply for separate funding under the student travel awards. (For further information on student travel awards please refer to: http://pnw.sws.org/pnw_announcement/SWSStudentAward.html ).
3. Applicants must present either a 15 – 20 minute oral paper or a poster in order to be considered.
4. Applicants must submit a 250 word (maximum) abstract with the application in the required format. Please see the abstract on this web page for format submittal procedures. An abstract conforming to standards set by the abstract committee will be required once successful international awards have been determined.
5. Preference will be given to international scientists seeking partial funding for travel and who demonstrate additional funding from other sources.
6. Preference will be given to scientists from developing countries.
7. Preference will be given to scientists whose work fits best with the overall conference theme, but any wetland related topic is valid.
8. Applicants must be present at the conference and must be registered to receive the travel reimbursement.
9. Only complete applications will be considered for funding.
10. Applications must be received no later than January 15, 2004 for consideration.
Application Requirements: The following information is required for an application to be complete and eligible for consideration.
1. Full curriculum vitae including: name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone, and email address; details of tertiary education and professional employment history; list of publications (indicating contribution to each); list of seminar and conference presentations; and any special achievements, awards and prizes, if applicable.
2. 250 word (maximum) abstract in the correct abstract format. (See the abstract on this web page for format submittal procedures. An abstract conforming to standards set by the abstract committee will be required once successful international awards have been determined.
3. Proposed travel itinerary and budget.
4. List of additional, outside financial support sources (i.e., other than SWS support) and amounts from each source.
5. Statement of how attending the SWS 25th Annual Conference in Seattle in 2004 will promote the goals of the SWS in your country of employment.
6. Letter of support from a principal supervisor or colleague.
Application Submission: Send 2 copies of the completed application to:
Mr. Jim Goudzwaard, Chair
SWS 25th Annual Meeting International Scientist Travel Award Committee
1170 SW Jay Ct.Aloha, Oregon 97006 USA
Email: goudzie1@aol.com
Application Deadline: Completed applications must be received by the international scientists travel award committee by January 15, 2004.
Notification of Travel Awards: Applicants will be notified of the selection committee decisions by February 27, 2004.
Reimbursement Information:
1. Scientists selected to receive a travel award will be reimbursed the last day of the conference.
2. All requests for reimbursement must be accompanied by original receipts.
3. Reimbursement will be in U.S. currency.
Additional Information: For additional information please contact Mr. Jim Goudzwaard at goudzie1@aol.com
Notice on Current Visa Processing Situation
Responding to the attacks of September 11, 2001,
the State Department, working with other U.S. Government agencies, has been
engaged in an extensive and ongoing review of visa issuing practices as they
relate to our national security.
Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the
past. For many applicants, a personal appearance interview is required as a
standard part of visa processing. Additionally, applicants affected by these
procedures are informed of the need for additional screening at the time they
submit their applications and are being advised to expect delays. The time
needed for adjudication of individual cases will continue to be difficult to
predict. For travelers, the need for an interview will mean additional
coordination with the embassy or consulate is needed to schedule an interview
appointment. We recommend that individuals build in ample time before their
planned travel date when seeking to obtain a visa.
We recognize that these delays are having an impact on visa applicants, and we
have already had success streamlining the process, consistent with our security
and legal responsibilities. The State Department is working hard with other
government agencies to rationalize clearance procedures in ways that continue
to protect US borders, our first priority, while facilitating legitimate
travel.
We trust that affected applicants will understand that this waiting period is
necessary as we strive to make every effort to ensure the safety and security
of the United States for all who are here, including foreign visitors.
A guest of a U.S. host can be helped by sending him/her a letter of invitation. The letter should include the invitee’s name, reason for visit, period of stay in the U.S., and method of payment of expenses. If the guest is paying his/her own expenses, he/she must be prepared to show the consular officer that sufficient funds are available for the trip. If the American host is paying the expenses, an affidavit of support may be included. Depending on the circumstances, a written letter of support and invitation may be available from the SWS.
Please refer to http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html for a complete reference to Visa questions.
Special Visa Processing Procedures:
Section 306 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act of 2002 (EBSVRA) pertains to the issuance of visas to aliens from state sponsors of terrorism.
Seven countries are now designated as state sponsors of terrorism. They are North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, and Libya.
All applicants from state sponsors of terrorism age 16 and over, irrespective of gender, must without exception complete form DS-157, in addition to form DS-156, and must appear for an interview with a consular officer.
An exception to the requirement for an interview may be made at the discretion of the consular officer in cases of A and G visa applicants (except for A-3 and G-5 applicants, who must be interviewed).
The language for Section 306 of the EBSVRA in pertinent part follows:
No nonimmigrant visa under Section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) shall be issued to any alien from a country that is a state sponsor of international terrorism unless the Secretary of State determines, in consultation with the Attorney General and the heads of other appropriate U.S. agencies, that such alien does not pose a threat to the safety or national security of the U.S.. In making a determination under this sub-section, the Secretary of State shall apply standards developed by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General and the heads of other appropriate U.S. agencies that are applicable to the nationals of such states.
Please refer to http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html for a complete reference to Visa questions.
Society of Wetland Scientists
25th Annual Meeting
International Scientists Travel Award Application Cover Sheet
Name:__________________________________________________________________________
Mailing address:__________________________________________________________________
Phone:__________________________________________________________________________
Email:__________________________________________________________________________
Attached: (please check)
o Curriculum vitae
o Abstract (250 word max.)
o Proposed travel itinerary and budget
o List of additional funding support
o Statement of how attending SWS 25th Annual meeting promotes the goals of SWS in your country
o Letter of support
Send two copies to:
Mr. Jim Goudzwaard, Chair
SWS 25th Annual Meeting International Scientist Travel Award Committee
1170 SW Jay Ct.
Aloha, Oregon 97006 USA
Email: goudzie1@aol.com
Must be received by January 15, 2004