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International Scientists Travel Awards

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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 28th Annual Meeting to be held
June 10 – 15, 2007 at the Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, 
California, 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 $1,500 (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 graduate travel awards please refer to Travel Awards page).
  3. Applicants must present a 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.
  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 December 15, 2006 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.
  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. 1000 word (maximum) statement of how attending the SWS 28th Annual Conference in Sacramento in 2007 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 3 copies of the completed application to:

Dr. Michelle Stevens
Imperial Valley College
380 East Aten Road
Imperial, CA 92251-0158
Office Telephone: (760) 355-5751
Cell Telephone: (916) 765-7397
Fax: (760) 355-6143
michelle.stevens@imperial.edu

Application Deadline: Completed applications must be received by the international scientists travel award committee by December 15, 2006.

 


Notification of Travel Awards: Applicants will be notified of the selection committee decisions by January 14, 2006.


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 Dr. Michelle Stevens at michelle.stevens@imperial.edu.


Important Travel Notice:
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. State Department has been engaged with other U.S. government agencies in an extensive and ongoing review of visa issuing practices as they relate to the security of US borders and nation.
Through the use of supplemental application forms and other measures, visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past. This scrutiny means that visa applications in some instances take longer to process to conclusion than has been customary.

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.
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, and Libya.


Special Visa Processing Procedures:
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 United States agencies, that such alien does not pose a threat to the safety or national security of the United States. 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 United States agencies, that are applicable to the nationals of such states.