2024 IRM Summer School for Rock Magnetism
We are excited to welcome registered participants to the 2024 IRM Summer School in Rock Magnetism!
Applications are now closed. Some useful information for registered participants as they arrive in Minneapolis:
(a) Accommodation;
(b) Summer School location and first day;
(c) Ice-breaker;
(d) Field trip day;
(e) Conference meal;
(f) Lunches and dinners.
(a) Accommodation Information
Registered participants will be lodged in Centennial Hall, located at 614 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
Upon arrival, participants should proceed to the Information Desk. There will be someone available to greet and check you in. The Information Desk is staffed 24 hours a day to assist with your move-in and any other needs that you may have throughout your stay.
Rooms are stocked with linens upon arrival, and bathrooms are conveniently located nearby every room. You will be able to unlock bathrooms using your room key.
If you need assistance, please contact Reid Wooldridge at uces@umn.edu.
More information can be found here: https://housing.umn.edu/centennial and https://campusmaps.umn.edu/centennial-hall
(b) Summer School Location and First Day
The lectures and lab sessions will be held in Tate Hall, a 10 minute walk from Centennial Hall.
The school starts on Monday June 3rd at 9:00 am in Room 401-20, Tate Hall, so please ensure to arrive on time.
401-20 is a lecture room on the 4th floor of the building and there is elevator access on the west side of the building.
More information about Tate Hall and the IRM can be found here: https://cse.umn.edu/irm/getting-here-and-around
(c) Ice-breaker
We plan to have an informal gathering on Sunday June 2nd starting at 5 pm at a local bar on campus called "Stub and Herbs", which has patio seating outside in the back. They serve food as well as beverages and it would be great to see you there.
(d) Field Trip
On Saturday June 8th we have planned a geology field trip to a local State Park to see some of the geology of Minnesota. This is a relaxed, leisurely trip. We will take you to the sites in minivans and although there will be some walking, it is not overly strenuous. It is strongly recommended to bring some comfortable closed shoes*, long pants (trousers)*, sun cream, a water bottle, a hat and a light rain jacket. The current forecast for the Summer School is for temperatures of 80-85 F (25-30 C), with rain and thunderstorms possible at times, so make sure you have some clothes that would be suitable for this weather. The field trip will last all day. More details about the trip will be given during the Summer School.
We will provide you with lunches for the field trip. Please let me know if you have any dietary considerations.
*Note that because of the abundant recent rain, there is a strong likelihood of Lyme disease-carrying ticks. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread to humans from the bite of the deer tick, and is potentially debilitating if not treated promptly. Closed shoes and long pants provide a first-order guard from ticks and are strongly encouraged. We will bring some insect repellent for additional protection. It is also strongly recommended to check for ticks upon return from the field trip.
(e) Conference meal;
On the evening of June 11th, we plan to take you all for a meal at a local restaurant, covered by the IRM. Please let me know if you have any dietary considerations.
(f) Lunches and dinners
Lunches and dinners are not covered by the IRM, but there are many good dining options near to the University campus. There are two main areas:
(1) Washington Avenue, which you cross to get between Centennial Hall and Tate Hall;
(2) Dinkytown, which is on the north-side of campus, north of the University Avenue.
Please contact Maxwell Brown if you have any concerns or questions prior to the Summer School.
We are looking forward to meeting you all and having a productive and fun Summer School,
The IRM team.
About the summer school:
The 10-day program is targeted at graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, and postdocs in rock magnetism, paleomagnetism, and associated fields. Participants will receive intensive instruction in rock magnetic theory and laboratory techniques. A daily schedule of lectures, hands-on laboratory measurements, and data processing will introduce participants to the fundamentals of rock magnetism and the practical aspects of collecting and interpreting data responsibly. Instructors for the summer school will be primarily IRM faculty and staff.
Application information:
As the number of applicants for the school typically exceeds the IRM's capacity to teach the school effectively, we have instated an application process. Participation will be limited to 20.
Applicants will be selected based on a balance of considerations, including how far along a participant is in their studies, how many other applicants are from the same institution, and the overall diversity of the summer school. To foster academic diversity, a limit of 3 participants per research group has been set (more participants from the same institution will be considered if space allows).
Applicants are asked to provide:
(1) A short statement of research interests (to be used to form the student groups for the lab exercises), explanation of short-term research goals, and why attending the Summer School will be beneficial (max. 350 words).
(2) An estimate of round-trip travel cost to Minneapolis and whether funding is available from your advisor or institution.
Costs:
We have received funding from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Summer School, which allows us to cover University of Minnesota dormitory accommodation costs and a significant portion of travel costs for all participants.