[Cuga] VAS Meeting Abstract deadline approaching- a message from Donal Day

[Lorelei Chopard]

Call for Papers for the 2016 Virginia Academy of Science May 17-20 at University of Mary Washington.

The Spring 2016 Virginia Academy of Science Meeting will be held from May 17-20 at University of Mary Washington  in Fredericksburg, VA. Our section (Astronomy, Math and Physics) will meet on Thu. May 19.  The call for papers has been sent to Academy members and the titles are due Wednesday February 03, 2016.   If the February deadline presents a problem you can e-mail me or the section secretary (Joe Rudminrudminjd at jmu.edu) a statement of interest and I am positive accommodations can be made.

Typically there is a wide range of topics presented from forefront research to pedagogue.

Last year we were treated to talks on Thermal Power Generation, a Noble Gas Cherenkov at JLab, Temporal Solitons, 2-Photon Exchange in Electron-Proton Scattering, Isospin Dependence in 2N and 3N Short Range Correlation, a model of the Ebola Outbreak, a Predator-Prey model, open resources on mathematics, and a poster on Higgs decay modes. I expect that this year's meeting will be as informative and entertaining as those of the recent past meetings and I encourage you to send a representative to provide an update on your favorite project.

The Academy meeting is an excellent place for undergraduates to present their research. The audience is very supportive of younger scientists. Students compete for the Best Student Paper Award. Many of the students who attend Virginia schools live in Virginia and may be close enough to attend, even though the conference is held after the end of the semester.

Here are a few reasons you might consider attending:
1.  Meet your science faculty friends and colleagues from around the state.  Find out what other people are doing professionally.

2.  It's CHEAP!  When national organizations are charging $400 and up for registration at a conference, the VAS is bargain, even if you include the cost of the dues. You can drive home the same night and avoid motel bills and the hassles of long distance travel.

3. It's fun and friendly.  This is a low-key meeting at which you can present some of the more fun and speculative ideas you've had in science.

4.  It's a great scientific meeting for your students to present their work.  They can present their papers in a low-pressure meeting, get some practice at giving a scientific paper, see what their colleagues at other schools are doing, and get a presentation on their publication lists. Many divisions of the academy give prizes for the best student paper.   And you know there is nothing like a science meeting to renew their enthusiasm for science.  (THIS applies to you too.)

5.  It's VIRGINIA's scientist organization.  The VAS is the spokesman for science and science education in Virginia.  You owe it to yourself, to your students, and to the citizens of Virginia, to support this organization and your profession.

Titles should be sent the section secretary (Joe Rudminrudminjd at jmu.edu) by February 03, 2016.  If the February deadline presents a problem you can e-mail the section secretary a statement of interest.  Exact details can be firmed up at a later date.

The VAS website is:http://www.vacadsci.org/
Instructions for titles are at:http://www.vacadsci.org/Call%20for%20Presentation%20Titles%20-%20VAS%202016.pdf

I hope you will consider attending and sending one of your students.

Donal Day

Vice Chair
Astronomy, Math and Physics Section