Dear Colleagues,

Here is the August issue of the AGU Volcanology, Geochemistry and Petrology Section newsletter.  All newsletters are archived at http://vgp.agu.org.  Feedback and items for future issues can be sent to Sarah Fagents at fagents@hawaii.edu.

 In this issue:

* Message from VGP President
            Student Travel Grants
            Bowen Award

 (1) MESSAGE FROM VGP PRESIDENT CHARLIE BACON

 * Student Travel Grants
The AGU Student Grant Program is described in a 28 June Eos article (http://www.agu.org/pubs/sample_articles/eo/2005EO260005.pdf#anchor). Presently, funds are sufficient to partially support only about 5% of the applicants to attend AGU meetings.  Under leadership of Jamie Austin, the AGU Development Board is spearheading an aggressive effort to expand the program and give more grants to deserving students.  Your donations to help in accomplishing this will be greatly appreciated. The easiest way to make a gift is to go to http://www.agu.org/givingtoagu.  Select "Donate Now" on the menu bar. If you have any questions, please contact development@agu.org.

* Bowen Award
In case you missed the June 14 e-mail announcement, the 2005 Bowen Awards will be presented to Robert Bodnar (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA) and Paul Renne (Berkeley Geochronology Center, Berkeley, California, USA). Bodnar is recognized for his landmark contributions to studies of fluid inclusions in minerals, and to aqueous and hydrothermal geochemistry. His innovative experimental studies of synthetic fluid inclusions revolutionized quantitative characterization of compositions and trapping conditions of paleofluids.  Renne is cited for innovations in high-precision Ar-Ar dating and for application of these techniques to refining the geologic and paleomagnetic timescales, to paleoanthropology, and, most notably, to ages and durations of LIP volcanism and their relationship to mass extinctions and global environmental crises.  He also has been an important voice in the geochronology community towards addressing long-standing discrepancies in inter-calibration of geochronometers.  The 2005 Bowen Award will be presented to Paul Renne at the Fall Meeting in San Francisco.  We plan to present the 2005 Bowen Award to Bob Bodnar at the 2006 Spring Joint Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland.

As you see, VGP has returned to giving more than a single Bowen Award per year.  Prior to 1996, two awards commonly were given each year.  More information on the Bowen Award and a list of recipients can be found at http://vgp.agu.org.  The VGP bylaws, which prescribe the nomination and selection procedure, also are posted at vgp.agu.org.

Charlie Bacon
VGP President

(2) 2006 JOINT ASSEMBLY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, USA, 23-26 MAY
The 2006 Joint Assembly (formerly the AGU Spring Meeting) is co-sponsored by the Mineralogical Society of America, the Geochemical Society, and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.  With the large concentration of VGP members in the greater Baltimore-Washington DC area and the participation of two sister societies, the 2006 Joint Assembly promises to be well supplied with sessions of interest to our Section's members.

Our return to Baltimore, with its proximity to the Nation's Capitol, and the range of co-sponsors offer the opportunity to promote linkages between disciplines, with both cross-disciplinary (e.g., Fluid Earth and Solid Earth) and interdisciplinary (e.g., within the Solid Earth disciplines) sessions as part of the program. Some Sections have inquired about using over-arching themes to attract related sessions, which we welcome, and possible examples include: linkages through time - Archean to present; climate change and the geologic record; and, comparative planetology.  I am sure there are others that will readily come to mind.  Additionally, the Program Committee seeks to increase the number of Union sessions (perhaps to 4 per day over 4 days), with an emphasis on crossing discipline boundaries.  To promote this aim, proposals for Union sessions will not have to be sponsored by any particular Section, although session proposers will be invited to suggest possible Section and Society sponsors.  I anticipate an "Invitation for Session Proposals" appearing in the September issues of Eos with the deadline for proposals in mid-October, 2005.

Dr. Joseph Pyle from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has kindly agreed to serve as the VGP Program Committee Representative (Program Chair) for the 2006 Joint Assembly.  Joe can be reached at pylej@rpi.edu with suggestions or questions regarding VGP programs at the meeting.

At this stage I ask you to encourage you and the Joint Assembly Program Committee Representatives to think broadly about the program for the Joint Assembly in 2006 and to discuss linkages with other Sections and Society sponsors earlier rather than later.  I believe there is a real opportunity to enhance further the quality of the meeting by promoting themes and Union sessions in addition to seeking a strong portfolio of Section-oriented sessions. Please attend the Joint Assembly and consider organizing a session. I thank you in advance for your support in creating a strong scientific program for the Baltimore Joint Assembly. Watch Eos and www.agu.org for information on the mid-October deadline for proposing sessions.

Mike Brown
Program Committee Chair

(3) AGU MARTINELLI TRAVEL GRANT FOR STUDENTS AND SCIENTISTS

IMPORTANT:  Application deadline 19 August 2005

Online application:  https://www.agu.org/meetings/STG/martinelli.php

Travel grants are available to attend the 2005 European Seismological Commission and IAVCEI-IASPEI Interassociation Committee on Volcano Seismology Joint Meeting: Quantifying Volcanic Activity, 19-24 September 2005, Saint Claude, Guadelupe, France.

The Martinelli Travel Grant was established in 2003 to support researchers and graduate students from Latin American and Caribbean countries who participate in volcano research or monitoring. These grants make it possible for one or more recipients to participate in an international conference or workshop.

Eligibility and Requirements:

* Latin American or Caribbean student or scientist
* Involved in volcano research or monitoring
* Under age 30 or currently a full-time student or have received a Ph.D. within the last five years
* Recipients are required to submit receipts for claimed expenses up to the amount of the award by 28 October 2005.
* Recipients are required to submit a brief (<300 words) report of their experience at the meeting by 28 October 2005.

(4) 2005 JOINT ASSEMBLY OUTSTANDING STUDENT PRESENTATION

The 2005 Joint Assembly Outstanding Student Paper Award for the VGP Section goes to Veronica McCann from Ohio State University, for "Olivine-Melt Equilibrium and the Oxygen Fugacities of Lavas from Hawaii," co-author: M. Barton.  There were a total of 102 VGP presentations at the Joint Assembly of which 27 were student presentations.  The award consists of a certificate as well as $100 credit towards future AGU expenses.  Congratulations Veronica!

Vincent Salters
Education/Outreach Chair

(5) ROBERT W. DECKER TRIBUTE
Robert W. Decker (78), internationally-renowned volcanologist and former Scientist-in-Charge at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory (1979-1984) died at his home in California on June 11, 2005, following a sudden, unexpected downturn in his fight against cancer.  Noted for his pioneering research on geophysical monitoring of active volcanoes and statistical methods for forecasting volcanic eruptions, Bob established much of the infrastructure now in place at HVO.  In 1989, he founded the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo, a cooperative HVO-UHH effort to train scientists from around the world on volcano hazards monitoring.  Originally from Pennsylvania, Bob was educated at MIT (BSc and MSc) and the Colorado School of Mines (DSc).  He was a member of the faculty in the Geophysics program at Dartmouth College (1954-1979) and an employee of the US Geological Survey (1979-1990).  In the mid-70's, he served a four year term as President of the International Association of Volcanology (IAVCEI) and was elected AGU Fellow in 1968.  In recent years, Bob and his wife, Barbara, wrote several popular science and travel books, including the textbook "Volcanoes" and "Volcanoes in America's National Parks."  Donations may be sent to the Robert Decker Memorial Scholarship at the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes, UH-Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720.

Jill Karsten
VGP Member

(6) 2005 FALL MEETING SPECIAL SESSIONS
Just a reminder that the 2005 Fall Meeting will be held in San Francisco 5-9 December.  The VGP section is offering a rich variety of special sessions, and general contributions are also encouraged, which will later be organised into theme sessions.  Below is a list of VGP sessions, with full descriptions including convener contact information available at: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm05/?pageRequest=search. Abstract submissions are now open, and the deadline is 8 September, 2005.  A special thanks to the conveners for submitting session proposals.  Hope to see you all in San Francisco!

James Brenan
VGP Secretary and Fall Meeting Chair