Application and Travel Awards

Conference on Advancing Inclusive Leaders in STEM: 20 Years of the PDP

Application and request for travel awards due: 1/10/2022

Notification: Early February.

Because all participants will be receiving some level of support from ISEE, and grants that support ISEE, we have an application to attend this conference. The conference is limited to alumni of ISEE’s Professional Development Program (PDP), and the application will enable us to confirm alumni status. 

With support from an award from the National Science Foundation (AST#1743117), “Advancing Inclusive Leaders in Astronomy,” ISEE is able to offer travel support for PDP alumni who do not have their own grants or institutional funds to cover travel expenses.

Alumni are encouraged to tap into their institutions, grants, and other sources of travel support in order to maximize the number of participants who can attend the conference. PDP alumni can apply for full or partial travel awards. Criteria for providing travel awards will include:

• Authorship on a paper in the PDP volume
• Involvement in the NSF grant funding this conference, which includes leading an ISEE Chapter
• Leadership in the PDP as an instructor, returner, or various other roles
• Other roles in ISEE programs and projects
• Poster presentation at conference
• Volunteer roles in planning the conference (sign up here)

Getting read to submit your application: The information below will be asked on the application form.

• Years that you participated in the PDP (as best as you can remember)
• Are you asking for a waiver of the $200 registration fee
• Are you asking for partial, full, or no travel award
• If you are asking for a partial travel award you will need the estimated airfare cost
• If you are an author on a paper, or proposing a panel, you will need the title and list of authors
• If you are proposing a poster, you will need the title and list of authors
• Your involvement in ISEE Chapter activities (bullet points, very brief)
• Your involvement in ISEE programs and projects  (Akamai, WEST, TECI, AstroTech, CfAO mainland internship, CfAO COSMOS, Mentor Workshop, UCSC HHMI active learning/STEM practices project, Hartnell College partnership, etc.)
• Your involvement as a volunteer to help in planning the conference

Costs associated with conference:

Airfare: Participants will fly into Hilo Airport (ITO), which typically requires a layover in Honolulu, but could fly into Kona (KOA) and drive ~2 hours to Hilo. Airfare will be paid for by ISEE for those receiving a full travel award; and will be paid by the participant for those receiving a partial travel award.

Ground transportation: Participants will need to cover all ground transportation costs to and from airports at home and in Hilo. Ground transportation is not covered by ISEE for any travel awards.

Hotel: ISEE has a block of rooms with a discounted rate of $194.28 per night (including tax) at the Naniloa Grand Hotel. All participants requiring accommodations will stay at the Naniloa. For participants receiving a full or partial travel award, ISEE will pay for single occupancy rooms for the nights of May 18, 19, and 20, 2022. Additional room nights at the discounted rate are available, and must be paid for by the participant. Your dates of stay will be collected after the acceptance process. Please do not book directly with the hotel.

Meals: Conference participants will be provided with lunch on both days of the conference, as well as a final dinner. All other meals will need to be paid for by the participant. Microwave ovens and small refrigerators are available in hotel rooms.

Registration fee: A registration fee of $200 will cover costs associated with the reunion that are beyond what ISEE can cover with existing funding sources. By a special request, ISEE will consider waiving this fee, but participants are strongly encouraged to pay the fee. 

The costs for attending the conference and what is included in the various travel awards are shown in the table below: