Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Gordon Research Conference and what makes it special?
What is the history of the Gordon Research Conferences?
Are abstracts or proceedings published?
No! The GRC prohibits any publication of proceedings and all talks are "off the record". Here is how the GRC explains this policy:
To encourage open communication, each member of a Conference agrees that
any information presented at a Gordon Research Conference, whether in a
formal talk, poster session, or discussion, is a private communication
from the individual making the contribution and is presented with the restriction
that such information is not for public use. The recording of lectures
by any means, the photography of slide or poster material, and printed
reference to Gordon Research Conferences papers and discussion is prohibited.
Scientific publications are not to be prepared as emanating from the Conferences.
Authors are requested to omit references to the Conferences in any publication.
Guests are not permitted to attend the Conference lectures and discussion
sessions. Each member of a Conference acknowledges and agrees to these
restrictions when registration is accepted and as a condition of being
permitted to attend a Conference. Although Gordon Research Conference staff
will take reasonable steps to enforce the restrictions against recording
and photographing Conference presentations, each member of a Conference
assumes sole responsibility for the protection and preservation of any
intellectual property rights in such member's contributions to a Conference.
How is this GRC funded?
The GRC office provides $23,500 in a Chair's Fund to be used by the Chair to support registration and travel expenses of some participants. The Chair, Vice-Chair and most of the speakers have not received support.
Through the efforts of Dr. Hiroshi Yokoyama, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Tsukuba, Japan generously donated $4000.
We also raised another $2,025 from donations from the NLCD community for the Richard M. Noyes Fund to support three junior scientists.
How do I get a Visa?
From the GRC Office
"GRC
does not issue letters of invitation. We will only provide the documentation
we produce in the normal course of our business. We send an acknowledgement
letter when an application is received. Then, if the application is accepted
by the conference chair, an email that confirms the acceptance and contains
a link to the registration form is sent. You may link to the registration
form and print it out. It is personalized and contains a confirmation
of your acceptance to the conference. When you complete the registration
form and submit it to GRC, a receipt is issued.
The conference chair may, at his discretion, issue a letter of invitation.
Please send your CV and abstract to the conference chair, Dr. Pojman,
along with your request for a letter of invitation.
Here is a link to
the US State Department’s information page regarding application for a
visa: http://travel.state.gov/getting_vistors_visa.html
The web site at the National
Academy of Sciences gives information on how
to obtain a visa for travel to the US.
What is the street address for the site (some immigration officials may ask you)?
Bates College
163 Wood Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
207-786-6400
Is there financial support available?
How do I get to the conference?
Info on bus, airports and car rental.
Charter buses to Bates and Colby Colleges are available from Logan Airport,
Boston, Massachusetts and the Portland Jetport, Portland, Maine. These
charter buses run ONLY on Sunday.
The Gordon Research Conferences chartered bus departs from the Holiday Inn
at the Logan Airport, Boston, Massachusetts. A room is reserved at the
Holiday Inn Logan Airport, Boston, 225 McClellan Highway, Boston, for attendees
on Sunday from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm to relax in while waiting for the GRC
chartered bus to pick them up. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle
bus to the Hotel from the Airport.
Fitness Center
The fitness center will be available.
Is there internet access?
The Ethernet connections in the dorms are not available for use by the attendees.
There are phone jacks in each room that attendees can use to connect their
laptops to and check their E-mail. Computer labs with printers are available
in Pettengill, 2nd and 3rd floors and Ladd Library, 1st floor.
It may be possible to connect your computer to ethernet connections in the library but this is not certain.
For long-distance, phone cards are available in the College store, basement
of Chase Hall. All calling cards and phone cards may be used from the dorm
room phone
How large are the poster spaces?
