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International Travel Grants

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The AAS has now received funds from the NSF to fund the International Travel Grant Program for 2009.

Although it is not required to be an IAU member to attend the IAU General Assembly, US astronomers are strongly encouraged to apply for membership in the IAU. Potential members can either download a membership form to submit in hardcopy or, preferably, use the new online form. Both are available using the following links:

Download USNC-IAU Membership Application Form
USNC-IAU Online Membership Application Form
Download ITG Program Application Form

Special Information for IAU in Rio de Janeiro

A US-based, Rio-native astronomer named Duilia Demello has started an informative blog giving advice on visiting Rio called Going to IAU in Rio.

The official IAU XXVII General Assembly website in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August 2009.

Revised Deadlines for 2009

13 March 2009 (for meetings between 13 March and 31 July 2009 AND the IAU General Assembly meeting in Rio de Janeiro)

30 June 2009 (for travel to meetings between 1 August 2009 and 28 February 2010) EXCLUDING the IAU General Assembly meeting in Rio de Janeiro)

The AAS administers a National Science Foundation grant, which provides funding for airline travel to international science meetings. This funding is available only to individuals at US institutions. During years with an International Astronomical Union General Assembly the grant additionally funds travel for US astronomers to the General Assembly and contemporaneous Symposia in addition to normal international meetings.

The Travel grant funds are targeted for (in priority order) early-career scientists, scientists from smaller institutions or from under-served populations or for scientists whose participation at the meeting is important for US visibility.

Funds may not be requested for any AAS or AAS Divisional meeting. Please note that the NSF considers Puerto Rico a qualifying location for this program. We are working to get a complete list of acceptable locations from the NSF.

When completing the application, be sure to supply an accurate price quote for your airline travel on a US flag carrier. Cheaper fares on non-US-flag carriers do not improve your funding chances, as you must fly on a US flag carrier whenever and wherever possible.

All travelers are also encouraged to read the National Academies Visa issue website (mainly applies to foreigners traveling to the US).

NOTE: All travelers should consult the U.S. Department of State Consular Services travel U.S. Department of State Consular Services travel website prior to undertaking any international travel. The U.S. Department of State provides regularly updated travel advisories and other information useful to international travelers.

Final Reports

Grant recipients should send in their final report and appropriate receipts or receipt copies as outlined in their award letter. This includes travel grants to the IAU General Assembly as well as travel to other foreign meetings. Unless requested, we will not send confirmation of receipt of your grant report.

The final report should summarize the benefit of the meeting to the grant recipient, a brief summary of the subject content of the meeting, a description of the grant recipient's participation in the meeting and a summary of attendance information if available.

Timely submission of final reports helps us complete our paperwork on time so that the grant may be continued without interruption in the future.

Policy on Interim Proposals

The AAS International Travel Grant Committee normally receives proposals for review two times per year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

Occasionally, an individual may discover a meeting opportunity or be invited to a meeting that would demand submission and review of a travel grant proposal between formal review periods.

Although the International Travel Grant Committee does not encourage the submission of such proposals, if by circumstance such a proposal review is required, an ad-hoc committee composed of two members of the most recent International Travel Grant Review committee and the Executive Officer of the Society shall review the proposal and decide if funding should be provided.

The ad-hoc committee should agree unanimously that the proposal deserve review.

All normal reporting requirements must fulfilled by the applicant and all other requirements placed upon award recipients will also be required of special review awardees.

The chair of the International Travel Grant Review Committee should communicate with the next ITG Committee of any awards made between official proposal reviews and explain the decision of the ad-hoc committee.