Logistics and Transportation
The workshop will begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25th with a reception and welcoming remarks. Please make your plans so that you will be able to attend this opening session. We will conclude on Friday, April 27th at 3:00 PM. It is essential that you attend the full workshop program.
Applicants that have received an acceptance notice must complete the workshop registraton form. The registration deadline is March 25, 2007. Participants should make travel plans before completing the registration form.
Funding for partcipants' room, board, and workshop materials is covered by a grant from the NSF Division of Earth Sciences (EAR-0614926). Participants or their home institutions must provide funding for transportation to and from the workshop.
Travel by Air
Air travelers should fly into the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) airport. We recommend arriving at MSP no later than 3:30 PM on Wednesday, April 25th, and departing from MSP sometime after 6:30 PM on Friday, April 27th.
Ground transportation between MSP airport and Northfield takes approximately 45 minutes. Ground transportation will be arranged for you based on the flight information that you submit to us via the registraton form. (The registration deadline is March 25, 2007).
Travel by Car
If you are driving we recommend doing a Google driving direction search on Country Inn located at: 300 SOUTH HIGHWAY 3, NORTHFIELD MN 55057.
Lodging
Room reservations have been made for everyone attending the workshop at the Northfield Country Inn. Each participant will have a private room with a phone and FREE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS. Lodging costs will be paid by SERC.
The airport shuttle drivers will deliver you to the Country Inn. Directions to the meeting room will be available at the hotel desk.
Communications
All applicants that have been accepted to this workshop will be added to a workshop participant email list. The email list will be used by the conveners and support staff to send out additional information about the workshop program and logistics.
You will have a telephone in your room at the Country Inn and messages can be left at the hotel desk - 507.645.2286. Internet access will be available in the workshop meeting rooms as well as Country Inn.
Each participant will need a laptop computer during the workshop. Please let us know when you register if you are unable to bring your own laptop. Internet access will be available in the workshop meeting rooms on campus and at the Country Inn.
Participant Posters
During the workshop, you will present a poster about one aspect of what your department is doing to connect to the future of geoscience, via curriculum, a departmental program or structure, or interdisciplinary collaboration. Posters will be displayed on easels that are 28.5 inches high by 48 inches wide.
Meals
A COMPLIMENTARY continental breakfast will be served each day at the Country Inn. Other meals will be served on campus or in local restaurants. All meals will include vegetarian offerings. Please provide information on the registration form if you require special meals. The price of all meals and gratuities during the workshop is covered. However, the NSF grant does not cover alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase during some meal-times.
What to Expect
Northfield is a small town about 35 miles south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. April is still cool here with temperatures between +34 and +56 degrees. It's about a five-block walk to the meeting space from the hotel. Downtown Northfield is about 2-3 blocks from the hotel. We encourage participants to walk, but we will offer a shuttle service at the start and end of the day for those that prefer not to walk. Please let us know if you have any concerns about accommodations or mobility when you register.
The Country Inn will serve a COMPLIMENTARY continental breakfast each morning. There is a heated indoor pool at the Country Inn.