Nineteenth Annual WAIS Workshop

September 19 - 22, 2012
Pack Forest Conference Center, Eatonville, Washington, U.S.A.

Sponsored by NASA, the University of Washington's Quaternary Research Center, and the University of Colorado's National Snow and Ice Data Center.

The 2012 WAIS Workshop (WAIS 12) will take place in the Seattle, Washington area at the Pack Forest Conference Center situated near Mount Rainier National Park. This continuing series of workshops is the primary means for exchanging information and ideas pertinent to WAIS. The formal agenda will begin Thursday morning (September 20th) and include oral talks and panel-led discussions of topics selected by the WAIS Working Group (see the WAIS Science and Implementation Plan). There is a liberal amount of time for discussion and poster viewing - a characteristic that has made these workshops very effective for information exchange across disciplinary boundaries. More agenda details are provided below.

With the help of modest supporting funds from NASA and the Quaternary Research Center and the Program on Climate Change at the University of Washington, there will be a few additional distinguished scientists in attendance who are not actively involved in WAIS research but are central figures in related activities. Their presence will help us put WAIS into a global context and will help WAIS become better known throughout the broader scientific community.

About Pack Forest Conference Center

This center belongs to the University of Washington's College of Forest Resources. It is a beautiful site, has lots of space, is managed by a helpful and courteous staff, and the food is tasty. Follow this link for more detailed information about the Pack Forest Conference Center.

Agenda

The formal meeting will start Thursday, September 20th at 8:30 a.m. Plan to arrive Wednesday evening (the 19th). For those arriving by 6:00 p.m., dinner will be available. The meeting will end at noon on Saturday.

The agenda will be organized to alternate between oral presentations and posters. In keeping with our location at Pack Forest this year, oral presentations are encouraged within the following sylvan topic areas, though other themes can be added if there is sufficient interest. We do not have a separate category for modeling – we ask modelers to submit to the theme that best fits their modeling work.

  • Old Growth: new results from ice and sediment cores;
  • Riparian Zone: what's new on and under the ice shelves;
  • Mcorrhizae ("roots," approximately): observations and modeling of the base of the ice sheet;
  • Canopy: results from satellites, airborne measurements, or state-of-the art models;
  • Understory: surface mass balance and atmospheric variability.

Following each set of oral presentations, a panel will lead the audience in a discussion to probe more deeply our current understanding of the specific topic. This format has proven very effective in past workshops.

Poster presentations can be on any WAIS topic and will be the focus during the many extended breaks. Posters will be on display throughout the workshop in a room near the main meeting room.

Concluding the meeting will be a discussion of our progress toward, and understanding of, our goals. We will also hear from our distinguished guests and discuss how WAIS should proceed over the next year and through the International Polar Year. The workshop is scheduled to end Saturday at noon.

Registration closes on August 1st, 2012 and abstracts are due by August 25th, 2012. This will give the organizers time to make rooming assignments and establish the agenda. Both will be viewable on-line at this web site along with the full text of each abstract.

Lodging

Conference Center Accommodations

Pack Forest has a variety of accommodations. Please choose one from the following list:

  • House rooms: 13 twin beds near the meeting room, 17 twin beds 1/3 mile from the meeting room; some private baths, some shared baths.
  • Dining Hall dorm rooms: 22 beds in 5 rooms, 2 or 3 bunk beds per room; restrooms/showers downstairs.
  • North Dormitory dorm rooms: 10 twin beds in 5 rooms, 2 beds per room; restroom/shower across exterior breezeway.
  • Cabins: 80 beds in 10 rooms, 4 bunk beds in each room; restroom/showers located in adjacent building.

Lodging assumes a 3-night stay. Indicate an interest in staying earlier or later in the Comments section on the registration form.

Hotels Accommodations

The Mill Village Motel is located 7 miles away in "downtown" Eatonville. They have a total of 32 rooms. None have been reserved for WAIS, so you are on your own if you prefer this option:

Mill Village Motel
(360) 832-3200
210 Center Street East
Eatonville, WA 98328

Meals

Pack Forest serves meals in their Dining Hall. Because there is no easy means to allow separate meal plans, all registrants will be charged the full meal plan price.

Air Travel and Ground Transportation

Seattle/Tacoma International Airport is the most convenient airport. Getting to Pack Forest from the SeaTac (Seattle/Tacoma) airport requires one hour, however public transportation is not available. We are working on providing options for getting to the site. A rental car may be the best option for many. For persons driving, here are directions including an area map. (PDF format)

Registration Form

Pack Forest will collect the fees to cover all meals, lodging, refreshments, recreation equipment, etc. The specific cost will depend on accommodation. The normal fee (assuming 3 nights at Pack Forest) is $210 for the House Rooms, Cabins, and North Dormitory rooms, and $160 for the main dorm rooms. Once room assignments are made, we will contact you with your final cost and payment instructions.

For your convenience, we have provided an on-line registration form. If you do not have a forms-capable browser, you can either print the form or request a copy from the address below. Send all forms to:

Department of Earth and Space Sciences
ATTN: David Rupp, WAIS 2012
70 Johnson Hall, Box 351310
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-1310

REMEMBER, the registration deadline is August 1st, 2012.

Contact us at wais2012@uw.edu if you have any questions regarding logistical information. Please put WAIS in the subject line!