CHRONOS Paleogeography Workshop: GeoCenter, University of Vienna, Austria, April 23-24, 2005

The workshop is scheduled just before the EGU European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2005 in Vienna (24-29 April).

One of the objectives of the CHRONOS project is to bring software and data bases useful for paleogeographic map making and research to the community, through the CHRONOS Portal

The objective of the First CHRONOS Paleogeography workshop is to bring researchers together, who are willing to contribute to this community effort in various ways, including:

1. giving access to open data bases useful for paleogeography
2. helping to develop open source software that will be used to create/manage paleogeographic data bases (i.e. data broken up by tectonic plate and time coded) and interfacing them with plate reconstructions, map making tools and dynamic earth models

Databases useful for paleogeographic reconstructions include different types of data sets for the time period after about 175 Ma and before (ie the time for which we have seafloor preserved as compared to the time before that), including seafloor magnetic and fracture zone data, hotspot tracks, paleomagnetic data, paleontological data, other geological/geophysical data useful for constraining paleogeographic maps.

We have invited to the workshop specialists covering the technical and scientific aspects of all issues listed above (focusing on the Phanerozoic - i.e. our primary purpose is not to get into Rodinia paleogeography). We would especially like to use this workshop as an opportunity to sort out how to link existing databases relevant for paleogeography into the CHRONOS effort (e.g., PGAP, PANGAEA, IAGA MAGiC, paleo data bases, etc)

Participants can reach Vienna by train or air depending on their location. The travel cost of invited participants will be covered by CHRONOS. Invited participants should inquire with a travel agent or with online travel reservation engines (e.g., Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity etc.) to locate the lowest possible economy fare (for air). If you cannot locate a fare below US$1000 (from the US) or $1500 (from Asia or Australia), please contact Cinzia Cervato. Second class train fares will be reimbursed.

Vienna has an excellent subway system. The airport is connected to the city by the City Airport Train to Vienna Mitte. From there the hotel can be reached by subway. The GeoCenter and hotel are located near Underground U6 stop "Spittelau".

People traveling to Vienna from the US MUST use US carriers for their reservations.

City Map and Subway Map

The hotel nearest the workshop location is the Hotel Alexander, in Augasse 15. The rate for workshop participants is Euro 59 for single rooms, Euro 76 for double rooms. To make a reservation, contact the hotel directly and email or fax them the completed reservation form as soon as possible and in any case before March 28 to make a reservation and confirm it with your credit card. This will ensure that you receive the special workshop rate. If you are staying in Vienna for EUG, the hotel has a limited number of rooms available for that week. You will be reimbursed for three nights (April 22-25) after you submit a travel refund request and enclose your receipt.

The workshop will take place at the Geoscience Technology Center - University of Vienna. The EGU conference center can be reached from the Geocenter by subway (take Underground U6 to Schwedenplatz (4 stops), change to Underground U1 to Austria Center Vienna (5 stops). Takes about 20 - max. 30 min.

City Map and Subway Map

Please register on line to confirm your participation in the workshop. The registration deadline is February 15.

The workshop will begin on April 23 in the morning and end on April 24 by 5 PM. The ice-breaker at EGU begins at 6:30 PM. For information on how to reach the conference center, please see above. An agenda for the workshop will be available by early March.

If you have questions, please contact Dietmar Mueller or Cinzia Cervato.

To be reimbursed for the travel expenses you have incurred to reach Vienna, please complete the attached form with your personal details. If you reside overseas and would like to avoid paying a fee to cash a US cheque at your bank, please provide us with your complete bank account details (top right of form) and we will deposit the reimbursement of your travel expenses directly into your account (please note that this will add 2-3 weeks for the reimbursement to be in your account).

Please attach all of your original itemized travel receipts (flight, train, taxi, hotel). CHRONOS will reimburse you for up to 3 nights at the hotel (April 22 - 24). You will be responsible for incidental expenses (phone calls, etc.). You will also receive a US government per diem rate of $12 for lunch (arranged in a local Gasthaus) and $20 for dinner (with the exception of the workshop dinner, which will be taken care of directly)

Please mail the completed form and your original receipts to:
Cinzia Cervato
Iowa State University, Dept. of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
253 Science I
Ames, Iowa 50011-3212, USA.