Venture Grant: Geological Society of America
To the Colorado College Venture Grant Committee:
My name is _______ and I am a major in the Geology department here at Colorado College. My purpose for writing a Venture Grant is to help make it possible to attend this year’s regional conference of the Geological Society of America (GSA), which is scheduled for May 7-9, 2003 and it is to be held in Durango, Colorado. The topics to be covered at this conference will be wide-ranging, consisting of several presentations given by renowned geologists as well as undergraduate students. My motivation for attending this meeting comes from my affiliation with the Geology Department and an accumulated fascination with the regional geology of Colorado. The research that will be presented at this year’s GSA conference is also very relevant to my senior thesis work, studying the tectonic geomorphology of the Rocky Mountains. Additionally I have been encouraged by my advisor to submit an abstract for a paper that I researched earlier this year here in Colorado. If accepted, I will be invited to give a brief talk on this work during the portion of the conference devoted to student research.
A couple of the reasons why this is such a great opportunity are first, that the regional GSA meeting has the reputation of being a relatively small and intimate forum, perfect for first time speakers and budding geologists to get his/her name and work out in the open. Also, attending GSA would be a good way to meet prospective employers or even professors looking for post-graduate students to help them with research; either way, I feel strongly that my attendance at GSA would open up opportunities in the future as well as advertise the excellence of the CC Geology Department.
In budgeting my trip I have asked for funding to cover an abstract submission fee, attendance fee, as well as gas, food and lodging for 3 days (2 nights) in Durango. Every detail relating to my budget is listed on the attached sheet.
Budget for Regional GSA meeting in Durango
Abstract submission fee: 10$
Attendance Fee: 50$
Food (3 days x 3 meals/day at 9$ per meal): 81$
Lodging (2 nights in Durange At 65$ /night plus tax) 145$
Gas (25c/mi. x 740mi.) 160$
Total 446$