T79 Diversifying Geochronology: Innovations in Techniques, Applications, and Perspectives

Monday, 23 September 2019
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room 225AB, North Building

THE AGES2 (AWARDS FOR GEOCHRONOLOGY STUDENT RESEARCH 2) PROGRAM: AN UPDATE AND SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT ON ITS FUTURE

Paper number: T79-7
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:35 AM – 9:55 AM

Authors

Abstract

The AGeS program is a collaborative strategy for supporting access to geochronology data and expertise. The goals of AGeS are to broaden access to geochronology data and training, promote synergistic science by fostering new relationships between labs, students, and scientists in different disciplines, and to provide strategic geochronology data for projects in which both the users and producers of the data are intellectually engaged. The program offers opportunities for US-based graduate students to develop the scientific rationale for projects involving geochronology, and then provides them with up to $10,000 to acquire data in labs while being mentored by geochronologists. AGeS2 is supported by a 3-year, cross-programmatic award from the NSF that expands the AGeS1 program into a wider initiative. Unlike AGeS1 projects, AGeS2 projects are not restricted to North American research problems. Sixty geochronology labs and >85 senior geochronologists are now part of the AGeS lab network. AGeS2 includes a new partnership with GSA, a new website hosted by GSA (http://www.geosociety.org/ages), and a new online proposal submission and review system implemented over the last year to facilitate efficient handling of the increasing AGeS proposal pressure.

In 2019, during the first AGeS2 proposal cycle, the program saw 78 complete submitted proposals, and funded 20 projects at an average cost of $8,186. The review committee consisted of 10 geochronology experts familiar with the application of geochronology. AGeS2 awardees will participate in teleconferences with the cohort of funded AGeS students over a 2-year interval. Each awardee will receive an additional $500 to attend an AGeS cohort workshop preceding the 2020 or 2021 GSA National Meeting, and will be encouraged to present their results at the meeting.

A key question for AGeS moving forward is how to make the program financially and administratively sustainable into the future. One possibility is to promote synergies between the Geochronology Division and AGeS community efforts, and capitalize on potential future opportunities for oversight and administration by the Division. However, additionally identifying ongoing sources of funding for AGeS will be key for ensuring its continued success.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2019AM-332838

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