Application Questions
How are participants chosen?
Participants are selected based on:
- Qualifications of the applicant, including the CV, personal statement and letter(s) of recommendation
- Our impression of the potential benefit to the applicant
- Potential for collaboration with other participants
- Evidence of carrying projects through to completion
- Likelihood that the proposed project would be exciting and valuable to the broader science community.
- In addition, the balance of represented disciplines and other factors are used to make difficult choices among highly qualified applicants.
I'm not sure how to approach the proposal - can you provide examples?
No, but we can offer helpful hints.
Don't copy and paste an unpublished chapter of your dissertation, or propose a project that is already in progress. That's going to disqualify you.
Don't propose something you could do entirely by yourself. Eco-DAS is about developing collaborations.
Don't get so attached to your own ideas that you would be disappointed if they don't go forward. Offer your ideas to the Eco-DAS community. Some will take root; some will not; some will reappear in a mashup of related ideas.
Think about an idea that you'd love to work on with other Eco-DAS participants, especially people who are experts in areas that are complementary to your own knowledge.
Look at past Eco-DAS publications and proposals to get a sense of the diversity of projects that have moved forward. Many have been manuscripts, but you could propose any collaborative project. Think outside the box.
An expensive field project is not likely to happen unless funding is obtained, so it's not a good basis for a proposal. You could propose to write a funding proposal with other Eco-DAS participants.
No specific format is required. However, you might consider:
- explaining why you think this project is needed and would be exciting and valuable;
- providing a brief abstract or summary;
- providing a 1-page outline;
- mentioning any new data that would be acquired, or the source of existing data to be used;
- summarizing the complementary expertise you hope to find at the symposium.
Can I email my application? Can I provide some of the requested information later?
All applications must be prepared in advance, and submitted together via the online application form. You are responsible for requesting letters of support from your advisor (required) and one additional person (optional). Letters may be uploaded with your application, or emailed by your advisor to [email protected]. We recommend that you follow up with your advisor to be certain the letter was sent. We will not pursue missing letters of recommendation.
What format (PDF, docx, doc) should I use for my application?
PDF, please.
Eligibility Questions
What will be the eligibility dates for the 2026 Eco-DAS symposium? I am not sure when I am graduating.
Eco-DAS XVII participants should have completed their dissertation after 1 June 2024, or plan to defend by 30 June 2027.
I graduated X months before the eligibility period. May I still apply?
Permission is sometimes given, e.g. if the formal graduation date at your institution is earlier than June 1.
Logistics Questions
What expenses should I expect to pay for?
All travel, hotel, and dining costs will be covered by the Eco-DAS symposium, including travel from your home or work address to the Honolulu hotel and back. A flat-rate per diem allowance will be provided after the symposium to cover the cost of meals that were not provided directly by the symposium.
If you are a US citizen and located in the US, we can arrange and pay for your air travel and hotel accommodations. You should be prepared to pay for local transportation, meals and incidental expenses, and be reimbursed after the symposium.
If you are not a US citizen or if you are located outside the US, we can offer travel advice and assistance via a travel agency, and we will arrange your accommodations in Hawaii. However, you will need to pay for transportation, hotel, and meals and incidental expenses. You will be reimbursed for all costs after the symposium.
Receipts are required for reimbursement of travel and hotel costs. Receipts are not required for meals.
If you drive a substantial distance to an airport and request mileage reimbursement, you'll be asked to provide a route map showing the distance traveled. Airport parking fees will be reimbursed.
The symposium will not reimburse car rentals.
Do I have to attend all events?
All participants are required to attend all scheduled events during the symposium. If you are sick or have any emergency necessitating your absence, please let the conference organizers know as soon as possible. We will accommodate family obligations such as childcare, but you will gain the most by participating as much as possible.
When do I have to arrive?
All participants should plan to arrive in time to attend an evening reception held at the meeting hotel, starting at 6 or 7 PM of the day before the official start of the symposium.
Where will I stay?
All participants will stay at a hotel located in the Waikiki area of Honolulu, Hawaii. If you plan to come early or stay late, let us know when we contact you to make travel arrangements. You may wish to stay at another location before or after the meeting; however, during the meeting, you are required to stay at the meeting hotel.
Can I get the conference rate at the meeting hotel before or after the symposium?
The hotel rates we have obtained for the symposium may be available prior to or following the symposium; you would have to contact the hotel to make those arrangements. You will be responsible for the costs of extra nights.
Can I bring my spouse/partner/child?
Yes, but please advise the organizers if you plan to bring any guests. We will attempt but can't guarantee to accommodate you. You must bear any additional costs - the symposium will only cover your own travel, hotel and dining costs. We will endeavor to accommodate participants with children (including infants) but we do not provide child care. Most of the reserved rooms will have one queen bed.
What should I wear?
Honolulu outdoor temperatures are very comfortable in fall (typically 80F/27C), and you are welcome to dress casually. Meeting rooms are air-conditioned, and some people may be more comfortable in a sweater or long-sleeved garment.