Goals of AGeS2
- Broaden access to geochronology data
- Educate users of geochronology data
- Promote synergistic science by fostering new relationships between labs and other disciplines
- Provide strategic, high-quality, scientifically valuable geochronology data for projects in which both
users and
producers of the data are intellectually engaged
Program Overview
The AGeS program is a collaborative strategy for supporting community access
to geochronology data and expertise. AGeS2 is supported by a 3-year, cross-programmatic award from NSF
that offers opportunities for graduate students to develop the scientific rationale for projects
involving geochronology and then provides them with hands-on experience acquiring data in labs, all
while being mentored by geochronologists. AGeS awardees visit an
AGeS lab
for a week or more, participate in sample preparation and analysis, and learn fundamental aspects of the
methods,
techniques, and theory used in modern analytical facilities. Awards can be used to fund analytical costs,
sample
preparation, travel to the host geochronology lab, lodging, and other expenses. The $6–10k AGeS awards fill
an
important funding gap between small ($1–3k) student research grant opportunities and large (>$100k)
grants.
However, these moderate funding amounts are sufficient to acquire a publishable dataset, provide the
foundation for
future larger proposals, and/or finance “riskier” science ideas.
AGeS2 awardees will participate in teleconferences with the cohort of funded AGeS students over a two-year
interval.
Each awardee will also receive an additional $500 to attend an AGeS cohort workshop preceding the 2020 or
2021 GSA
Annual Meeting, and will be encouraged to present their results at the meeting.