Proposing a Binghamton Geomorphology International Symposium

Proposals to host a Binghamton Geomorphology International Symposium may be submitted at any time to the Binghamton Geomorphology Steering Committee.  Binghamton Symposia are comprised of invited speakers, open posters, and occasional fieldtrips offered over the course of a weekend (typically in October).  Field trips are typically offered on Friday afternoons, followed by a reception to welcome attendees. Occasionally, field trips are also offered on Sunday afternoon following the paper sessions. Papers run the full course of Saturday plus Sunday morning. All papers are held in plenary session, which insures that all attendees can hear all speakers. Poster sessions are usually held during breaks between paper sessions.  Formal discussion panels and open discussion periods are sometimes scheduled throughout the conference.  A banquet is held on Saturday evening and usually includes a keynote speaker who provides an overview address on issues central to the conference theme. Slight variations to this structure can be accommodated to meet the needs of a particular conference, but the scheduling over a Friday-Sunday period and the plenary sessions for papers are required components of Binghamton Symposia.

Each Annual Symposium focuses on one specific topic of interest to geomorphologists and related scientists. Past topics cover a wide range of issues in geomorphology.  Papers of the Binghamton Symposium Series are typically published in a special issue of the international journal Geomorphology (Elsevier) and are considered for inclusion as a stand-alone edited book volume (the "maroon book series") also published by Elsevier, dependent on a pre-order sales agreement.

There is no funding available from the Binghamton Steering Committee or a publisher to cover the costs of hosting a Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium (although the costs of the special issue are covered by Elsevier).  It is expected that conference costs will be covered through participant fees, support from the host institution (typically a university, although other venues are welcomed), and any external funds the conference hosts can acquire. You should contact recent hosts of Binghamton Symposia to discuss potential funding mechanisms. 

To offer a proposal to the Steering Committee for consideration for future meetings, please forward to David Butler, Chair of the Binghamton Steering Committee (db25@txstate.edu), a 2-3 page proposal describing the credentials of the potential organizer(s), the envisioned theme, a list of potential speakers, the venue/host location, possible funding for international speakers, and any other information you may deem relevant.  Indicate in your proposal your plans to include a diverse group of speakers, in terms of gender, career position, academic training (geography, geology, civil engineering, ecology, etc.), and nationality.  It is expected that speakers from multiple countries will be invited to the conference. 

Proposals for Binghamton Geomorphology Symposia are reviewed and accepted or rejected by the Binghamton Steering Committee.  The Steering Committee may recommend changes in the program emphasis, the speakers invited to the conference, or other ways to improve the symposium. 

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