[GEM] THE GEM MESSENGER, Volume 27, Number 46

[Newsletter Editor]

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     THE GEM MESSENGER
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Volume 27, Number 46
Oct.20,2017

Announcement submission website: http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gem/messenger_form/

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Table of Contents

1. GEM Workshop Format Poll: November 10th

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1. GEM Workshop Format Poll: November 10th
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From: Jacob Bortnik (jbortnik at gmail.com)

Dear GEM colleagues,

The GEM workshop has grown substantially over the years.  This growth has obvious benefits, but it also presents challenges.  Many of the newer members of GEM might not be aware of its history (http://www-ssc.igpp.ucla.edu/gem/tutorial/2005/russell05.pdf).  It was conceived in the 1980s to carry out specific “campaigns” aimed at solving important problems.  Thus, GEM’s beginnings were the definition of a “workshop” where scientists would go to solve problems.  The passage of time and the growth of GEM brings us to today, where focus groups are chosen to address particular topics, but the sessions range from open discussion in a workshop format to short talks in the "AGU/SPA” style that challenge the kind of discussion-based workshop model that traditionally has been the hallmark of GEM.  In many ways, the “problem solving” goal of GEM has dissipated over the years, and it has started to resemble more of a AGU-style conference than a workshop.

This trend has been noted both by the Steering Committee and by the broader GEM community.  The Steering Committee wants to learn from the community about its preferences for the future of GEM.  Do you want to return to the workshop style that underlay the formation of GEM and distinguishes it from more formal meetings like AGU?  Do you prefer the AGU style?  Of the current activities we do at GEM, which do you value?  Which would you change and to what?

We have put together a poll that tries to gauge the priorities of the GEM community, and to offer potential trade-offs that we as a community could make to improve the GEM meetings.

Please fill out the form linked below by November 10th and let us know what is important to you, as well as anything else that we as the GEM leadership could be doing better.
https://goo.gl/forms/Kjfyq3oRVzBWErOB3

Thank you,
Jacob Bortnik on behalf of the GEM steering committee


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