Overview

Google Earth has emerged as one of the most powerful and easy-to-use tools for viewing, tracking, and analyzing planetary (and lunar) features, processes, and events. Since the application's release in 2005, Google Earth's use in the geosciences has evolved from simple "fly-bys", to world-class examples of geologically-induced landforms, to dynamic KML files and COLLADA models displaying geologic processes. Applications of Google Earth in geoscience education and research have been highlighted in well-attended AGU and GSA sessions in recent years, and informal discussions at these meetings have indicated the need for a specialized forum where development of virtual globe-based educational resources and visualizations can be coordinated among the greater geoscience community. The result is this Penrose conference, which will bring together geoscience educators, researchers, and other professionals to discuss recent advances in the development of educational modules and research visualizations that use the Google Earth platform.

The conference will be held onsite at the Google, Inc. headquarters in Mountain View, California, and will focus on themes such as:

1. Broader dissemination of Google Earth-based educational materials throughout the geoscience community
2. Coordinated involvement of Google engineers and the Google Earth education team in the development of Google Earth-based geoscience education and research tools
3. An opportunity to convey the wish-lists of solid earth scientists to Google engineers
4. Design of a central website and dedicated server for uploading and downloading Google Earth-based visualizations, educational modules, and user support materials.

By pooling ideas and resources from the broader community, we hope to stimulate new initiatives and directions in using Google Earth in the geosciences, as well as encouraging the active participation of Google, Inc. in the future development of geoscience research and education tools. A special volume summarizing some of the cutting-edge research and educational uses of Google Earth is a potential follow-up to this conference.

Estimated Costs

Participants must make their own travel arrangements to arrive in Mountain View, California, USA, the night of Monday 3 January. The registration fee will cover hotel lodging* for five nights (3-7), all daytime meals, dinner on Day 2, all handouts and digital materials, and transportation from the hotels to Google headquarters and on the field day. Airfare is not included.

The registration fees will be:

Regular US$700 per person
Student US$200 per person (limited spaces)

*accommodation is double occupancy.

Registration

Attendance is limited to 65 participants, and submitting this form does not guarantee acceptance into the conference. All applicants will be contacted after the submission deadline.

Submissions for this event are now closed

Participants will have to commit to attending the full five days of the conference. If you have questions or wish to withdraw your application please contact the conference conveners.