Venue, Logistics and Reimbursements

Meeting venue:

The workshop will be held in at the Protea Hotel Blantyre Ryalls in Blantyre, Malawi from July 25-28, 2023.

Presentation information

  • Talks:
    • Length: unless otherwise indicated, talks should be 15 minutes long.
    • Format: Powerpoint or PDF
    • Please send presentations to Donna Shillington by July 20 to enable time for talks to be prepared for the meeting
  • Posters:
    • Size: up to 915 mm wide and up to 1220 mm tall (or 36″x48”)
    • Two 2-hour-long posters sessions will take place on Tuesday, July 26 and Wednesday, July 27.
    • Lightning talks: poster presenters also have the opportunity to give a 1- to 2-minute, 1-2 slide ‘lightning talk” on Tuesday, July 26 to introduce the poster. If you would like to give a lightning talk, please send your slide to Donna Shillington by July 20 to enable time for presentations to be arranged before the meeting.

Field Trip

On Thursday, July 27, we will go on an all-day field trip to Zomba Graben, departing at 7:30 am and returning before dinner. The trip will involve a few stops, including a couple of short hikes to outcrops/overlooks.

  • Pack lunches will be provided. Please bring any other foods/drinks you would like for the day
  • Please wear long pants to protect your legs against brush and Buffalo Beans.
  • Bring other sun protection (hat, sunscreen, long sleeve shirts, etc.)

Travel to the meeting

  • We expect participants to arrive on July 24 and depart on July 29 unless otherwise arranged. We have directly booked flights for all participants that need travel support for flights.
  • For those arriving at Blantyre Chileka International (BLZ) Airport, we are arranging shuttles from the airport to the hotel, either in a bus or a Malawi Geological Survey Department vehicle. Meeting organizers and drivers will great you at the airport. When you exit the airport, please look for a placard that says “NSF-GeoPRISMS” to find the shuttle.
  • Please check this google spreadsheet to ensure we have the correct flight information for you. You can also see which other participants are arriving on the same flight as you.

Reimbursement for international participants

  • We will cover travel, lodging, meals, and incidental costs as committed to each participant when they were accepted to the meeting. If funding permits, we may be able to cover additional expenses beyond those promised.
  • Hotel and meal costs during the workshop are being covered directly through the meeting venue.
  • Please keep all receipts for travel costs (luggage fees, ground transportation, etc), visas, and other expenses. Please give these to Donna Shillington either in person at the meeting or by email.
  • Where possible, we will reimburse participants for expenses in cash. Otherwise, reimbursements will be processed through Northern Arizona University after the meeting.

Reimbursement for Malawian participants

  • Meal costs during the workshop are being covered directly through the meeting venue.
  • We will pay a per diem to cover lodging in Blantyre and a fixed cost of $100 to each participant to cover travel costs to Blantyre in cash.

Weather

  • Temperatures at this time of year in Blantyre can range from 8ºC to 27ºC (46-80ºF), so please plan accordingly.