The Organizing Committee is pleased to invite young researchers, as well as university and post-graduate students to the Forum for Young Permafrost Scientists which will be held in Yakutsk, eastern Siberia, from August 2 to 16, 2010. This Forum will be one of the events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Melnikov Permafrost Institute.

ORGANIZERS

Melnikov Permafrost Institute, Yakutsk, Russia
Sakha (Yakutia) Ministry of Science and Professional Education
Yakutian Scientific Center, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Yakutsk University

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs
Rudolf V. Zhang, Director, Melnikov Permafrost Institute
Mikhail N. Zheleznyak, Melnikov Permafrost Institute, Yakutsk University

Members
Anna Urban
Yana Stambovskaya
Leonid Gagarin

ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Vera V. Samsonova, Head of Chair of Earth Cryology, Tyumen State Oil and Gas University
Dmitry E. Glushko, Sakha (Yakutia) Deputy Minister of Science and Professional Education
Alexander N. Fedorov, Head of Laboratory, Melnikov Permafrost Institute
Boris I. Popov, Dean, Department of Geological Exploration, Yakutsk University
Alexander M. Ishkov, Vice-President, Yakutian Scientific Center

The Forum for Young Permafrost Scientists will include two events:
1. Geocryological Conference (August 2-5, 2010)
2. Geocryological Field Workshop (August 6-16, 2010)

1. GEOCRYOLOGICAL CONFERENCE
The conference will be held at the Melnikov Permafrost Institute in Yakutsk, Russia in August 2-5, 2010.

Conference Schedule
August 2, 2010 (Mon): Registration / Opening ceremony / Plenary session / Icebreaker dinner
August 3, 2010 (Tue): Oral and poster sessions
August 4, 2010 (Wed): Oral and poster sessions
August 5, 2010 (Thu): Oral and poster sessions / Closing ceremony
Themes:
• Regional and historical geocryology
• Periglacial processes and forms
• Hydrology and hydrogeology in cold regions
• Permafrost changes and landscape dynamics
• Climate change and engineering structures on permafrost
Languages: Russian and English

Paper presentation: oral and poster

Time for presentation: oral 5-10 min.

Proceedings
Conference proceedings will be published before the conference. Authors are requested to submit papers on the conference themes before June 21, 2010. Please send papers via e-mail to VNMF2010@rambler.ru

Paper Format
• Papers must be submitted in rtf, WORD-97 or later, using Normal style. Times New Roman, 12 point is used. Line spacing 1.5 lines for the text and single for the title, author and affiliation. Margins are 2.0 cm top, bottom and left and 1.5 cm right. The first line indent is 1.25 cm.
• The paper may be written in English or in Russian with an English abstract.
• The title and text are flush left.
• The paper length should not exceed 5 pages (A4).
• The title should not exceed two lines and should be in bold capital letters.
• Author names are typed on a new line in bold letters.
• Affiliation is given under the authors’ name in bold letters. In case of more than one author, authors’ names are asterisked and the affiliation for each author is given.

Mid-conference Excursion
A local sightseeing tour will be offered during the conference.

2. GEOCRYOLOGICAL FIELD WORKSHOP
The field workshop will be held from August 6 to 16, 2010 and will focus on ground ice, thermokarst and thaw depressions (alases). Participants will travel in central Yakutia to examine permafrost conditions, hydrogeology, and frost-related processes and forms in this area. Lectures and tutorials will be given by the Permafrost Institute senior scientists.

ROUTE OF THE FIELD TRIP
August 6, 2010
Visit to the Permafrost Institute’s Tuymaada research site (walk) - ground temperature monitoring network; meteorological measurements; CALM site
Visit to the Chabyda research site (bus) – groundwater observation wells
August 7
Visit to the Neleger research site (bus) – year-round observations of active-layer moisture and ground temperature
August 8
A bus trip starts from Yakutsk across the Lena River (ferry boat) to the camping area
August 9
Examination of groundwater springs (Buluus, Ulakhan-Taryn and Eruu)
August 10–12
Trip to alases (Yukechi-Tyungyulyu-Muru) to look at thermokarst, thaw depressions and lakes, perennial frost mounds
August 12
Drive to the village of Megino-Aldan and travel on boat on the Aldan River to the Mamontovaya Gora site
August 13–15
Mamontovaya Gora – exposures of Neogene-Quaternary sediments and wedge ice
August 16
The field trip ends. Depart for Yakutsk

Note: Accommodation during the field trip will be in tents. Participants should bring a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad, and personal camping items. Camping equipment will be provided by the Permafrost Institute. If necessary, camping items can be purchased from Yakutsk stores.

REGISTRATION FEES
The conference registration fee is US$20 (includes a conference kit, coffee breaks).
The field workshop fee is US$250 (includes transportation and food).
The fees are paid in cash upon arrival at Yakutsk.

VISA SUPPORT
A visitor’s visa is required for entry into Russia. Visas are issued by Russian Embassies or Consulates based on an official invitation. Upon request, we will arrange invitations. As processing time is long, requests should be sent to us as soon as possible.
CONTACT ADDRESS
Forum for Young Permafrost Scientists
ul. Merzlotnaya 36
Melnikov Permafrost Institute
Yakutsk, Russia 677010

E-mail: VNMF2010@rambler.ru
Phone: 7-4112-334 696 (Yana Stambovskaya), 7-4112-334 761 (Anna Urban)
Fax: 7-4112-334 476

FORUM FOR YOUNG PERMAFROST SCIENTISTS
- The Past, Present and Future of Geocryology -
Yakutsk, Russia, August 2-16, 2010
Registration Form
Please send this form by e-mail to VNMF2010@rambler.ru by June 21, 2010

REGISTRATION FORM
First Name:
Last Name:
University/Institution:
Position:
Postal Address:
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Title of paper:
Presentation form (oral, poster):
I will attend the Conference: Yes/No
I will participate in the Field Workshop: Yes