blast travel grant

BLAST Travel Awards

The BLAST Conference sponsors several travel awards to enable students and postdocs to attend the BLAST Conference. These are funded by generous donations from individuals and private foundations and are described below.  No more than one award per lab is given. The funds are typically given as a waiver for a portion of the registration fee, and in some cases, funds for part of travel expenses. The recipients chosen by the Board of Directors. If you would like to be considered, have your advisor send a short email request to Sarah Van Heusen ( [email protected] ) that includes presentation abstract. Requests are due at the time of talk abstract submission.

Robert M. Macnab Memorial Travel Awards

The Macnab travel awards were created to remember our colleague Dr. Robert M. Macnab on the 10th anniversary of his death, at BLAST XII (2013). The Macnab travel awards are sponsored a generous donation from Mrs. May K. Macnab. The intent of the awards is to help young scientists from outside the country that hosts BLAST to attend the meeting.  Award receipients for BLAST XV in 2019 were graduate students Mariela García-Ramos from George Dreyfus' lab at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico and Anna Pecina from Kai Thormann's lab at the Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen in Germany.  Note, funds for this award were exhausted in 2019. 

Peggy O'Neill Memorial Travel Award

The O'Neill travel award was created to remember long-time BLAST administrator Peggy O'Neill, who passed away in 2018 while preparing for BLAST XV.  BLAST meetings have been held in multiple locations, but attendees could always count on being greeted by Peggy and a well-run meeting under her guidance.  The intent of the award is to help young scientists attend BLAST meetings.  The recipient of the first Peggy O'Neill Memorial Travel Award in 2019 was Frank Liu from Cara Haney's lab at the University of British Columbia.  The initial award is sponsored by small portion of BLAST registration fees.  We seek donations to sustain this award in the future.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Travel Awards

A generous grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund supported travel grants to assist seven graduate students in attending BLAST XV.  The recipients in 2019 were: Alina Guse from Marc Erhardt's lab at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in Germany; Jia Khoo from Judy Armitage's lab at Oxford University in the United Kingdom; Bruk Mensa from William DeGrado's lab at the University of California, San Francisco; Farha Naaz from Mahesh Tirumkudulu's lab at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay; Lindsey O'Neal from Gladys Alexandre's lab at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Ramiro Patino from Joanne Engel's lab at the University of California, San Francisco; and Shanice Webster from George O'Toole's lab at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

BLAST Presentation Awards

Robert M. Macnab Award for an Outstanding Poster Presentation by a Postdoctoral Scientist This $500 award was established at BLAST VIII (2005) and is named in memory of the late Robert M. Macnab, Ph.D., who was an integral member of the Bacterial Locomotion and Signal Transduction Community. Dr. Macnab spent his 30 year career studying the assembly, structure, and function of the bacterial flagellum. Bob actively participated in the BLAST meetings and served on the Program and Review Committees for BLAST IV. At the time of his death in 2003, Bob was a professor in the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University. The Macnab poster award is sponsored by generous donations from Mrs. May K.Macnab

Robert J. Kadner Award for an Outstanding Poster Presentation by a Graduate Student

This $500 award was established at BLAST IX (2007) and is named in memory of the late Robert J. Kadner, Ph.D., who was an integral member of the Bacterial Locomotion and Signal Transduction Community.  Dr. Kadner spent his career studying microbial physiology of E. coli transport systems.  Bob actively participated in the BLAST meetings and served as Chair of the Review Committee for BLAST V, Vice-Chair of BLAST VII, and Meeting Chair of BLAST VIII.  At the time of his death in 2005, Bob was the Norman J. Knorr Professor of Basic Sciences in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Virginia, School of Medicine.  This award is sponsored by BLAST

BLAST Board of Directors' Award for an Outstanding Talk by a Graduate Student  

This $500 award was established at BLAST XI (2011) by Phil Matsumura, Founding Chair of the BLAST Board of Directors.  The BLAST Board of Directors' Award was initiated by a generous donation from Dr. Phil Matsumura and is now sponsored by BLAST

BLAST Founders' Award for an Outstanding Talk by a Postdoctoral Scientist  

This $500 award was established at BLAST XIII (2015) by the BLAST Board of Directors in recognition of those who founded BLAST: Joe Falke, Mike Manson, Phil Matsumura, and Sandy Parkinson.  This award is sponsored by BLAST  

Microbiology Award for an Outstanding Poster Presentation by a Graduate Student This £150 award was established at BLAST XIV (2017) and is given for the second-place poster presented a graduate student. The award is sponsored by Microbiology (https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro), a journal published by the Microbiology Society,  which publishes topical, high-quality reviews and research papers on all aspects of microbiology. The journal combines editorial expertise from around the world with exceptional breadth of coverage, providing access to research in a single accessible source .

Nucleic Acids Research Award for an Outstanding Poster Presentation by a Young Investigator  

This $300 award was established at BLAST XI (2011) and is presented to a young investigator whose research is in on regulation of transcription.  The award is sponsored by Nucleic Acids Research (NAR), an Oxford University Press Journal, which publishes the results of leading-edge research into physical, chemical, biochemical and biological aspects of nucleic acids and proteins involved in nucleic acid metabolism and/or interactions ( http://nar.oxfordjournals.org )

BLAST Board of Directors' Award for an Outstanding Talk by a Graduate Student

This award was established at BLAST XI (2011) by Phil Matsumura, Founding Chair of the BLAST Board of Directors.  The BLAST Board of Directors' Award was initiated by a generous donation from Dr. Phil Matsumura and is now sponsored by BLAST.  

BLAST Founders' Award for an Outstanding Talk by a Postdoctoral Scientist

This award was established at BLAST XIII (2015) by the BLAST Board of Directors in recognition of those who founded BLAST: Joe Falke, Mike Manson, Phil Matsumura, and Sandy Parkinson.  This award is sponsored by BLAST.  

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Request for Proposals for Equipment

Request for Proposals Announced: August 29th, 2022

Application Deadline: October 2nd, 2022

Funds must be encumbered by May 1, 2023

The Biomedical Learning and Student Training (BLaST) program invites proposals for the purchase of equipment to support student biomedical research training. Investigators at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (all campuses), the University of Alaska Southeast (all campuses), Iḷisaġvik College, Alaska Pacific University, Salish Kootenai College, Diné College, and Fort Lewis College are encouraged to submit proposals.

The overarching goal of BLaST is to enhance undergraduate training and mentoring in biomedical research through increased diversity of students, increased integration of research and teaching, and enhanced integration of rural campuses into a cohesive biomedical community.

The BLaST grant allocates $150,000 for the purchase of equipment between 11/01/2022 and 5/1/2023 (must be encumbered by 5/1/2023). This funding will be awarded to one or more investigators to support equipment purchases that enhance undergraduate student training opportunities. The amount requested for any equipment purchase cannot exceed $150,000, and it is anticipated that multiple smaller awards ($5,000 - $50,000) will be chosen. Proposals must include a detailed description of the equipment requested and how the acquisition of the equipment will enhance the engagement and mentoring of undergraduate students in biomedical research.

Please keep in mind that fabricated equipment must have a total acquisition cost of $5,000 or more, is free-standing, is complete in itself, does not lose its identity when affixed to or installed in other property, and is expected to be used by the university for more than one year and our Procurement Office will not allow procurement of refurbished equipment. Also, be sure to review the University's definition and criteria for a fabricated piece of equipment which can be found at https://www.uaf.edu/ogca/resources/regulations/fabricated-equipment/) before you submit.

Funding priority will be assigned to equipment, locations, and investigators that will have the greatest impact in engaging students in biomedical/One Health research and in increasing student access to research opportunities. Based on this funding priority, the following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals:

• Cost: benefit ratio;
• Potential to create research training opportunities;
• Potential to serve biomedical research needs;
• Applicant's mentoring experience;
• If the equipment will be used in a rural location.
• Proposals must be submitted by October 2nd, 2022.
• Application link:  BLaST Equipment Purchase Proposal

BLaST staff can help with any questions about how to complete the required BLaST equipment budget template or application and can be reached at 907-474-5111 or [email protected] or contact Lori Gildehaus at [email protected] .

To learn more about what is an allowable and unallowable for an equipment proposal go to University's definition and criteria for a fabricated piece of equipment which can be found at https://www.uaf.edu/ogca/resources/regulations/fabricated-equipment/

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2 Best CIEE Travel Grants for College Students

September 5, 2023

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Authored by:.

If you’re planning for a study abroad adventure, chances are you’re starting to get organized and assess what needs to be done ahead of your travels. And one of the most important steps: Exploring your study abroad scholarship and grant options .  

Let’s dive in as we discuss two of the best CIEE travel grants for students like yourself and learn more about how you can make your study abroad dream a reality!  

GAIN Travel Grant  

CIEE’s GAIN Travel Grant is part of our need-based scholarship offerings based on students’ Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)* from their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at their enrolled institution.  

This travel grant helps students with their travel costs to and from their study abroad or internship program destination ( up to $1,500 for semester and quarter programs , and up to $500 for summer and single block programs ).  

Any student with an EFC below 10,000 is guaranteed to receive this grant, while those over 10,000, will still be considered post-deadline. Important to note: The deadline for this grant is October 15 for spring programs and April 1 for summer and fall programs.   

The steps to apply for the GAIN Travel Grant are super simple:  

• Step 1: Students upload their FAFSA Student Aid Report 
• Step 2: Submit a CIEE Scholarships and Grants application by October for spring programs/April 1 for summer and fall programs

This is an incredible opportunity for students to receive some extra assistance with their travel costs!  

Trailblazer Grant  

Also part of our travel grants is the Trailblazer Grant, which is considered in our third category of scholarship offerings, deemed “other,” based on specific study abroad programs. This particular grant is awarded to students who travel on a new 2024 spring , summer , or fall study abroad program with CIEE.  

CIEE offers many qualifying spring, summer, and fall programs for this specific travel grant that span several countries including:  

• England  
• Estonia  
• France  
• Scotland  
• Italy  
• Spain  
• Greater China  

Make sure to check out each of the specific study abroad programs and cities on our Trailblazer Grant page .  

Students may receive up to $1,500 in the form of a flight voucher for their eligible CIEE program and, like our other scholarship and grant options, the steps to applying are straightforward. Once you’ve decided on your new 2024 spring, summer, or fall program, all you’ll need to do is the following:   

• Step 1: Fill out the form to receive details about your flight voucher 
• Step 2: Select one of our qualifying programs  
• Step 3: Start your CIEE application   

The Trailblazer Grant is a simple way to gain some extra assistance with your study abroad travels!  

Travel Grant FAQs  

While the application process for our travel grants and travel scholarships is relatively straightforward, we’re sure you have some questions. And we don’t blame you! It can seem like a complicated process and it’s all brand-new information.  

We’ve compiled some of our most frequently asked questions about our travel grants and answered them!  

What is a travel grant?  

Starting with the very basics, a grant is a non-refundable endowment given by an individual, organization, or government department for a specific purpose linked to public benefit. Travel grants – in the case of studying abroad – are awarded to students from a non-profit organization, (that’s us: CIEE), to assist students in their international education. And the public benefit is robust – creating global citizens who will make the world a better place (that’s you)!  

It’s important to note that travel grants aren’t just awarded to students. For example, researchers can apply for travel grants to expand their studies, and many other instances.  

Do scholarships cover travel expenses?  

Yes! Some of our travel scholarships cover travel expenses, but some are specific to program fees. For example, while the GAIN Travel Grant helps cover travel costs, the Gilman Go Global Grant helps cover semester program fees. Take a close look at each of our offerings on our scholarships and grants page to best understand what type of aid covers specific aspects of your study abroad program and travels.  

Read More: Study Abroad Scholarships: Everything You Need to Know    

How do I ask for travel funding?  

As the question implies, simply asking for travel funding is perfectly acceptable!  

We always have CIEE staff available to help point you in the right direction. As we’ve mentioned, exploring our scholarships and grants page is a great place to start, as well as consulting with your on-campus study abroad office; they might have some additional travel grants and scholarships related to your specific institution. Your academic advisor might even be able to provide some helpful resources.  

What’s important to note is that there are a lot of different places and people to look to for help with travel funding, and CIEE is another wonderful resource to support you and help make your study abroad program affordable and accessible.  

How to apply for a travel grant?  

As we’ve mentioned, applying for a travel grant with CIEE is simple! On your CIEE application, make sure to fill out the scholarship and grants portion. And if you have any questions, we’re happy to help!  

Studying abroad is possible with the many different travel grants and scholarships available – check them out today!  

EXPLORE TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS   

Get Your Grant Today! 

Now that you know our two travel grant offers for studying abroad, as well as answers to commonly asked grants questions, we encourage you to check out our 200+ study abroad program offerings and find one that best suits your interests! 

*Note: EFC (Expected Family Contribution) is being replaced by SAI (Student Aid Index) for the 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle. Due to unexpected FAFSA delays during the transition, CIEE will accept the 2023-2024 FAFSA (EFC) or the 2024-2025 FAFSA (SAI) for Fall 2024. For students who provide the 2023-2024 FAFSA (EFC), we will continue to guarantee GAIN Travel Grants to those with EFCs of 10,000 or less. For students who provide the 2024-2025 FAFSA (SAI), we will guarantee GAIN Travel Grants to Pell Eligible students. Applications must received by the April 1st deadline for the guarantee. Students with high need should still apply even if they do not meet the criteria noted above.

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How to Get Travel Scholarships, Grants, Fellowships & More

The GoAbroad Writing Team is a collection of international travel writers with decades of experie...

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Money can’t buy you love, but it CAN buy you international plane tickets. So…Love shmove! 

Let’s get real for a sec. Travel ain’t free and it certainly ain’t (always) cheap. If you want to see the world—I mean really see it—you’re gonna have to spend some $$$. In a perfect world, international airfare wouldn’t drive us to Google “how much will my kidney sell for?” And that’s WITH all the amazing flight deal hacks ! 

Us, once we see the cost of our dream program abroad.

So, how are we, the not-Beyonce’s of the world, supposed to afford to study, intern, volunteer, or teach abroad? How do we go from being trifling good-for-nothing type of brothers to a baller? 

Travel. Scholarships. Grants. Fellowships.

That’s right, now you can pay your bills and now we DEFINITELY can chill. None of this maxing out cards and acting dumb when the bill comes. Nah-uh. We’re not playing Bey like that. You can apply for scholarships to travel abroad—no joke. 

Don’t believe me? Watch the video and read the transcript below. Our travel experts lay out exactly how you can use travel grants, fellowships, and scholarships to make ALLLLLL your adventures come to life.

Video transcript

The only thing more stressful than packing four months of junk into a suitcase is applying for travel scholarships. Deadlines, eligibility factors, essays—trying to impress someone enough in 500 words or less so that they will literally help fund your dreams is a daunting experience. 

DON’T WORRY. WE GOT YOU.

Let’s chat SCHOLARSHIPS, y’all! That’s right, you can get FREE MONEY to study, volunteer, intern, get your TEFL certificate, etc. 

One more time: Free. Money.

We’re here to tell you about how GoAbroad can help you find travel scholarships to make all your travel dreams come true. So if you have one, wait, I promise it’ll come true! That’s why we put this how-to video together to help you find the right student travel scholarships, get your application game up to snuff, and watch that free money come rollin’ on in. 

What kinds of travel fellowships, scholarships, & grants are there?

There’s academic scholarships to travel abroad , which is great if you love report cards—for you smarties out there! 

Athletic scholarships for travel are a slam dunk! Now you don’t have to be a pro, but if you’re really good and play a sport in college this might be the right scholarship for you. 

Is your ethnicity or gender under-represented in travel? Demographic scholarships to travel abroad are for you. 

Destination based student travel scholarships —different countries have different scholarships for international students. [So be sure to check those out]

Find a scholarship based on your field of study. [AKA— major-specific travel scholarships for college students. ]

Do you receive the Pell Grant or other financial aid? Then, apply for need-based travel scholarships .

OR, your alma mater could hook you up with university-specific scholarships to travel abroad . And to help undergraduate students afford to take on unpaid or underpaid summer internships, study abroad programs, or service trips abroad, or even summer research. There’s just heaps of options! I could go on and on and on all day. 

Stop doodling and dreaming, and start doing! Seriously, those applications won’t finish themselves.

Where can I find travel scholarships for college students? 

We’re glad you asked! We’ve got a handy dandy little thing over at GoAbroad called a “ Scholarships Directory .” This is your go-to for all things travel scholarships! Again: Go. Abroad. Scholarships directory. Filter your search by experience to find great opportunities across the web, all in one place.

PRO TIP: For those of you still in school, if you haven’t popped by your international programs or financial aid offices, you better make an appointment! It’s right there, it’s easy to use, they’ll be there with you throughout the whole process and you’ll be on your way to your next adventure in no time.

How do I apply for travel grants, fellowships, & scholarships without wasting my time?

Another great question, class! Very nice! My mother’s always told me that if you’re not nervous about a job interview, then you probably don’t really care about the job. I think the same thing stands true for a lot of other things as well. [**Like applying for scholarships to travel abroad.]

Here are a few insider tips so that you don’t waste your time, and, you’re ultimately getting the most bang for your buck! (Buck for your bang???—Whatever, here’s how to kick ASS at scholarship apps.) 

Get organized! Put everything in one place—Google drive, a spreadsheet, or an *actual* folder with printed materials. [Whatever your style is, just make sure you have everything together and easy to find.]

DUE. DATES. DO MATTER. They do, do, do, okay? So mark all your due dates and create reminders for them one or two weeks out. You don’t want to be scrambling to get everything together last minute. Trust me, it’s not enjoyable. 

Ask for letters of recommendation. Now this could be something from your past boss or your teacher. Some scholarships will require letters of recommendation. Start this process early to give recommenders plenty of time to craft a meaningful letter for you. [Plus, if one falls through, you’ll want time to queue up a backup!]

Next stop: Adventure abroad!

Craft a KILLER application essay. Yes, you have to write. This is like, 90% of the application, right? You’ll need to check the specifics of each prompt. Some might be looking for a personal narrative, some might want you to answer a very specific question or speak to a current event or major world issue. In order to get the dough you gotta put in the time. 

• Understand your goals — ask yourself why this experience is important, what will you bring to the table, and what do you expect to take away from the experience. 
• Outline your essay —but like, seriously. Even if it starts only as “Intro, body, and conclusion,” at least you need to know where you’re headed so you don’t end up submitting a two-page ramble about nothing. 
• Then you want to edit, edit, edit.
• Edit again, edit again, and edit AGAIN. There’s going to be no typos for you. You want to look professional and you want to look smart. 
• Send your draft to someone you trust to give you feedback and edit it, again. Like your mom, or your English teacher. 
• ONE LAST TIME. Review submissions requirements so you know you’re following all the directions and submitting your essay in the correct format. 

Submit all of your materials. (Early, you pro!) and await your fate! Good luck! Now, waiting for your acceptance letters can be anxiety inducing. So, check with your scholarship offices about when you can expect to hear a decision by, and keep yourself as busy as you can while you’re waiting. 

Are travel fellowships worth all the fuss? 

PFFFT. Is it worth it? Are overpriced avocados low-key the worst? Is Beyonce an angel we don’t deserve? Could your brow game be even stronger? YAS. Of course travel scholarships are worth it.

They make meaningful travel that much more affordable by helping you cover the pesky costs of things like: round trip flights, housing, FOOOOOD, your new backpack. That stuff adds up quick. It’s a really great resource for students to take advantage of because it really opens up a whole world of opportunities.

You know, that way you can save your hard-earned cash for fun stuff! Like weekend trips with new friends! Or that visit to the Van Gogh museum! You might even fall in love with a country and decide to move there permanently. Hey! That’s how I ended up here in Namibia. Apply to travel scholarships for college students so you can get out there and make all this fun, and life-changing stuff happen. 

Next...next steps to scoring free money for travel

Ri-ri knows you if you want that $$$, you better werk.

Listen, we were all pretty clear about what you’ve got to do in order to get that sweet, sweet cash money, but we’ve got some more resources for you either way. 

• Looking for study abroad scholarships? Check out the COMPLETE guide.
• 8 hot scholarships for study abroad
• 12 study abroad scholarships for LGBT students
• 40 scholarships for study abroad around the world
• 5 (more) scholarships for underrepresented students  
• Write an award winning study abroad scholarship essay with these tips

Now you’re ready to ROCK those applications. 

Go out and get your travels funded!

Stop dilly dallying. Those due dates are coming up! So reach out to your recommenders and start tip-tapping away on your keyboard. Those travel scholarships application essays won’t write themselves! Your next great adventure awaits. 

Explore ALL Travel Abroad Scholarships

Explore Scholarships Programs on GoAbroad.com

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 Travel Grants

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Limited travel grants will be offered to qualified applications for attendance at the 2024 APSA Annual Meeting.

• To be considered for a travel grant, it is required that individuals be presenting at the Annual Meeting.  First-time attendees and those on the job market will receive priority consideration.
• Qualified applicants include:  U.S. graduate students, international graduate students studying in the U.S., unemployed members, international scholars, community college faculty, contingent faculty, unemployed faculty, APSA Status Committee members, and any faculty member who has been furloughed or experienced a reduction in available research funds from their college or university.
• Travel grants can cover  costs such as mileage for attendees who travel to association events by car or plane tickets for attendees who arrive by air.  Grants can also cover hotels, meals, and conference related cab fare.
• All grant recipients will be reimbursed for expenses after the conclusion of the relevant association event.

The deadline to apply is April 30, 2024.

Eligibility:.

To be eligible for grant, you must: 

• Maintain your APSA membership through the date of the conference for which you are receiving travel grant funding
• Be presenting at the 2024 APSA Annual Meeting
• Reside more than 60 miles from the conference location – you are not eligible for a travel grant if you live within 60 miles of the conference site
• APSA will not cover expenses that are not submitted without an itemized receipt

Travel Grant Use

A travel grant from APSA can cover the following costs:

• Ticket and cab fare:  Economy bus, train, and plane tickets are covered, conference related cab fare around the conference city is also covered
• Mileage is reimbursable at the 2024 IRS standard mileage of 67 cents per mile traveled
• You must also demonstrate that the cost of your mileage is less than the cost of a flight
• As proof, APSA accepts a printed copy of the cost of a flight to the conference city on the days that you plan to travel and printed directions from sites like Google Maps as documentation
• Hotels:  The cost of a stay in a hotel, hostel, or other rented lodging such as Airbnb during the conference is covered
• Meals:  The cost of meals during the conference is covered

An APSA travel grant  does not , however, cover any of the following costs:

• Business or first-class tickets
• Rental cars
• Gasoline:  Receipts for gas are not accepted – for APSA to cover the cost of a car trip to the conference, you must provide your mileage using the instructions above
• Registration or APSA Membership:  APSA cannot apply grant funds toward the cost of a membership or registration for the Annual Meeting

For a downloadable copy of APSA’s grant policy,  please click here.

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Travel Grants for Research

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The Travel for Techniques in Transplantation Research (T 3 R) Program supports the travel of a scientist to the laboratory of another scientist to acquire a new technique. This program fulfills a goal of the AST Research Network to facilitate bringing novel, cutting edge techniques to transplant biology research labs and clinical scientists.

Eligibility

• Must be independently funded researcher (PI)
• Must maintain an AST membership
• Travel must be set for future dates
• Limit one grant per laboratory per year

Award and Travel Support

• Up to $2,000 reimbursement for travel
• Four travel grants per year will be awarded
• Recognition during the ATC

Review and Selection

• Based on relevance to transplantation, potential significance of the work resulting from the new technique, innovation/novelty, investigator, and demonstrated need
• Selected by the AST Research Network Committee

Application

The AST Research Network Committee accepts grant applications on a rolling basis. Members can submit an application ( Word ) for consideration at any time through the year. Only four grants will be awarded per year.

Download the AST Travel Techniques in Transplantation Research Grant RFA .

Testimonials

Mass Cytometry, Imaging Mass Cytometry and Machine Learning , July 2021 Traveling Lab: Dr. Juliet Emamaullee, MD, PhD; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Host PI: Dr. Brice Gaudilliere, MD, PhD; Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

The T3R program was instrumental for our lab as we are currently adopting complex techniques including CyTOF and Imaging Mass Cytometry... Visiting a lab which studies pregnancy immunology with a unique expertise in these techniques was valuable as they shared their protocols, demonstrated staining and acquisition procedures, and organized a multi-lab meeting where individuals from each group were able to present their most recent data and receive guidance and feedback. This experience was a fun, engaging and truly efficient way for our lab to adopt these new techniques. -Dr. Brittany Roque, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Machine Learning Methods, Joint Modeling and Matching Algorithms , November 2019 Traveling Lab: Dr. Peter Reese, MD MSCE; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Host PI: Dr. Alexandre Loupy, MD PhD; Paris Translational Research Center for Organ Transplantation, INSERM, Paris, France

The T3R grant was an excellent opportunity for our lab to collaborate with the Paris Transplant Group and share techniques to advance common interests – improving transplant outcomes. This is a unique grant opportunity as it provides flexibility in allowing us to choose the research technique we want to learn, and it also gave us the option to choose which lab members visited the collaborating site. Further, the Paris Transplant Group was also excited to welcome Dr. Potluri because of the fact that he would teach them about important matching techniques and employ those methods to advance a Paris Transplant group research project. Importantly, the T3 grant also allowed us to understand how our collaborating research group structures their team and optimizes efficiency. Finally, since our collaborating lab was located in a country with a different health system, we had the opportunity to understand some of the benefits and challenges faced by their transplant community. We strongly believe that the T3R grant is an excellent opportunity and encourage other research groups to apply! -Dr. Vishnu Potluri, MD MPH, Instructor of Medicine

Metabolics , November 2019 Traveling Lab: Dr. Tom Blydt-Hansen, MD FRCPC; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Host PI: Dr. David Wishart, PhD, M.Phil; University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Our research program is broadly focused on identifying diagnostic tools in transplantation using metabolomic methods. Previously, we have worked closely with the Wishart Lab for sample analysis, using commercial and custom kits. ...We will continue to work Dr. Wishart’s lab, to develop custom kits that will be used for both urinary metabolomic and plasma immunometabolomic testing of research samples from the clinic and from multi-center studies. -Or Golan, Graduate Student

Imaging of T Cell Infiltration in Grafted Tissue in the Anterior Chamber of The Eye , August 2019 Traveling Lab: Dr. Megan Levings, PhD; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Host PI: Dr. Brian Fife, PhD; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

This travel program was very important to our lab as I would not have been able to have such hands-on practice with live imaging without it. While my supervisor is experienced with the surgical portion of this technique, we were less knowledgeable with the imaging aspect. Without this travel opportunity, our optimization process would have been long and labor intensive, as observing how the Fife lab prepares their microscope and mice for imaging revealed small details we likely would have missed, as well as numerous tips to make the imaging easier for us as researchers, as well as less stressful for the animals. Another very helpful takeaway from this trip we wouldn’t have gotten without this travel program was how to use the imaging analysis software. This program is completely new to our facility and therefore we would have had to learn how to use the software from scratch. There are many tools, plug-ins, and options that would have been very confusing to use or are just not needed for our purposes. However, while we were there, the Fife lab walked us through the tools they used for the purposes we wanted, as well as described the various tools that would enhance our imaging movies. -Vivian Fung, Technician

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Privacy Policy

Council Travel Grants

2024 scientific sessions travel grants application is now open.

The ASE Foundation will sponsor trainees to attend the 35 th ASE Annual Scientific Sessions  in Portland, Oregon, June 14-16, 2024. Travel grants of $1,000 will be awarded.

Please review the individual Council requirements below and then log in to your ASE Member Portal and click this application link (or navigate to Membership >> Committees, Councils, SIGs >> Council Travel Grant Application). You must have all submission materials to complete the application.

If selected for a 2024 Council Travel Grant you are agreeing to attend the ASE Scientific Sessions June 14-16, 2024.

Deadline for Submission: April 15, 2024 Travel grant winners will be notified by May 1, 2024 Cardiovascular Sonography

Cardiovascular sonographers (non-physicians) are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current ASE member; hold echocardiography certification from ARDMS or CCI or an equivalent international sonography certification (adult, pediatric, echo and/or vascular); and be currently working part time or greater.

The application process requires submission of:

• Your current CV
• Name/Address/Phone/Email
• Place of employment
• Number of hours worked per week
• Length of current employment
• A letter from your supervisor in support of your application.

Applicants must be a member of ASE. Current faculty and/or previous recipients of an ASE Travel Grant are not eligible to apply. Questions may be directed to [email protected] . Deadline for submission is Monday, April 15, 2024.

Log in to the ASE Member portal and then click this application link (or navigate to Membership >> Committees, Councils, SIGs >> Council Travel Grant Application). You must have all submission materials to complete the application.

Circulation and Vascular

These travel grants are part of an effort by ASE’s Circulation & Vascular Ultrasound Council Steering Committee to encourage physician trainees in cardiovascular specialties to focus on the field of circulation and vascular ultrasound, to encourage sonographers with an interest in vascular imaging, and to recruit enthusiastic new members to the Circulation & Vascular Ultrasound Council.

Students in an ultrasound training program, residents and fellows in vascular surgery, cardiovascular medicine, and vascular medicine may apply. All sonographers with strong interest in vascular ultrasound are encouraged to apply for one of the $1000 travel grants.

• A brief, one-page personal statement about why you want to attend the Annual ASE Scientific Sessions.
• A letter from the director of your training program or the vascular laboratory director in support of your application.

Critical Care Echocardiography

These travel grants are part of an effort by ASE’s Critical Care Echocardiography Council Steering Committee to encourage physician trainees in cardiovascular specialties to focus on the field of critical care ultrasound, to encourage advanced practice providers with an interest in critical care imaging, and to recruit enthusiastic new members to the Critical Care Echocardiography Council.

Trainees, both physicians and advanced practice providers, in an emergency department, critical care cardiology, intensive care, critical care or related discipline within a dedicated critical care training program or with an interest in critical care echocardiography are encouraged to apply for one of the $1000 travel grants.

• A letter from the director of your training program or the echo laboratory director in support of your application.

Interventional Echocardiography

These travel grants are part of an effort by ASE’s Interventional Echocardiography Council Steering Committee to encourage physician trainees in structural heart cardiovascular specialties to focus on the field of interventional ultrasound, to encourage advanced practice providers with an interest in interventional imaging, and to recruit enthusiastic new members to the Interventional Echocardiography Council.

Trainees, both physicians and advanced practice providers, performing structural heart procedures or related discipline within a dedicated interventional training program or with an interest in interventional echocardiography are encouraged to apply for one of the $1000 travel grants.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

The travel grants are part of an ongoing effort by the ASE’s Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council Steering Committee to encourage pediatric cardiology fellows to sub-specialize in the field of pediatric cardiovascular imaging. The hope of the Council is to provide interested fellows with a deeper understanding of the imaging field and facilitate the development of meaningful mentoring opportunities for trainees with an established imaging faculty.

Pediatric cardiology fellows in the first three years of training with an interest in cardiac imaging are encouraged to apply. The application process requires submission of:

Perioperative Echocardiography

These travel grants are part of an effort by ASE’s Perioperative Echocardiography Council Steering Committee to encourage sonographers, fellows or residents to sub-specialize in the field of perioperative ultrasound imaging. The Perioperative Council aims to help interested trainees acquire a deeper understanding of ultrasound imaging and facilitate the development of meaningful mentoring opportunities with established imaging faculty.

Trainees, both physicians and advanced practice providers, in an anesthesiology, cardiology, cardiac surgery, critical care or related discipline within a dedicated perioperative echocardiography training program or with an interest in perioperative echocardiography are encouraged to apply for one of the $1000 travel grants.

Cardiovascular Sonography Council

Circulation & vascular ultrasound council, critical care echocardiography council, interventional echocardiography council, pediatric and congenital heart disease council, perioperative echocardiography council.

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A New AMA Survey to Document Changes in Physician Practice Expense

Watch for invitations to complete this survey.

Invitations and reminders about the  survey will come from [email protected] with the subject line: “American Medical Association requests your input on physician practice expense and patient care hours.”

Invitations and reminders about physician hours worked will come from [email protected] with the subject line: “Please help to update accurate physician payments.”

Your input will ensure future accurate valuation.

Copyright © 2024 American Society of Echocardiography

• GSA Website

• Students & Early Career

Travel Grants

GSA Sections, Divisions, and Associated Societies are ready to help you get to the meeting! Various groups are offering grants to help defray your costs for registration, field trips, travel, etc. Eligibility criteria and deadline dates may vary by grant.

On To the Future Travel Awards

Application deadline: 3 May 2024

The On To the Future (OTF) program supports students from diverse communities to attend GSA Connects by offering partial travel funding if attending in-person, full meeting registration, one-year membership, mentorship, and special sessions with leadership during the meeting.

Learn more and apply

GSA Sections (North America: U.S., Canada, & Mexico)

Gsa section travel grants.

Application deadline: TBD

Applications are not yet open

GSA Sections offer travel grants to help students attend GSA Connects 2024. Check the eligibility requirements  for your Section. The application form is available from this page  only  during the pre-registration period.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

You must be registered for the meeting before you can apply. If you are not chosen to receive a grant and cannot attend the meeting, GSA will refund your registration fee.

Travel grant awards will be distributed to the recipient following the GSA Connects 2024 Meeting.

Check with your Division or Section

Many GSA  Divisions  and  Sections  offer grants as well as best-paper awards. Be sure to check with yours for GSA Connects-related funding.

Interested in helping students participate in the meeting?

Every year, a large percentage of students apply for travel grants for the meeting but do not receive an award due to limited funds. You can help reduce this number by donating as little as US$10 via your registration application. 100 percent of funds collected go to students!

GSA International Travel Grants

Application deadline: 8 March 2024

Get eligibility details and apply

GSA International offers travel grants to help support the participation of international scientists and students at GSA Connects 2024 in Anaheim. Travel grant funds are limited; grants will not cover the full cost to attend the meeting but are intended to help offset the combined cost of registration, housing, and travel. Applicants will be notified about their status (successful or not) by 15 April 2024.

Christopher I. and Irene N. Chalokwu Travel Grant

The Christopher I. and Irene N. Chalokwu Travel Grants are awarded to help support undergraduate or graduate student travel for students in Africa, working on any aspect of African Geology, to attend and present their research at GSA’s annual meeting. Successful applicants must reside in Africa. Travel grant funds are limited; grants will not cover the full cost to attend the meeting but are intended to help offset the combined cost of registration, housing, and travel. Applicants will be notified about their status (successful or not) by 15 April 2024 .

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Privacy Policy

Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology, BLAST, is a FREE program designed to help Virginia 8th and 9th-grade students find their place in STEM. Participants spend three days at a college dorm doing hands-on STEM activities.

BLAST is a partnership between the VSGC, Old Dominion University, Radford University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Applications: Open December 1 – February 1

Contact: Veronica Warwick or Debbie Ross, [email protected]

2024 Program Dates: ODU: June 16-19 W&M: June 23-26 VT: July 7-10 RU: July 21-24 UVA: July 28-31

Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology offers an exciting way for rising 9th and 10th grade students to spend three days of summer! Participating students get to stay in a college dorm and see what campus life is like on-site at one of our five partner universities: Old Dominion University, Radford University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, or William & Mary. No previous experience in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is needed, and this program is FREE for participants. BLAST is designed to increase students access to high quality, immersive STEM experiences, and help students find their place in STEM.

Each day of BLAST is jam-packed with STEM-related activities and demonstrations led by faculty of the university. Students come away from BLAST with a greater sense of curiosity, deeper insight about the variety of careers that exist in STEM fields, and enhanced readiness for advanced programs in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Click the button above to watch a video that shows a snapshot from past BLAST sessions. You will find more information about the program, as well as the online application, through the tabs above.

The BLAST program is a partnership between the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Old Dominion University, Radford University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Program History Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) is a partnership between the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Old Dominion University (ODU), Radford University (RU), University of Virginia (UVA), Virginia Tech (VT), William & Mary (W&M), and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The program was funded by the General Assembly with the purpose of increasing the number of high school graduates who pursue STEM careers by increasing students’ access to STEM enrichment experiences.

BLAST Benefits BLAST exposes students to an exciting range of hands-on STEM learning experiences and gives participants a sense of what life is like on a college campus. Through faculty and staff-led activities, demonstrations, tours, and guest lectures, students fine-tune their STEM interests and discover how they can align with a range of STEM careers. Many participants have shared that these experiences helped them make decisions about what classes to take before they graduate high school, and majors they will consider in college.

Students may apply to attend any ONE session at either William & Mary, Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Radford University, or Old Dominion University.

Click here for a sample schedule

Qualifications and Requirements

• Be a current 8 th  or 9 th  grade student at a Virginia middle, high, home-school or private school.
• Be a Virginia resident and U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident.
• Have at least a C+/B- average (minimum 2.7 GPA).
• Have a desire to explore STEM opportunities.
• Not have previously attended BLAST.

Selection Process

All qualified applications will be reviewed by a panel of educators, and student selections will be made for the number of available slots for each university. Geographic and demographic diversity are taken into consideration as well as students who have not had previous access to STEM enrichment experiences. Applicants will be notified of acceptance at the end of March.

Click here to apply.

Calling all middle and high school STEM and CTE teachers!

We are looking for teachers with the following experience:

• Holds a current teaching license in a STEM subject for Virginia middle or high school.
•  Formal education experience teaching earth science, aviation, and/or integrative STEM education, preferred
• Ability to attend mandatory teacher chaperone orientation
• Ability to attend one or more BLAST sessions

BLAST chaperones will attend the BLAST residential program at one or more of the five sessions to be held at Old Dominion University, William & Mary, Virginia Tech, Radford University, and/or the University of Virginia. In addition to supporting the summer session(s), BLAST Chaperones will serve as program ambassadors during the fall of the following school year by promoting the program within their district. BLAST chaperones will accompany and walk students to all activities, tours, and demonstrations and encourage participation. Chaperones will assist with or orchestrate icebreaker activities as needed and ensure student safety. Chaperones will complete online tutorials and background checks as required by the university Youth Protection Office.  

BLAST Teacher Chaperone Stipend

Accommodations

All meals will be provided during the BLAST session. Chaperones will be housed at the institution’s dorms, near their student group.

Application Deadline: February 1

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation must be provided by a current or former supervisor, department chair, school administrator, or someone who can attest to the applicant’s professional qualifications. Once the applicant has submitted their application, the system will email the specified individuals instructions on how to submit their online letters of recommendation. Inform them that they will be receiving an email from [email protected] with these instructions.

All letters of recommendation must be submitted via the online application system. Letters of recommendation submitted in any other manner will not be accepted.

Important Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to follow up with the people who are providing letters of recommendation to ensure the recommendations are submitted electronically by the deadline. The applicant will receive an email notification when each of these letters is submitted.

Q:  Can I apply to BLAST again if I participated last year?

A:  No. To offer the BLAST experience to as many Virginia students as possible, participation is limited to once per student.

Q:   I applied to BLAST last year but was not selected. Can I apply again this year?

A:  If you meet the qualification requirements this year and have not participated in BLAST before, you may apply.

Q: What does “rising high school freshman or sophomore” mean?

A:  BLAST takes place during the summer after a student’s 8th or 9th grade year. Students apply during the school year as 8th or 9th graders but are considered “rising” 9th and 10th graders, respectively, during the summer before the next school year begins.

Q: How will I know you received my application?

A:  The application system automatically sends an email to confirm each step of the process, so check your email frequently to be sure the student portion of the application, as well as the recommendation form and counselor verification form, are all received on time. You may also log in on the application system anytime to check the status and see what is missing. Your application is not eligible for review until its status in the system is marked “complete.”

Q: What does the “status” of my application mean?

A:  Status refers to which step of the application process you’re in. Your BLAST application may show as registered, saved, submitted, or complete. If you submit your application and then log in later to check on its status, you will also see a status for each supporting document (recommendation and counselor verification.) Each term is explained below.

Registered – You have set up a log in and can use the application system, but you have not started your application.

Saved – You have started answering prompts and saved your work, but you have not turned in (submitted) your application. The recommender and counselor have  not  been notified about the forms they need to fill out. If you log in to check on your application after submitting it and find that one or both supporting materials are  saved , it means the recommender (or counselor) has opened the form they received via email and begun to complete it, but they have not turned it in (submitted).

Submitted – You clicked the Submit button to turn in your student portion of the application, and your recommender and counselor have been sent an email with the online forms and instructions for completing them. Your application is not complete until both forms are finished and submitted.

Complete – All required components (student portion of the application, recommendation form, and counselor verification form) have been received through the application system and your application package will be reviewed by the review committee.

Blank – This status only applies to supporting materials from the recommender and counselor. The item will have a  blank  status if the supporter has not started working on the form yet, which was sent to the email listed in your application (system emails will arrive from  [email protected] ).

Q:  I registered but never received an email with a password so I can’t log in. What should I do?

A:  Check your spam or junk folder for an email from  [email protected]  (you can enter that email address in the Search area of your email). If you still do not see the registration email, you may have registered with an email that blocks external domains, such as a school email address. Return to the  application  page and click New User Registration to register with a personal email address.

Q: I finished my application, but I received a notice (or saw a status) that it is not complete. What should I do?

A:  First, log in on the  application  page, check to be sure all prompts are filled in, then click Submit. If the status is “submitted,” then one or both of your support documents may be missing. Gently remind your recommender and counselor to submit the form that was sent via email from  [email protected] . It was sent immediately when you submitted your application and may have gone to their spam or junk folder.

Q: My recommender (or counselor) said they finished their form, but my application is still not complete. What should I do?

A:  Please ask your recommender or counselor to open the form and be sure they have checked the certification box, then ask them to click Submit. A confirmation email will be sent to their email address immediately, so please have them check it to confirm their form was received.

Q: When will I find out if I was selected?

A:  It is expected that all applicants will be notified via email by the end of March. Remember to check email frequently for program updates. Updates may come from  [email protected] , or  [email protected] .

Q: It is the end of March and I have not been notified of my status. What should I do?

A:  First, check the status of your application by logging in to the  application  and making sure the status is “complete.” If it is marked complete, please email  [email protected]  to ask about your selection status. If your application is not marked complete (it is submitted or saved), then your application was not eligible for review because one or more items were missing or submitted late.

Q: How are students selected for BLAST?

A:  A complete application must be received by the due date and meet all qualification requirements for their application package to be considered by the review committee. Selection for BLAST depends on several factors including verification of school information, quality of the recommendation, and quality of the student’s short answer responses. All qualified applications are reviewed by a panel of educators, and student selections will be made for the number of available slots at each university. Efforts will be made to ensure geographic and demographic diversity of selected participants as well as to reach students with limited access to STEM extracurriculars. Previous BLAST participants are not eligible.

Q: What will students do at BLAST?

A:  Activities vary a bit from year to year and by location, but the videos linked from our  Home page are great examples from previous years.

Q: Is transportation provided?

A:  Participants are expected to secure their own means of transportation to and from the university. While transportation to BLAST is not provided, we may be able to assist students who are unable to secure transportation. Please contact BLAST program staff at  [email protected]  if you are selected to attend and have transportation concerns.

Q: What time is check-in and check-out?

A:  Students must check-in between 3-4 p.m. on the first day of the session and check-out between 8:30-9:30 a.m. on the last day of the session.

Q: Where will I stay during the BLAST program?

A:  Students will be housed at a university dormitory and will share a room with another student. All meals will be provided, and students will be chaperoned by Virginia licensed teachers.

Q: How do I select a roommate?

A:  Students will be assigned a roommate by BLAST staff.

Q: What if I have a medical condition that requires me to take medicine during the day?

A:  Selected students will receive a Medical Release form for their parent to complete. Let us know about your medication requirement on the form and bring your medication with you during the day. If the medication must be refrigerated, we can make arrangements to access it during the day as long as we know ahead of time. Please note that BLAST staff cannot dispense medication.

Q: What should I do if I am selected but cannot attend?

A:  Students who attend BLAST must be able to participate for the duration of the program. A student who is selected and cannot fully participate should send an email to  [email protected]  and decline the invitation. If you have accepted an invitation and later find out you are no longer able to attend, please send an email immediately to withdraw so that another student may be selected.

International Travel Scheme (ITS)

International Travel Support (ITS) Scheme provides financial assistance to Indian researchers for presenting a research paper in an international scientific event (conference, seminar, workshop etc.) held abroad. In addition, support is also provided to young scientists (age limit below 35 years as on date of start of the event) for attending training programmes, Short-term schools and Workshops. Economy class air-fare by shortest route, airport-tax and visa fees are provided under the scheme. Registration fee as per actual or Rs. 50,000/- whichever is less will be provided to young scientist (Age

The ITS scheme is to provide financial assistance for presenting a original research paper or chairing a session or delivering a keynote address in an international scientific event held abroad (conference/seminar/symposium etc.). This scheme also provides support to young researchers (Age

• Applicant should be an active Indian researcher engaged in R&D work in recognized academic institutions or research laboratories in India.
• The applicant should have an invitation for presenting an original scientific paper. Similar invitation is required in the case of young scientists attending training programmes such as short term courses, summer/winter schools, workshop etc.
• The applicant should not have availed financial assistance under this Scheme during the last three years.
• The scientific event should be of an international character. Invitation of personal nature such as for carrying out post-doctoral work, informal training programmes/courses, internship, observer-ship etc. will not be eligible for support.
• Applicant must have obtained Master's degree in Science or Bachelor's degree in professional courses from a recognized University by the time of submission of application.

This scheme provides to & fro economic class air fare by the shortest route, airport tax and visa fees for attending the specific event. Registration fee as per actual or Rs. 50,000/- whichever is less will be provided to young scientist (Age

• An endorsement letter duly signed and stamped by competent authority of the institute.
• A copy of letter of acceptance of the presenting paper (oral/poster) by the organizers.
• A copy of the abstract of the paper to be presented. Please be sure to include name of all the authors, authors' affiliated institutions with full address and title of the abstract.
• Biodata with complete list of Scientific / Technical publications and Patents, if any.
• Endorsement by the Head of the Institution Download Template
• Certificate by the Applicant including Event Benefits Download Template
• Bio-data of the Applicant
• Acceptance Letter from the Organizer
• Abstract(s) of the paper(s) to be presented
• Event Details
• Date of Birth Certificate
• Event Benefits
• Financial Support from Other Sources
• Claim Form (to be generated from the online system while submitting claim details)
• Bank Account Details Download Template
• Air/Rail/Bus/Others tickets
• Cash Receipt of Air Ticket
• Boarding Passes
• Visa Charges
• Registration Receipt
• Participation Certificate
• Certificate(s) for amount received from other sources
• Lowest Available Fare Certificate ( from authorized agent only)
• Any other(Miscellaneous Upload)
• Travel grant should be used only for attending the scientific event for which the SERB accorded its approval.
• The Institute/Applicant should submit the claim bills, and other necessary documents within 90 days of the last day of the event.
• The host institute/Applicant shall ensure that the fund released is used exclusively and appropriately for which it has been sanctioned.
• If the applicant to whom the travel grant has been awarded leaves the institution, the Institute and the applicant should inform SERB immediately, and the grant released, if any, should be refunded back by the Institute to SERB immediately by means of DD drawn in favour of "Fund for Science and Engineering Research".
• If the results of research are to be legally protected, the results should not be presented in international fora without action being taken to secure legal protection for the research results.
• If any candidate found to have furnished incorrect / misleading information at any stage, his/her candidature will be cancelled and no reimbursement will be made. The candidate will also be debarred for next three years for availing support under this scheme.

For successful online submission of the application the following points may be noted:

• Applicant(s) should first register into the online website  click here to register
• After log-in, kindly go to Menu --> Proposal Submission --> Form Submission --> Select scheme and start filling the form online.
• The researchers are required to apply online through the portal between 60-90 days in advance prior to the start date of the event. The system will not accept early or late submission of applications.
• Application submitted through any other mode will not be considered.

The contact details of Programme Officers are given below: Dr. Sukumar Dey , Scientist 'D' Science and Engineering Research Board 3rd & 4th Floor, Block II, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016 Telephone: 011-26552151/2114, 011-26511084 Email: ms[dot]its[at]serb[dot]gov[dot]in

Q1: I was awarded Travel Support to attend an International Conference held in Washington. But, I could not attend the conference due to a delay in getting Visa. Can I use the above support to attend another conference to be held in July 2017?

A1: No. The support given to one event cannot be used to attend another. The Applicant should apply fresh to seek support for another event.

Q2: Do I need to A) book my air tickets with Air India only or any other specific airline and B) Who will provide the certificate for "Lowest Available Fare"?

A2A: There is no specific airline that needs to be preferred while making your travel reservations. The air tickets are to be booked in economy class at "Lowest Available Fare" on the date of booking. The tickets need to be purchased from any of the two authorized agents viz. i) M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL) and ii) M/s Ashoka Travels and Tours(ATT). Bookings through any other agency will not be considered for reimbursement. A2B: While booking your air tickets from any of the two authorized agents viz. i) M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL) and ii) M/s Ashoka Travels and Tours (ATT), request them to provide the required certificate.

Q3: What precautions should I take while booking the tickets?

A3: It is advised to book the air tickets only after the issuance of the visa and to keep the validity dates of the visa to avoid deboarding at the airport due to visa validity issues. Visa should be valid on the date when you are boarding the flight. Please make sure that you have a transit visa or other valid documents while booking the tickets and make sure to book tickets at the lowest available fare at the time of booking.

Q4: I have availed of travel support earlier under this scheme and the three years have not been completed (one month is left) yet. I want to apply for another conference now. Am I eligible?

A4: No. You should have completed three years. The duration of three years will be counted from the date of start of the last conference to the date of start of the conference which you intend to apply now.

Q5: What are the criteria for awarding travel support?

A5: The SERB receives a large number of applications. The selection is made based on many parameters. The most important of them is the track record of the applicant as evidenced by the list of publications in SCI journals during the last 5 years and also the importance of the conference. The Committee tries to accommodate candidates from different institutions and different categories (young researchers, women and senior researchers) within the available resources.

A6: No. The scientific event should have an international character. Invitation of personal nature such as carrying out post-doctoral work, informal training programmes/courses, internship, observer-ship etc. will not be eligible for support.

Q7: I have been awarded travel support to attend an international conference in London. I plan to spend 2 months in the laboratory of a Professor at Cambridge University immediately after the conference is over. Can I use the travel support to further my research at Cambridge University?

A7: You can use the travel support to hone your research skills at Cambridge University. But you should indicate the plan while seeking the support and should return and settle the travel bill within 90 days of the last date of the event. SERB will reimburse economy class airfare to London and back home only.

Q8: I have been recommended to attend a conference in Chicago, USA from 20-25 May 2017. I have also been invited to attend a 4- day training program in New York before the event in Chicago. Can I also attend the training program in New York and then go to Chicago? Will SERB reimburse the airfare from New York to Chicago?

A8: No. SERB will not reimburse the airfare from Chicago - New York. SERB will only reimburse the economy class airfare by the shortest route to Chicago and back.

Q9: I have been recommended for travel support to attend a conference in Sydney (Australia) from 20-25 June 2017. After the conference is over, a five-day short-term school is scheduled at the same venue. The organizers are charging a separate registration fee for the school. Will SERB provide registration fees for both events?

A9: No. You will be provided with a registration fee for that event recommended by SERB.

Q10: My conference is in Toronto, Canada on 15-18 May 2017. I am already in Vancouver (Canada). I plan to travel from Vancouver to Toronto and then come back to India. Will my airfare be reimbursed?

Q11: My conference starts on June 5, 2017, and I have booked my tickets accordingly. Now I want to reschedule my journey and Airlines are asking for additional charges for rescheduling the tickets. Will SERB provide additional charges?

A11: No. SERB will not provide any kind of additional charges paid by you for cancellation or rescheduling. Also, additional baggage charges collected by the airlines will not be considered for reimbursement. It is advised to book the tickets in advance to avoid escalation in the cost of airfare.

Q12: What, if I have provided incorrect/misleading information?

A12: Application will be cancelled and given support will be withdrawn at any stage and no reimbursement will be made. The candidate will also be debarred for the next three years for availing of support under this scheme. No correspondence will be entertained in this matter. SERB has all the rights to take any action in consultation with the applicant's parent organization/university/institute etc.

Q13: Can I submit my travel claim for reimbursement anytime?

A13: No. You should submit a travel claim (through an online portal and hardcopies of original bills, lowest fare certificate and boarding passes) within 90 days of the last date of the event. Otherwise, your travel claim will not be reimbursed.

Q14: Can I submit my application for travel support and further my travel claim offline?

A14: No. SERB accepts applications for travel support and travel claims through an online portal only. Additionally, SERB requires hard copies of original boarding passes, visa fee receipt, lowest fare certificate and other bills along with a printout of your online travel claim sheet.

Q15: I have been recommended for travel support to attend a conference abroad but due to some reason, I could not attend the conference. Will SERB reimburse my visa fee?

A15: No. Reimbursement of visa fees is subject to attending the conference.

Q16: Does SERB reimburse taxi fare, agent fee, and excess baggage charges?

A16: No. SERB does not reimburse taxi fares and excess baggage charges. In the case of agent fees, SERB reimburses government recognized travel agents fees and VFS charges as applicable.

Q17: As a young researcher, can I get the entire registration fee including abstract submission/dinner, tour, accommodation etc.?

A17: No. The primary registration fee as per actual or Rs. 50,000/- whichever is less (excluding group meetings fee, abstract submission fee, gala/reception dinner, accommodation, tour etc.) will only be reimbursed.

Q18: Does SERB provide support to researchers to attend conferences within India?

A18: No, this scheme is to provide support to attend conferences and workshops outside India and anywhere in the world.

Q19: My event was postponed due to travel restrictions; Can I use the grant for later dates to attend the same event?

A19: No, the grant can only be used for the approved dates based on your application.

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Knot on her watch!

Tammy Barr, who says she worked on cruises for three years, reveals in a new Insider essay the six things she’d never do on board.

Barr’s nauti list includes shelling out for dining upgrades or a drink package; touching certain surfaces with bare hands; wearing a room key as a necklace; using improper maritime grammar; and risking not returning to the ship on time.

She doesn’t mean to be a keel-joy, but she stern-ly advises against “supplementary” dinner items.

“I know $12 may not seem like much for a steak or lobster tail at dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food,” Barr penned for Insider. “So, even though I enjoy lobster, I stick with the items without the upcharges.”

Data from late 2023 found that a five-night cruise in the Caribbean cost around $736 per person — a colossal 43% hike compared to the same time in 2019, as demand for cruise vacations spiked following the COVID-19 pandemic .

Barr keeps costs in mind while counseling against unlimited drink packages, especially for passengers who plan to leave ship bars to go ashore for the day.

And third, Barr suggests touching common surfaces such as elevator buttons with knuckles or elbows.

“This strategy has worked for me, as I have never contracted norovirus, even when it was running rampant on a ship I was on,” Barr shared. “It’s quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer. I’d definitely rather be safe than sorry.”

13 outbreaks of norovirus — an easily spread stomach bug — were reported on cruises in 2023, the most since 2012, when there were 16 confirmed outbreaks.

The first norovirus cruise outbreak of 2024 was logged in January, on a Celebrity Cruises ship.

Also to stay safe, Barr recommends not wearing your room key around your neck, as it looks “pretentious” and “like an invitation to be robbed.”

Speaking of con-sea-ted, Barr is particular about how she identifies ships.

“Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, ‘Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess,’ or ‘I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam,'” she imparts to the Insider audience.

And finally, make sure to make it back to the ship on time, so you don’t wreck your vacation.

Just last month, Norwegian Cruise Line left eight passengers stranded on a tiny island in Africa after their private tour ran late.

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Travel Grants

On a competitive basis, IEEE ICC 2024 offers a number of grants to students and to individuals who are financially limited. To be eligible for a student travel grant, the applicant must be registered for the conference, a student, and a co-author of an accepted peer-reviewed paper for the conference. Additionally, a Conference Travel Grant (CTG) is available for applicants who are unable to obtain sufficient funding due to, for instance, being from a country with a low GDP.  The grants are from: IEEE ComSoc, US National Science Foundation (NSF), Women in Communications Engineering (WICE), and IEEE Conference Travel. These grants encourage participation by students or individuals who would normally find it difficult to attend. Women, minorities, individuals from low GDP countries, beginning graduate students, and first time ICC attendees, are especially encouraged to apply. Postdocs, faculty, or other senior research personnel may not apply for a student grant.

CONFERENCE TRAVEL GRANTS

Conference Travel Grants (CTG) is a newly established IEEE ComSoc program that provides partial financial support for participation in IEEE ComSoc conferences. 

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for a CTG at ICC 2024, an applicant must be:

1.    A ComSoc member 2.    An ICC 2024 participant; and 3.    Unable to obtain sufficient substantial funding from their own institution or other sources, and forced to cover most of or all the associated expenses with their own funds

Priority will be given to:

• Authors of accepted ICC 2024 Conference Papers
• Presenters of accepted talks at ICC 2024
• Those residing in a country with a low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita

HOW TO APPLY FOR CTG

The application can be accessed in EDAS by selecting “Travel Grants” at the top of the page and then selecting “IEEE ICC’24 - Conference Travel Grants”.  Alternatively, the application can be accessed directly by clicking this  link . 

The application will ask questions related to the eligibility criteria.  A letter of recommendation is NOT required for the Conference Travel Grant.

Before submitting the application, applicants are advised to update their EDAS profiles so that it includes their current affiliation (including the location of the university they are attending) and their IEEE ComSoc membership information.

IMPORTANT DATES

Application Deadline : May 3, 2024 

Acceptance Notification : May 10, 2024

IEEE COMSOC STUDENT GRANTS

IEEE ICC 2024 offers ComSoc grants to students who have co-authored an accepted peer-reviewed paper for the conference. 

1.    Each applicant must be a Student Member or Graduate Student Member of the IEEE Communications Society at the time he/she applies for the grant;

2.    Each applicant must be a co-author of an accepted paper in ICC 2024 and present it at the conference;

3.    Each applicant must be a full-time student registered toward a Bachelor, Masters, or PhD degree in computer science, engineering or related field in a college or university when submitting the application;

4.    During the expense reimbursement stage, the student applicant must show the proof of having registered to attend ICC 2024.

A student who is awarded a student grant must register, attend, and present their paper at the conference. Payment will only be made to grant recipients who submit the expense report (with receipts for expenses over US$25) within 45 days after the conference. More details will be provided to the students who are selected to receive a ComSoc Student Grant.

NSF STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

IEEE ICC 2024 offers NSF travel grants to students on a competitive basis. The NSF travel grants help promote diversity among the conference attendees. The NSF grants especially encourages applicants that are: 1) women and minorities and 2) beginning graduate students, or (3) first-time ICC attendees. The awarded student must attend in person .

1.    Each applicant must be a) a qualified full-time student (graduate or undergraduate) enrolled in a US-based institution or b) a US citizen enrolled in a foreign institution coming to the US-based conference;

2.    Each applicant must be a co-author of an accepted paper in ICC 2024 (main program or workshop);

3.    Each applicant must be a full-time student registered toward a Bachelor, Masters, or Ph.D. degree in computer science, engineering or related field in a college or university when submitting the application;

4.    This grant particularly encourages women, minorities, beginning graduate students, and first time ICC attendees to apply.

IMPORTANT NOTE

All flights made on an NSF travel grant award must be either on a US-flag carrier or ticketed through a US carrier (e.g., codeshare flights on international airlines). A student who is awarded a student travel grant must register, attend, and present the paper at the conference (the student should attend in person, not remotely). During the expense reimbursement stage, the student applicant must show proof of having registered to attend ICC 2024 along with photos showing participation in ICC events such as presenting papers or attending technical symposiums. Payment will be made only to grant recipients who submit an expense report with all the receipts no more than 45 days after the conference. More details will be provided to the students who are selected to receive an NSF Student Travel Grant.

IEEE WICE STUDENT GRANTS

ICC 2024 offers WICE grants to students who have co-authored an accepted peer-reviewed paper for the conference and are members of ComSoc’s Women in Communications Engineerin g   committee. 

1.    Each applicant must be a Student Member or Graduate Student Member of both the IEEE Communications Society and IEEE WICE at the time he/she applies for the grant;

2.    To be qualified for the funding from WICE, the awardee is required to attend the WICE events at IEEE ICC 2024;

3.    Each applicant must be a co-author of an accepted paper in ICC 2024 and present it at the conference;

4.    Each applicant must be a full-time student registered toward a Bachelor, Masters, or PhD degree in computer science, engineering or related field in a college or university when submitting the application;

5.    During the expense reimbursement stage, the student applicant must show the proof of having registered to attend ICC 2024.

A student who is awarded a WICE student grant must register, attend, and present their paper at the conference. Payment will only be made to grant recipients who submit the expense report (with receipts for expenses over US $25) within 45 days after the conference. More details will be provided to the students who are selected to receive a WICE Student Grant.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A STUDENT GRANT

IEEE ICC 2024 is using a single application for all three grants.  The application can be accessed in EDAS by selecting “Travel Grants” at the top of the page or by clicking this link . 

The application will ask which of the three grants you are eligible for and would like to be considered, if you have previously attended a conference organized by ComSoc (including ICC and GLOBECOM conferences), your academic level, and number of years in your current program.  The application includes a field for you to enter a short statement of interest.

A letter of recommendation is required.  The letter should be from the student’s advisor or co-author, and should verify that the applicant is a student in good standing.

Before submitting the application, applicants are advised to update their EDAS profiles so that it includes their current affiliation (including the location of the university they are attending), their IEEE membership information, and their gender.

Application Deadline : April 10, 2024 

Acceptance Notification : May 2, 2024

PLEASE ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS TO THE  STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT CHAIR  WITH A MANDATORY SUBJECT HEADER: IEEE ICC 2024 STG QUESTION:  <YOUR LAST NAME>.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

IEEE is committed to the principle that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, services, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by IEEE policy and/or applicable laws. For more information on the IEEE policy visit  www.ieee.org/nondiscrimination .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We extend our sincere appreciations to IEEE ComSoc, US National Science Foundation, and WICE for supporting IEEE ICC 2024 student grants.

Diamond Patrons

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Virginia Space Grant Consortium

The Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) program offers an exciting, on-campus summer experience designed to increase student interest and curiosity in STEM. BLAST provides a free, residential opportunity to rising 9th and 10th grade students with at least a C+ grade average and a desire to explore STEM opportunities. Faculty members lead hands-on activities and demonstrations that seek to motivate and inspire students for STEM studies and careers. The program is a partnership between the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and the Commonwealth of Virginia. BLAST was funded by the General Assembly for the purpose of enriching students that have few STEM opportunities and/or students that do not realize their capabilities in the STEM field.

2024 AESS Young Professionals Travel Grants

The AESS travel grant supports IEEE Young Professionals attending AESS conferences to further their professional development. 

Candidates are eligible to apply if they are an IEEE Young Professional as well as an AESS member at the time of the deadline. The travel grant is open to those presenting a paper, as well as those who are not presenting a paper at the conference. 

Each of the recipients will receive a package of conference items including free registration and hotel accommodation. (Subject to budget and total number of applications approved). Judging of the applications will be based on the perceived need and motivation for the grant, as well as the travel difficulty faced by the applicant. 

The deadline to submit is 1 March 2024.

Join AESS     Join IEEE     Travel Grant Application

Summer B.L.A.S.T. Program: Virginia High School Students Pursue STEM Virtually

By Tiffany Whitfield and Maya Reid

Old Dominion University hosted its annual Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) summer program sponsored by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC). Lead organizer, Vukica Jovanović, Ph.D., associate professor in the Batten College of Engineering Technology and co-lead organizer, Balša Terzić, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Physics introduced students to the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) at Old Dominion University.

For the first time, BLAST was held virtually, due to COVID-19, but it was still a hands-on, intensive STEM-related program offered to rising ninth and tenth grade students from across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

This summer, 80 students and eight teacher-chaperones participated in two different sessions that took place June 20-23, and July 18-21, 2021.

"Virginia Space Grant Consortium is pleased to sponsor the BLAST program and partner with Old Dominion University on this immersive STEM experience for Virginia students," said Mary Sandy, director of VSGC. "Participants overwhelmingly tell us how much they enjoy the program and how much they learn; and ODU faculty and staff who lead the program do a remarkable job!"

"BLAST has been designed to build leadership and activate STEM in each ODU BLAST Scholar" said Jovanović. "With the help of ODU's faculty and graduate students, we accomplished our goal this summer."

Guest speakers highlighted STEM fields through a plethora of activities. Students were gifted with STEM kits to utilize during and after the program.

ODU BLAST participants used the kits to engage in experiments about water filtration, led by Mujde Erten-Unal, Ph.D., associate professor, ODU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Additionally, students watched exciting demonstrations and gained essential knowledge about how to pursue a career in STEM, all from the comfort of their homes.

Student were able to hear from both Engineering and College of Sciences faculty. Ben Stuart, former dean of the ODU's College of Engineering and Technology shared an overview of what ODU has to offer students interested in engineering while the student panel shared experiences and offered advice on choosing high school classes and extracurricular activities for the college application process.

Assistant dean in the Batten College of Engineering and Technology, Carol Considine, presented, "Going Green to Reduce Flooding and Build Climate Resilience."

Gail Dodge, dean of the ODU College of Sciences, talked to students about what ODU has to offer students interested in the sciences.

"The BLAST program is a very special opportunity for 9th and 10th-grade students to engage in fun and challenging science and engineering activities," said Dean Dodge, "I am very proud of the many dedicated faculty and staff who run BLAST and inspire the students to pursue STEM careers."

Other speakers and presenters included George McCleod, director of the center for Geospatial & Visualization Computing at ODU and Justin Mason, director of the Michael and Kimthanh Lê Digital Theater & Planetarium.

"The rising STEM students were able to explore Earth and its relationship to other celestial objects as well as learning how to create story maps to communicate data," said Terzić.

During the last day of the program, students were able to engage in a variety of lessons including "Internet of Things" by Murat Kuzlu, Ph.D., assistant professor of Engineering and Technology, "Intro to Cryptography" by Otilia Popescu, Ph.D. associate professor of Engineering and Technology, "A Dip into Biology Using Indicators" by Denise Tombolato-Terzic, Ph.D., senior lecturer, Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry at Christopher Newport University, and "Robotics" by Thomas Alberts, Ph.D., professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. ODU BLAST Scholars ended the day with a virtual tour of ODU, including the Michael and Kimthanh Lê Digital Theater & Planetarium housed in the New Chemistry Building, and a glimpse into other VSGC programs.

"I am glad to be a part of this amazing program - BLAST 2021 - and really enjoyed teaching "Internet of Things" (IoT)," said Kuzlu. "All sessions were so fun and interactive, and I get an incredible feeling of joy when I realize how students are learning new technologies quickly."

High school students were not only able to gain insight into the life of STEM, but they were also able to create meaningful friendships throughout the entire program. Upon leaving the program, students were able to reflect on their experiences and shared the following comments:

"I loved working with Arduino, and although some parts were hard and difficult to understand at first, the overall outcome of programming things is very cool and I enjoyed it."

"I liked learning about the different fields of engineering and science and figuring out which ones I like."

Other students listed their favorite thing about BLAST:

"My favorite thing about BLAST was mechatronics."

"I really enjoyed the projects. I also really enjoyed learning about the career options."

"I loved the impact of climate change on the living world."

"My favorite thing about BLAST was learning about the science of how certain things work."

"I liked the virtual environment and how engaging it was."

"I enjoyed meeting people who are truly passionate about their field of study."

To learn more about BLAST visit the website . Registration will open November 12, 2021 for the 2022 summer program. VSGC has sponsored the BLAST program since 2016.

Enhance your college career by gaining relevant experience with the skills and knowledge needed for your future career. Discover our experiential learning opportunities.

Picture yourself in the classroom, speak with professors in your major, and meet current students.

From sports games to concerts and lectures, join the ODU community at a variety of campus events. 

Alliance. Amplification. Accountability.

MMGY Global Announces Recipients Of Grants Supporting Black Travel Organizations And Black Content Creators

Us$70,000 has been awarded to individuals and organizations in the u.s. and europe to help amplify black voices in the travel industry.

Kansas City, MO  (July 8, 2021) — MMGY Global has partnered with the Black Travel Alliance (BTA) and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) to award 30 financial grants totaling US$70,000 to Black travel organizations and content creators. These grants were funded by proceeds from the sale of  The Black Traveler: Insights, Opportunities & Priorities,  a groundbreaking   research report created by MMGY Travel Intelligence on behalf of Black traveler advocacy organizations to identify the needs, behaviors and sentiment of the Black travel community. The newly awarded funds are in addition to US$30,000 in report proceeds that have already been distributed to the BTA, NCBMP and the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD) to support their organizations.

Grant entries, which were submitted in April 2021, were reviewed by Ursula Petula Barzey, research committee chair with the Black Travel Alliance, and Jason Dunn, immediate past chair of the NCBMP, with the support of MMGY Global. Individuals and organizations from the United States, Canada, France, Germany and U.K./Ireland – the countries in which  The Black Traveler  study was conducted – were invited to apply.

“This entire experience – from concepting the study with our partners and analyzing the data to now awarding these grants – has been both eye-opening and extremely rewarding,” said Clayton Reid, CEO of  MMGY Global. “The research revealed many issues that need to be addressed in our industry, so I’m proud that these grants will be helping to amplify Black voices and support Black travel organizations.”

Jason Dunn added,  “We believe that travel and tourism empowers communities. When we first started this journey, we wanted to do three things – the first being to heighten awareness for the $129 billion impact of Black travelers. The second was to embolden Black travel organizations globally to walk in their power and remove the false narrative that their business has no value. Third, we wanted to inspire the next generation of Black Travelers to explore the world. It’s refreshing to know that the 10 organizations selected reflect what we set out to do. Mission accomplished.”

Black Travel Organization Grant 

Recipients in alphabetical order include:  

• Black Kids Adventures, Inc
• Black Kids Do Travel
• Fight Through Flights, Incorporated
• Little Africa Paris
• Maison Carib
• Niagara Bound Tours
• Teens of Color Abroad, Inc.
• The Vonne Group
• The Wind Collective

Black Travel Content Creator Grant

According to Barzey, “Reviewing the applications for the content creator grant was inspiring for the team as there was a diverse mix of storytellers. The 20 selected are a snapshot into the amazing but often overlooked talent pool of Black travel content creators who are influential in advancing the Black travel movement. Thus it is gratifying to know that a year of hard work on  The Black Traveler  study has generated funds to help amplify some of these lesser-known but important voices.” 

Recipients in alphabetical order by their first name include:  

• Aisha Springer, Blogger,  Urban Escapist
• Brian Oliver, Social Media Influencer,  Beyond Bmore
• Calvin Hearns, Photographer,  The Calvin Chronicles
• Caroline Sande, Vlogger,  TravelEatSlay
• Danielle Desir, Podcaster,  The Thought Card
• Frederick Murphy, Social Media Influencer,  History Before Us
• Ime Umoh, Vlogger,  Push the Button
• Jessica Ufuoma, Blogger,  The Ufuoma
• Joyce Oladeinde, Blogger,  Diy With Joy
• Jupiter Kayonga, Photographer,  Jupiter Konnections
• Kareemah Ashiru, Blogger,  Hijabiglobetrotter
• Kesi Irvin, Blogger,  Kesi To and Fro
• Montoya Hudson, Blogger,  The Spring Break Family
• Roobens Fils, Blogger,  Been Around The Globe
• Sandy Salyeres, Travel Author,  Abenafrica
• Sierra Redmond, Journalist,  The Daily Impressions
• Simone Mills, Blogger,  EverytingSimSimma
• Sojourner White, Social Media Influencer,  Sojournies
• Tameika Gentles, Social Media Influencer,  Tameika
• Tia Mills, Social Media Influencer,  Tia Takes The World

T he Black Traveler: Insights, Opportunities & Priorities  research report is available for purchase at  www.mmgyglobal.com/the-black-traveler-insights-opportunities-priorities . 

# # # 

About MMGY Global MMGY Global is the world’s leading integrated global marketing firm specializing in the travel, hospitality and entertainment industries. With eight operating brands across the world, the award-winning organization maintains a global communications practice in all marketing channels, serving many of the world’s premier travel and tourism brands. As a company dedicated to the travel industry, MMGY Global strives to create a connected, inclusive and peaceful world by promoting travel as a cultural bridge of understanding. For more information, visit  https://www.mmgyglobal.com .

About Black Travel Alliance The Black Travel Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Black travel content creators as members from across the globe. Our three pillars of the community are alliance, amplification, and accountability. As travel authors, bloggers, broadcasters, journalists, photographers, podcasters, social media influencers, and vloggers, we unify to amplify. We also aim to provide training and business support to our members, as well as hold destinations and travel brands accountable on the issue of diversity in travel marketing and storytelling. For more information, visit www.blacktravelalliance.org.

About National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals The National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP), founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the training needs of Black hospitality professionals, and those that support Black meetings and events. Since its founding, NCBMP has made a significant impact in the hospitality community by advocating for equity and helping members maximize their return on investment.

About National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers NABHOOD is an organization aimed at increasing the number of African Americans developing, managing, operating and owning hotels and expanding vendor opportunities and executive-level jobs for minorities, thereby creating wealth within the African American community. The key to achieving this is the Annual International African American Hotel Ownership & Investment Summit & Trade Show. This four-day summit is designed to educate attendees on becoming a hotel owner or investor; share minority investment trends; explore supplier opportunities; find out how to market to minorities; and  identify and address diversity  issues affecting the industry.

Media Contact: Natalia Colon MMGY NJF [email protected]  

1 thought on “MMGY Global Announces Recipients Of Grants Supporting Black Travel Organizations And Black Content Creators”

I am so overwhelmed to have my Black history tour company, Niagara Bound Tours recognized here today. It has been an surreal world for tourism since March 2020, however, being given this kind of recognition inspires me to know that what I have been doing I should continue to do. Thank you so much. And to the other recipients I say congratulations!

Lezlie Harper NIAGARA BOUND TOURS

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Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Destination Development Capital Grant Program to Support Tourism Projects

Media contact   for healey-driscoll administration announces destination development capital grant program to support tourism projects, brie bristol, deputy director of communications.

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) have announced the Destination Development Capital (DDC) Grant program for fiscal year 2025.  Destination Development Grants are included in the economic development plan, “The Mass Leads Act: An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts' Economic Leadership,” as a strategy to support critical capital improvements at tourism assets across Massachusetts. 

The FY25 DDC grant program is anticipated to be funded at up to $5 million through the Capital Budget. The competitive grant program will award funds to strengthen the economy of Massachusetts through destination development projects that enhance tourism sustainability and have the potential to increase non-resident visitation. Preference will be given to projects related to climate resiliency, rural communities, cultural districts, and the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.   

"Massachusetts is a top travel destination with a diverse array of attractions, including remarkable historical landmarks, beautiful national parks, and vibrant communities,” said Governor Maura Healey . “Through the DDC grant program, we’re dedicated to enhancing our tourism and cultural sectors, aiming to attract more visitors from across the country and the world to experience all that Massachusetts has to offer for years to come.” 

"As former Mayor of Salem, I know firsthand the transformative impact of tourism on our communities. Tourism not only boosts our economy, but also boosts our competitiveness as a desirable destination for families,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll . “We’re excited to see how the DDC grant program will continue to strengthen our economy.”  

"Our tourism industry is fundamental to our state’s success. When people visit Massachusetts, we want them to feel welcomed and at home, encouraging repeat visits and potential relocation,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao . “With the FY25 opening of the DDC grant program, we’re committed to boosting Massachusetts as a top-tier travel destination while advancing our economic goals.” 

"The Destination Development Capital Grants provide resources for communities and organizations to make critical improvements that will enhance the visitor experience in Massachusetts,” said MOTT Executive Director Kate Fox .  “We are excited to offer another round of DDC grants and look forward to supporting important projects across the state.” 

Eligible projects will enhance tourism resources and infrastructure. Applications will be accepted for projects that include plans to expand, construct, restore or renovate Massachusetts tourism destinations and attractions. Applicants must demonstrate how the tourism capital project will work to promote the tourism goals of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and the Regional Tourism Councils. DDC grants are focused on capital improvements with a direct relationship to tourism, and other physical/structural items with a greater than five-year lifespan. All projects must be completed by June 30, 2025. 

Any public agency, municipality, or nonprofit organization incorporated in Massachusetts with 501(c)3, 501(c)5, 501(c)6, status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that does one of the following are eligible to apply: Produces, promotes, or presents tourism attractions and activities for the public; Provides public access to physical collections and exhibits for tourists and meets other eligibility criteria can apply. 

The FY25 Destination Development Grant Program opened on April 22, 2024, with applications due May 31, 2024. Applications must be submitted through MOTT’s Online Application Portal. Grant awards are anticipated to be announced in June 2024. 

DDC guidelines and information is available at visitma.com . An informational session about DDC Grants will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, May 1, at 10 a.m. To register, please contact Marc Zappulla, [email protected] .

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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is a Pa. tourist attraction, but you can actually spend the night at Lynn Hall

F allingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright marvel that floats above a waterfall in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, might be the most iconic house in America.

The man who handcrafted Wright’s stone, glass, and concrete design in 1936 began building his own organic modernism gem—Lynn Hall—a year earlier, 200 miles north, in McKean County.

Fallingwater, a national historic landmark and tourist attraction above the waters of Bear Run, only offers tours, but visitors can spend the night at Lynn Hall thanks to owners Rick Sparkes and Adam Grant. The determined dreamers from Florida found the abandoned and dilapidated building online, visited, and purchased the property in 2017 for $250,000.

They’ve since dropped over $1 million into its restoration.

“It just had a magical feel to it,” Grant said. “We couldn’t believe no one was saving it.”

According to author Ed Byers, who wrote about Lynn Hall for the Pennsylvania Wilds tourism website, Walter J. Hall, was already building his project when Wright was asked to design a home for a Pittsburgh businessman. Hall, a fan of Wright’s work, envisioned Lynn Hall as a rest stop on scenic Route 6, featuring hotel rooms, a restaurant, a dance hall, a gas station, and housing and office space for his family.

Wright, according to Lynn Halll’s website, discovered Hall’s “innovative use of poured concrete and mosaic stonework” and asked him to join the team Fallingwater team at Bear Run. According to Byers, Hall put a pause on Lynn Hall, to help construct Fallingwater, and he and the famous architect often butted heads.

“Walter’s penchant for ‘artistic license’ and making changes ‘on the fly’ in Wright’s absence drove Wright mad,” Byers wrote.

While Byers wrote about a “controversy” between Fallingwater and Lynn Hall regarding which piece of organic modernism came first in Pennsylvania, Sparkes and Grant say the two properties get along just fine. The team at Fallingwater, Grant said, was instrumental in helping Lynn Hall land on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The folks at Fallingwater very much understand the importance of Lynn Hall,” Grant said. “It’s all part of a movement beyond one or two examples.”

Sparkes and Grant, in researching Hall, found that his son, Raymond Viner Hall, helped usher in an era of “Allegheny Modernism,” designing and building approximately 120 Usonian homes, inspired by Wright, and 27 schools and public buildings in the region.

“They’re little-known masterpieces,” Sparkes said.

Lynn Hall is on Airbnb, with several accommodations, including the Usonian Cottage and the Architect Suite . It’s located in Port Allegany, approximately 290 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

©2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Biden rebukes Trump over ‘cruelty’ of Florida’s six-week abortion ban

In biden’s first major speech on abortion since trump suggested that the politically volatile issue be left to the states, the president said women would surge to the polls in november to make their voices heard.

TAMPA, Fla. — President Biden traveled to Florida on Tuesday to denounce that state’s six-week abortion ban — just days before the law goes into effect — blaming former president Donald Trump for the erosion of reproductive rights across the country.

“ There’s one person who is responsible for this nightmare — and he’s acknowledged and he’s bragged about it,” Biden told a crowd of several hundred at Hillsborough Community College. “It’s Donald Trump.”

Repeatedly bashing Trump by name, Biden took his message on “reproductive freedom” to a state where Democrats have lost ground in recent years but where they believe the abortion issue will galvanize voters. In his first major speech on abortion since Trump said the politically volatile question should be left to the states, Biden suggested he would return to the issue in the months ahead.

Biden and other Democrats have sought to remind voters that Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade , paving the way for strict abortion bans in many states. Biden’s speech Tuesday was part of a broader Democratic effort to turn the 2022 Supreme Court decision into a rallying cry for the 2024 election .

“Donald Trump is worried voters are going to hold him accountable for the cruelty and chaos he created,” Biden said. “Folks, the bad news for Trump is we are going to hold him accountable.”

Democrats — who have seen the abortion issue mobilize voters in ways that have delivered victories in deeply Republican states such as Kentucky, Kansas and Ohio — are pushing to elevate the issue in other conservative-leaning states in hopes of putting Trump and his fellow Republicans on defense.

This month, the Florida Supreme Court approved a state law that would restrict most abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. Biden called the law “bizarre” but suggested that women would turn out in droves in November to “restore those rights for the women of America.”

“This isn’t about states’ rights. It’s about women’s rights,” he said.

Trump — who previously suggested the law, signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), was “harsh” — made his own abortion policy shift April 8, saying the issue should be left to the states. But the Arizona Supreme Court ruled the next day that an 1864 law outlawing nearly all abortions should take effect, prompting immediate criticism from Trump and some other Republicans.

The Arizona and Florida rulings — and Trump’s latest posturing on the issue — have triggered a stepped-up effort by Democrats to blame the former president for the state of reproductive health care across the country.

“In Arizona, did you see what happened when you left it to the states?” Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) said at Biden’s event, referring to the reversion to the 1864 law. “It’s cruel and it’s wrong. And in Florida, Governor DeSantis and the extremists in the Florida legislature are taking us backward as well. ”

Florida voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on the state’s law. The state Supreme Court allowed a measure that would enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution to appear on the ballot in November. Like other such constitutional measures in Florida, the referendum would need to achieve 60 percent of the vote to pass. Trump, a Florida resident, has not said how he would vote on the measure.

Democrats are hoping the ballot issue will increase turnout and make Florida — a state Trump won by 3.3 percentage points in 2020 — more competitive, at least for down-ballot races, if not for the presidency, said Susan MacManus, a political analyst based in the Tampa area.

“It can’t just be about Biden running for president. It has got to also be about Democrats running for congressional and state legislative positions,” she said, adding that while Biden receives low marks from young voters in the state, the abortion ballot measure could help him win additional votes from that key voting bloc.

Trump and his Republican allies have sought to cast Biden and his allies as the real extremists on the issue, accusing Democrats of supporting late-stage abortions.

But Biden, a practicing Catholic, has at times struggled to balance his personal beliefs and politics in public remarks about abortion. During a fundraiser last year, he said, “I’m not big on abortion.”

Ata meeting of his top officials at the White House in January, Biden made sure to stipulate that he was not pushing for “abortion on demand,” but rather federal policy that would codify the protections that the Supreme Court justices outlined in their 1973 Roe decision .

In his State of the Union address last month, Biden did not utter the word “abortion,” instead skipping over the term in his prepared remarks and opting for alternative language such as “reproductive freedom” and the right to “choose.”

Florida, which has trended decidedly toward Republicans in recent years after decades of being the nation’s largest swing state, has been a destination for people seeking abortions in part because it is surrounded by several states with strict bans on the procedure. In the months since Roe was overturned, many women in the South have traveled to Florida to receive abortions, fleeing restrictions in states like Alabama and South Carolina.

More than 80,000 women get an abortion in Florida in a typical year, accounting for about 1 in 12 abortions in the country. When Florida’s new restriction goes into place May 1, the closest option for someone seeking an abortion may be North Carolina.

In Tampa, Biden even attacked Trump for selling a $60 Bible .

“How many times does he have to prove he can’t be trusted?” Biden asked, adding that the former president described the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe “as a miracle.”

“Maybe it’s coming from that Bible he’s trying to sell,” Biden said. “I almost wanted to buy one just to see what the hell is in it.”

Caroline Kitchener and Maegan Vazquez contributed to this report.