Paleonet: FW: AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL UPDATE: FELLOWSHIP

[Lane, Harold R.]

-----Original Message-----
From: govt at agiweb.org [mailto:govt at agiweb.org] 
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2007 2:04 PM
To: Lane, Harold R.
Subject: AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL UPDATE: FELLOWSHIP

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM SPECIAL UPDATE:  12-07-07

2008-2009 William L. Fisher Congressional Geoscience Fellowship: New
Online Submission Site 

The American Geological Institute is accepting applications for next
year's William L. Fisher Congressional Geoscience Fellowship. AGI has
updated the application process and now provides an easy to use online
submission site for candidates and their references. If you are
considering the fellowship, please carefully review our revised
instructions, which are given below and also available on the web at:
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/csf/index.html

The successful candidate will spend 12 months (starting September 2008)
in Washington working as a staff member in the office of a member of
Congress or a congressional committee. The fellowship represents a
unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the federal
legislative process and make practical contributions to the effective
and timely use of geoscientific knowledge on issues relating to the
environment, resources, natural hazards, and federal science policy. 

The AGI Fellow will join more than two dozen other scientists and
engineers for an intensive orientation program on the legislative and
executive branches, organized by the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS), which also guides the placement process
and provides educational and collegial programs for the fellows
throughout the year. 

The Fisher Endowment
Funding for the fellowship is provided through an endowment recently
established by the AGI Foundation to honor William L. Fisher, the
Leonidas T. Barrow Chair in the Department of Geosciences and the
director of the John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences
at the University of Texas, Austin. For three decades, as director of
the Bureau of Economic Geology, Fisher was the state geologist of Texas.
At the national level, Fisher served as Assistant Secretary of the
Interior for Energy and Minerals under President Ford. Over several
administrations, he has been an advisor to the President and to the
Secretaries of Energy and the Interior, and he has chaired numerous
National Research Council committees and boards. For more on Fisher and
the endowment, please see the column "Endowing the AGI Congressional
Fellowship" in the October 2003 Geotimes. Also available is a press
release announcing the endowment. 

Qualifications and Application Procedures Prospective applicants should
have a broad geoscience background and excellent written and oral
communications skills. Minimum requirements are a master's degree with
at least three years of post-degree work experience or a Ph.D. at the
time of appointment. Although prior experience in public policy is not
necessary, a demonstrable interest in applying science to the solution
of public problems is desirable. Due to the nature of the position,
applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must
also be a member of one of AGI's 44 member societies, a list of which is
available at www.agiweb.org/members/index.html 

The fellowship carries an annual stipend of up to $55,000 plus
allowances for health insurance, relocation, and travel. 

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, statement of purpose
and a curriculum vitae and request three letters of reference.
Candidates should ask three people to submit letters of reference
through the online submission site, www.agiweb.org/gap/csf/application/
or by regular mail by the deadline given below.

The candidate's cover letter should include an addendum listing your
society memberships with membership numbers and the names and contact
information of your three references. The statement of purpose should
include your reasons for applying for this fellowship, what you would
bring to the fellowship and what you hope to gain from the fellowship.
The statement should be brief, no more than 1,000 words in length. 

Please submit materials as a single Word document (.doc) or PDF (.pdf)
using our new online submission form,
www.agiweb.org/gap/csf/application/. You may also mail the materials to:
William L. Fisher Congressional Geoscience Fellowship American
Geological Institute 4220 King Street Alexandria VA 22302-1502 

All application materials must be submitted or postmarked by February 1,
2008 (EST).

Inquiries only to govt at agiweb.org. 

AGI is an equal opportunity employer and especially welcomes
applications from women and minorities. 

Other Fellowship Opportunities
Several of AGI's Member Societies also sponsor Congressional Science
Fellowships. For further information, contact the American Geophysical
Union, Geological Society of America, or Soil Science Society of
America. AAAS also offers a number of fellowships for both Congress and
the executive branch. It is acceptable to apply to more than one society
and fellowship. Stipends, application procedures, eligibility,
timetables, and deadlines vary.

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