GWIC Thesis Prize--Call for Nominations, closes 15 Jan

GWIC Thesis Prize
Call for Nominations for 2007 Prize

The Gravitational Wave International Committee (GWIC) was formed to 
promote international collaboration and cooperation in the 
construction, operation and use of gravitational wave detection 
facilities world-wide.  To this end, GWIC has established an annual 
prize for the outstanding Ph.D. thesis based on research in 
gravitational waves.

Nominations for the 2007 GWIC Thesis Prize are now open.  Members of 
the international gravitational wave community are invited to 
nominate students who have performed notable research on any aspect 
of gravitational waves science. Theses will be judged on 1) 
originality and creativity of the research, 2) importance to the 
field of gravitational waves and gravitational wave detection, 
broadly interpreted, and 3) clarity of presentation in the thesis.

Eligibility: The award is made on a calendar year basis.  Theses must 
have been accepted by their institutions between January 1, 2007 and 
December 31, 2007 to qualify for consideration.  It is expected that 
many of the nominations will come from the member projects of GWIC, 
but this is not a requirement.  A committee representing the GWIC 
member projects will evaluate the nominations and select the 
winner.  Nominated theses may be in any language -- the selection 
committee will use consultants to help evaluate theses if they do not 
possess the required linguistic breadth. The selection committee will 
make the final determinations about eligibility.

Nominations: Nominations should be submitted to the selection 
committee chair (Gabriela Gonzalez, gonzalez@lsu.edu) by January 15, 
2008. The nomination package consists of (i) the thesis, (ii) a 
letter of nomination, preferably from the thesis advisor, and (iii) 
one optional supporting letter from another scientist familiar with 
the work.   The nomination letter (and supporting letter, if 
applicable) should describe the importance of the research and how it 
supports GWIC's goals to promote construction and exploitation of 
gravitational-wave detectors, foster development of new or enhanced 
gravitational-wave detectors, and to support the development of 
gravitational-wave detection as an astronomical tool generally.  The 
thesis and letters may be submitted in electronic form (preferred) or 
in hard-copy (five copies).

The GWIC Thesis Prize will be presented at the LISA Symposium in 
Bacelona, 16-20 June 2008. The recipient will receive a certificate 
of recognition and a prize of $1,000.  The nominator is responsible 
to ensure that travel funds will be made available to send the winner 
to the LISA Symposium to receive the prize.  The LISA Symposium 
organizers have agreed to waive the winner's registration fee for the meeting.