The annual meeting of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences (MAS) will be held February 23-24, 2011, at the Thad Cochran Center on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Student and faculty researchers will present posters or 15-minute talks on research or class projects, network with peers and vendors in the exhibit hall, and attend the Dodgen Lecture, by UM Chancellor Dan Jones. MAS Travel Grants are available from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to reduce cost barriers to UM faculty and student participation (requests due November 14). See http://www.research.olemiss.edu/news/mas-travel-grants for details.

MAS is a great opportunity for UM faculty members: to network with peer scientists in Mississippi; to try out ideas or present and get collegial feedback on in-progress research not yet ready for presentation in national conferences or journals; to interact with colleagues who might have ideas for further, perhaps collaborative, study; to scout for prospective graduate student candidates; and to recognize achievements and nurture the development of Mississippi student scientists.

MAS also provides unique opportunities for UM students: to present short talks and posters to perhaps their first scientific audience in a non-threatening environment; to hear scientific presentation from peers at other institutions; to interact with colleagues who might have ideas for further research; to establish a base for future collaborations; and to make contact with faculty from prospective graduate programs around the state.

How and when to sign up:  Signing up for the spring meeting requires 2-3 steps, in order, all by November 15^th (to avoid late charges), or November 30th (with late charge). Each step requires a separate fee, payable by PayPal, personal or institutional check (payable later), or purchase order.:

1. Establish or renew membership in MAS:  students: $5, others: $25
   http://msacad.org/?page_id=50
   (Be sure to fill in the “Re-enter E-mail” field, or you’ll have to start all over.
   If asked for “Type of Membership” select student or regular.)
    
2. Pre-register for spring meeting: students: $25, others $55
   http://msacad.org/?page_id=58/  
   (Be sure to fill in the “Re-enter E-mail” field, or you’ll have to start all over.)
    
3. Submit an abstract for poster or 15-minute research talk (optional): $25
   http://msacad.org/?page_id=88  (Be sure to only use the link above to submit an abstract. You will be asked to register with the online submission system first, which will require creating a new account. You will then be sent an e-mail with instructions for submitting your abstract.)

Where to stay: Five hotels have discounted room blocks for MAS participants from February 23-24, at rates ranging from $75 - $129: http://msacad.org/?page_id=53

To learn more about MAS or the Annual Meeting, visit http://www.msacad.org/ .