The aim of this symposium is to facilitate the formation of a regional network of scientists studying all aspects of Earth-surface science. It is inspired by community-building events such as the annual Gilbert Club meeting following AGU, and in that spirit there will be ample time for discussion and socializing. Three aspects that make Soil to Sea Geomorphology different, however, are: (1) a majority of presentations will be given by graduate students and postdocs, to give exposure to and encourage constructive discussion of their work at an early stage; (2) attendees will hail from locations typically within a 1-day Amtrak ride, in order to build and strengthen ties among regional institutions that may lead to future collaborations. Thus, we whimsically refer to this new symposium as the “Amtrak Club"; and (3) we anticipate future events changing the venue location and moving among Mid-Atlantic Universities that are willing to host it.

The second Amtrak Club meeting will be held on the campus of The Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, May 17-18, 2013. The format will be five thematic sessions spread over two days, covering topics such as: landscape evolution, sediment transport and soil production, coastal processes and the sedimentary record, and response of landscapes to anthropogenic disturbances. Each session will feature prominent keynote speakers, while the rest of the slots will be filled with graduate students and postdocs. We have secured some support from The Johns Hopkins University, which allows us to cover some symposium costs.  It is our intention to keep the conference costs minimal to encourage a large number of our colleagues and their graduate students/postdocs to attend.

Our invited speakers will be:
Mark Brandon (Yale), Pat Wiberg (UVA), Karen Prestegaard (UMD), Tess Thompson (VT), Enrica Viparelli (USC)

Registration is open! Simply confirm your attendance by e-mailing: amtrak.club@gmail.com 

Important dates:
Registration deadline…..         May 1, 2013
1-Page abstract deadline….     May  6, 2013

Please help us in advertising this conference!  You can help by posting the attached and future circulars and by encouraging your graduate students and post-docs to submit an abstract. If you have suggestions or comments, and if you do or do not want to be included in future, please send a note to amtrak.club@gmail.com. 

The 2013 Amtrak Club Organizing Committee:
Jane Willenbring (University of Pennsylvania)
Doug Jerolmack (University of Pennsylvania)
Ben Horton (University of Pennsylvania)
Katie Skalak (U.S. Geological Survey)  
Peter Wilcock (John Hopkins University)