Dear Friends,
Happy Independence Day weekend to those in the USA. I urge everyone to look closely and soon at the announcements below. There are grants, jobs, and conferences with deadlines coming soon!
Here is the latest news:
Various News
* Mundos Subterráneos 29 Now Available
* Visual KARSYS: Next Online Course Announcement
* EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2020: Extension of the deadline for applications
Research, Student, and Job Opportunities
* NCKRI National Seed Grant Program: Request for Proposals
* White-Nose Syndrome Grants Available
* Virtual Student Internships, National Park Service, Cave and Karst Program
* Job Announcement: US Forest Service Cave and Karst Geologist
Conferences and Meetings
* NSS Virtual Convention: Schedule is Posted. Mark Your Calendars!
* The 16th Sinkhole Conference: Abstract Deadline Coming Soon!
* International Congress of Speleology: Call for Assistance with Field Camps
* International Congress of Speleology: Call for Abstracts
* European Cave Rescue Meeting 2020: Spain
* List of Upcoming Cave and Karst Meetings
Please contact the people and organizations listed below for more information, and feel free to share this message with anyone who may be interested.
George
*********************************
Mundos Subterráneos 29 Now Available
The Board of the Mexican Union of Speleological Groups (UMAE) and the Editorial Committee of Mundos Subterráneos is pleased to announce the publication of issue No. 29. This issue is a new highly improved format with many excellent reports, maps, and photos. The cost is only 50 Mexican pesos (about $2 US or 2 euros) as a small contribution to support Mexican speleology. For more details and to get a copy, go to UMAE’s Facebook page.
Visual KARSYS: Next Online Course Announcement
The next Visual KARSYS course will occur online on 16-17 September 2020 in two 3-hour sessions. The course is designed for geologists and hydrogeologists (engineers, academic, students) working in karst environments for applied issues (groundwater resources, natural hazards, geothermy, construction, etc.). It intends to provide steps and tools to attendees who will apply KARSYS by themselves. For more information visit this site.
EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2020: Extension of the deadline for applications
Dear All,
Please be informed that the European Cave Protection Commission ECPC has decided to extend the deadline for the applications regarding the EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2020 up to July 31st. This gives you the possibility still to take part after the hard times of the crisis this spring.
Please find the application guidelines here.
And the application form here.
Note as well that the prize hand-over has also been postponed and will be organized during the 15th EuroSpeleo Forum which will be held during the International Congress of Speleology (ICS 2021) in France next summer.
We are waiting for your applications.
With best regards
RNDr. Alena Gessert, PhD.
FSE General secretary
NCKRI National Seed Grant Program: Request for Proposals
Dear Colleagues,
NCKRI is pleased to announce our next round of seed grants in support of cave and karst research. The NCKRI National Seed Grant Program is designed to enable new cave and karst research, and encourage new principal investigators to enter the field.
Proposals for NCKRI National Seed Grants are due August 10th, 2020. Applications can be submitted at the following link.
Please direct any questions about submission or budget preparation to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Other questions about this RFP can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., NCKRI Academic Director.
We will also have another call for graduate and undergraduate student grants (the NCKRI Scholar Fellowship Program); that RFP will be announced later this year.
Please help spread the word about this opportunity, and please consider applying yourselves!
Sincerely,
Daniel S. Jones, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Geobiology, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Science
Academic Director, National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI)
314 Mineral Science and Engineering Complex (MSEC)
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM 87801
White-Nose Syndrome Grants Available
Dear colleagues.
We are happy to announce two funding opportunities from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for White-nose Syndrome (WNS) and are now accepting applications. Please help spread the word.
1. WNS Grants to States and Tribes (F20AS00184)
2. WNS Research Grants (F20AS00183)
We highly encourage applicants to submit proposals for either funding opportunity by the early (soft) deadline of July 20. Applications submitted by this date will be evaluated for possible decisions before the close of the Service's fiscal year. Applications submitted after July 20 and before the final deadline (August 25) will be accepted and evaluated for possible awards in Fiscal Year 2021. Please contact the USFWS WNS coordinator in your region if you have questions.
Best regards.
Virtual Student Internships, National Park Service, Cave and Karst Program
Hello everyone,
We are excited to announce that the National Park Service, Geologic Resources Division Cave and Karst Program is recruiting two interns through the Virtual Student Federal Service. VSFS eInternships are unpaid remote internships, for students looking to work 10 hours/week from September to May and gain job experience with the government. The application period runs from July 1 – 31, 2020m and we need your help promoting the positions. Below are links to the project descriptions and application process instructions. These positions will be a great support to our team, and we look forward to the additional help.
Communicating the Largest Global Event in the History of Cave and Karst at our National Parks - Project Code: NPS-USA-11. This project seeks to make the International Year of Caves & Karst (IYCK) and Cave Week 2021 a large educational event within the National Park System. Work will involve communication, writing, web content development and information sharing with national park staff across the country.
Develop and Convert the NPS Junior Ranger Cave Scientist booklet into Spanish - Project Code: NPS-USA-5. This project seeks to create a Spanish version of the National Park Service - Junior Ranger Cave Scientist program. A draft translation of the text was created and the VSFS intern would update the text and transfer it into the Adobe InDesign layout and format for distribution.
How to Apply:
The positions will be listed on USAJobs starting July 1. The applicant will need to create an account (if they don’t already have one), and they MUST build their resume through the USAJobs website. This is the only way resumes will be accepted.
Once this is complete, search under the USAJobs position listings for “VSFS” or “Virtual Student Federal Service” and apply with the VSFS position link. After the initial application, the applicant will be directed the agency site. It is here that the student will need the project codes listed above to select which positions they want to apply for (they can apply for three). More detailed instructions can be found through VSFS.
Please share this email/information with any parties or organizations that may be interested. Do not hesitate to contact me or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
National Park Service | Geologic Resources Division
Program Manager - Geoscientists-in-the-Parks & Mosaics in Science Diversity Internships
NPS Liaison to the National Cave and Karst Research Institute
Job Announcement: US Forest Service Cave and Karst Geologist
This position is located in the Washington Office. The incumbent serves as a geologist with responsibility for planning, administering and providing expertise in the minerals and geology program on a national level with Cave and Karst. The application deadline is 10 July 2020.
For more details visit this site.
NSS Virtual Convention: Schedule is Posted. Mark Your Calendars!
The National Speleological Society (NSS) is having its annual convention virtually this year. From July 27 through 31, enjoy many outstanding pre-recorded presentations and live events on topics ranging from cave conservation to exploration. Everyone is welcome no matter where in the world they live. All times are current US East Coast times (UCT-4). Best of all, it’s free!
Go to this page to see the schedule. During the event, various presentations will go live. For example, on Monday, July 27, watch presentations on West Virginia Exploration and Cultures of Caves, Cavers, and Caving. There will also be live events. For example, Tuesday, July 28 brings the NSS Vertical Section meeting and presentations as well as a book signing event.
Until we can once more be together in person—Stay smart, Stay healthy, Stay safe.
The 16th Sinkhole Conference: Abstract Deadline Coming Soon!
Dear Friends,
As previously announced, the 16th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst (more commonly called The Sinkhole Conference) was rescheduled by the COVID-19 pandemic to 12-16 April 2021 at its same location in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, we have now published the proceedings as NCKRI Symposium 8, which is available on this page. While you are there you are welcome to download other NCKRI conference proceedings and reports at no cost. If you have difficulty accessing the website (which we are updating in part to improve access), you may also download the proceedings from the Karst Information Portal.
The postponement of the conference allows the opportunity for you to submit papers to present and publish in the second edition of these conference proceedings, which will be posted with the conference next year. Here are the deadlines for papers for the second edition:
* July 24, 2020: Abstract due
* July 29, 2020: Authors notified of abstract acceptance
* October 19, 2020: Draft papers due
* November 23, 2020: Authors provided with review and comments
* December 21, 2020: Final papers due
For more information and to register for this world-leading conference on engineering and environmental management issues in karst, go to this page.
George Veni
16th Sinkhole Conference Co-Chair
To all national caving organizations, delegates, and cavers,
Before and after the 18th International Congress of Speleology next year, the French Federation of Speleology (FFS) is planning to organize pre-congress and post-congress camps. The European Speleological Federation (FSE) agreed to assist the FFS and International Union of Speleology (UIS) by asking clubs and organizations in its member countries to also organize such pre- and post-camps. These camps provide an opportunity for cavers from outside of France and Europe to get acquainted with European caves and karst and to enjoy a European dimension to the congress.
The FFS invites not only cavers in Frances's neighboring countries, but all FSE member countries to organize a camp for the congress. Proposed activities include:
* exploration or traditional speleology
* canyoning
* cave diving
* scientific internships
* photography
* cultural tourism and/or
* speleo-culinary
which can be above or below ground, as long as they are in accordance with speleo and canyoning codes of conduct.
For more information, the conditions and the application form please read this document. The application should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For general information about the congress visit this site.
Registration for the 18th International Congress of Speleology is currently open at the discount price of 129 euros ($141 US) for a week of spectacular events and meetings. Also, don’t forget that abstracts are due by 31 July 2020. Many excellent sessions and symposia are planned on all speleological topics. Here is an announcement of one of the sessions.
Session 03: Cave Deposits/Session 03: Les dépôts endokarstiques
Karst deposits as archive – multidisciplinary approaches for reconstructing karst processes, present and past landscapes, environments, and climate.
Les dépôts karstiques en tant qu’archive – approches multidisciplinaires pour la reconstitution des processus karstiques, environnements et climats présents et passés.
A more detailed description can be found on this site.
Une description plus détaillée se trouve en fichier joint ou sur le site.
The Editorial Committee/Le comité éditorial:
Sophie Verheyden (Belgium) and Carole Nehme (France) dirs.
Bogdan P. Onac (USA, Romania, IUS), David Lagrou (Belgium), Nadja Zupan Hajna (Slovenia, IUS), Fadi Nader (France, IUS), Yavor Shopov (Bulgaria, IUS), Gina Moseley (United Kingdom), Daniel Ballesteros (Spain), Edwige Pons (France), Anamaria D. Haeuselmann (Switzerland, Romania), Sebastian Breitenbach (United Kingdom).
European Cave Rescue Meeting 2020: Spain
After the extraordinary big event last year, we have a new ambitious framework for our meeting this year on 12-15 November 2020 in Cantabria, Spain. Workshops on technical topics, a round table discussing international collaboration, and a diving exercise will be offered. The 1st Circular with all of the current details is available here. Look for more information in a couple of months at this site.
NOTE: In case of another lockout due to a new COVID-19 wave, the meeting will be canceled!
We are looking forward to meeting you in Cantabria,
The Organizing Committee
******************************
List of Upcoming Cave and Karst Meetings
If you are interested in any of the following events, contact them directly to learn if they are still planned as announced below.
1) US National Speleological Society Virtual Annual Convention, 27-31 July 2020
2) Carbonate Critical Zone: An NSF-Sponsored Workshop, August-September 2020 (virtual meeting)
3) Karst 2020: Conservation of Fragile Karst Resources, 15-21 August 2020 (virtual meeting)
4) 9th International Workshop on Ice Caves (IWIC-IX) & the 12th Scientific Conference Research, Utilization and Protection of Caves, 8-11 September 2020 (Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia)
5) 14th Balkan Cavers Camp, 9-13 September 2020 (Dryanovo Town, Bulgaria)
6) Visual KARSYS Online Course, 16-17 September 2020
7) Geological Society of America Convention, 25-28 October 2020 (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
8) European Cave Rescue Association Meeting 2020, 12-15 November 2020 (Cantabria, Spain), https://caverescue.eu/ecra-meeting-2020-cantabria-spain/
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
10) 1st Karst Science Forum, postponed to 2021 (Bucharest, Romania)
11) International Course and Field Seminar: Characterization and Engineering of Karst Aquifers, postponed to 2021 (Žabljak-Durmitor Mt., Virpazar-Skadar Lake in Montenegro, and in Trebinje in Bosnia & Herzegovina)
12) 7th International Course Characterization and Engineering of Karst Aquifers (CEKA), postponed to 2021 (Montenegro: Žabljak-Durmitor Mt., Virpazar-Skadar Lake, and Bosnia and Herzegovina: Trebinje)
13) 16th Multidisciplinary Conference on the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst, 12-16 April 2021 (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
14) US Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Meeting, May 2021 (Nashville, Tennessee, USA)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
16) 14th International Symposium on Pseudokarst, postponed to spring 2021 (Świętokrzyskie [Holy Cross] Mountains, Poland)
17) Karst Waters Institute Frontiers in Karst: Sulfuric Acid Weathering, postponed to mid-summer 2021 (San Vittore, Italy)
18) 28th International Karstological School “Classical Karst”: Regional Karstology - Local and General Aspects, 14-18 June 2021 (Postojna, Slovenia)
19) EuroKarst 2021: The European Congress on Karst Hydrogeology and Carbonate Reservoirs, 22-24 June 2021 (Málaga, Spain)
20) Karst Record IX (KR9) Conference, July 2021 (Innsbruck, Austria)
21) 18th International Congress of Speleology, 25 July – 1 August 2021 (Savoie Technolac, Le Bourget du Lac, Savoie, France)
22) Central Asian Speleological Forum, postponed to August 2021 (Tashkent, Uzbekistan)
23) 34th International Geographical Congress karst sessions: Global Karst Critical Zone and Land Use Planning in Karst, 16-20 August 2021 (Istanbul, Turkey)
24) 19th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology, tentatively August or September 2021 (Catania, Italy)
25) Fort Stanton Cave Science Conference, September 2021 (Socorro, New Mexico, USA)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
28) Speleo Kamaraton, 29 October – 1 November 2021 (Marina di Camerota, Salerno, Italy)
********************
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Executive Director, National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI)
and
President, International Union of Speleology (UIS)
NCKRI address (primary)
400-1 Cascades Avenue
Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220 USA
Office: +575-887-5517
Mobile: +210-863-5919
Fax: +575-887-5523
UIS address
Titov trg 2
Postojna, 6230 Slovenia