Summer course
"Volcanism, Plate Tectonics, Hydrothermal Vents and Life"
Angra do Heroismo, Azores, Portugal, 23 August - 1 September 2016

General information
The course aims to give participants a thorough introduction into influence of volcanism, plate tectonics on life and the role of hydrothermal vents in the upcome of life. It is co-organised by the European Astrobiology Campus and the COST Action Origins and Evolution of Life in the Universe. Lurdes Dapcevicius (University of the Azores) and Wolf Geppert (Stockholm University) will function as course organisers. The summer school will include:

• Lectures by leading scientists in the field covering a cornucopia of different subjects
• Field excursions to geologically interesting sights (volcanic areas, hot springs, lava caves, etc.)
• Exploration of lava caves
• Characterisation of microbes in lava Caves and hot springs via Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• Poster sessions
• Participant-led discussions

Application to the summer school is open for students and scientists (including post-docs) from all countries. Participants will be selected by the course organisers.

Programme
A preliminary programme of the summer course can be downloaded as an .xls file here. Please refer to the Programme webpage for further information.

Fees
There are no fees charged for the course. Participants, will, however have to fund their own travel, accommodation and meals. For possibilities of refunds see below. The package rates are as followed

• EUR 550,- for participants staying i student accommodation (shared facilities)
• EUR 800,- for participants staying in shared double hotel rooms (en-suite facilities)
• EUR 1150,- for participants staying in single hotel rooms (en-suite facilities)

These rates include

• Accommodation as specified from 22 september (arrival) to 2 September (departure)
• Meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners and coffee breaks starting from dinner on 22 August until lunch 1 September 2016
• Farewell dinner on 1 September 2016
• Coffee breaks
• Excursions and entrance fees
• Course material and consumables

For people from the University of the Azores who live in Angra do Heroísmo and do neither need breakfasts, dinners, nor accommodation, a fee of EUR 150,- will be charged. This fee includes only the excursion, lunches, coffee breaks, course material and the Farewell Dinner.

Fees will have to be paid to the University of Tartu that administers the European Astrobiology Campus. For bursaries check the following paragraph.

Refunds
Accepted Ph. D. students and early career investigators , i. e. researchers within a time span of up to 8 years from the date they obtained their PhD/doctorate (full-time equivalent) from universities located in the following countries (which are taking part in the COST Action "Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth and in the Universe") are entitled to a flat refund of EUR 550,- for lodging and meals expenses plus max EUR 360,- for travel expenses:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.

Please note:This refund is restricted to Ph. D. students and early career investigators , i. e. researchers within a time span of up to 8 years from the date they obtained their PhD/doctorate (full-time equivalent) taking part in the above-mentioned COST Action (TD1308). Concerning eligibility, is also the location of the institution, and not the nationality of the applicant that counts. An updated list of countries taking part in the COST Action can be found here. Refunds are only paid after the course. Other interested students and scientists are very welcome to apply, but have to find their own funding for the participation.

Please also note: Accepted students from the University of the Azores living in Angra do Heroísmo and paying the reduced fee of EUR 150,- covering lunches, coffee breaks and the Farewell dinner will only be refunded the amount of EUR 150,-.

Furthermore: There are earmarked funds for the universities involved in the European Astrobiology Campus:

University of Porto, University of Bordeaux, Open University, University of Utrecht, University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, University of Iceland, Vilnius University, University of Turku and Stockholm University.

Applications from these institutions are thus especially encouraged. From these institutions also Master's students can be accepted.

Venue and Access
Please refer to the Venue and Access webpage for all information

Application
The deadline for application is 15 March 2016 23:59:00 UTC. Please refer to the Application webpage for aplication procedures. Successful applicants will be notified in the first 2 weeks of May.

Contact
For all enquiries please contact the course organiser, Wolf Geppert, preferably by e-mail: wgeppert@hotmail.com or phone (++46-8-55378649). Please also refer to the practical infos and the other information webpages. Most necessary information is likely to be found there.

Bem-vindos à Terceira !