Submit items to Lauren Bivona or Norm Meader at enews@email.arizona.edu preferably by 5:00 pm Wednesday of each week. Please include "EarthWorks" in the subject line. In This Issue Departmental News Related News General Announcements DEPARTMENTAL NEWS
We have a winner: Thanks and congratulations to Nat Lifton for suggesting the name of this previously-unnamed newsletter: EarthWorks - the Geosciences Weekly E-Newsletter, or just "EarthWorks". In addition to the praise and envy of us all, Nat also wins a copy of "Hiking Arizona's Geology" by Ivo Lucchitta. In other news… Alysha Coppola (senior, chem major, working with Julia Cole) received a $1000 grant from Merck to attend AGU and present her research. Alena Kimbrough (geo major, sophomore) has been selected as one of 21 Mellon environmental research fellows nationally - her award comes with $5000 and a series of meetings in which fellows develop, then present, their research. (http://www.lclark.edu/dept/envs/mellon.html) [top] Can You Lecture About the Geology of Sonora? John
Messina in the School of Architecture is looking for someone (faculty,
grad, researcher) who might provide
a lecture on the geology of the Sonoran region to his Tier
One Gen. Ed. class, SONORA: A Description of Place in Arid America (http://www.dingo.sbs.arizona.edu/~jmessina/).
John feels that a lecture on geology is crucial to the message of the course,
and last year's absence of one was a great loss. Many Ways to Trigger Interest in Science Read Julie Cole's article in the Arizona Daily Star, Monday, Dec 17, on how to trigger interest in science, "Many ways to trigger interest in science--Books, devices, trips all spark kids' imagination." Tucson-area scientists say gifts that could ignite children's interest in science — possibly change their lives — may not cost a lot, but they will probably involve some of the gift giver's time. Almost without exception, the scientists were inspired by experiences—trips to observatories, museums, aquariums, national parks — rather than objects. Though sometimes objects — telescopes, magnifying glasses, toy microscopes and books — followed. http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/relatedstories/216509.php [top] In the January, 2008 Geology: Development of active low-angle normal fault systems during orogenic collapse: Insight from Tibet Paul
Kapp, Michael Taylor, Daniel Stockli, and Lin Ding. Geology v. 36,
pages 7-10. [top] RELATED NEWS Please save Friday, January 18, 2008 from 10:00 to 11:30 am for a special Brown Bag Seminar at the Water Resources Research Center, Sol Resnick Conference Room. The seminar is scheduled earlier in the day than our usual time so that it can be held in conjunction with the first meeting of my graduate class, Arizona Water Policy. The topic will be the "East Valley Water Forum Management Plan." The East Valley Water Forum is comprised of public and private water providers, irrigation districts, state regulators, Indian communities, state agencies, and federal agencies. The Forum, after 4 years of work, completed a regional water management plan. The geographic area is the East Salt River Valley (the Eastern portion of the Phoenix Metro area). East Valley water users are pumping about 400,000 af/year. The Forum's Executive Director, Teresa Makinen, and Doug Toy, one of its members, will share with us information about the planning process and the management plan's findings. All are encouraged to read the management plan at www.evwf.org. A reminder will be sent a week prior to the seminar. My class, which starts at 9:00, will take a break a few minutes before 10:00. If you arrive early and the doors are closed, please have a seat in the lobby or small conference room until we open the doors. I look forward to seeing many of you at our first Brown Bag seminar of 2008! Happy Holidays! Sharon Megdal [top] Science Café: "Why Are There Mountains?" Event: Science Café - Flandrau: The UA Science Center Topic: "Why Are There Mountains?" Date: Monday, January 7, 2008 Location: Enoteca Pizzeria Wine Bar, 58 W Congress Street, Downtown Tucson Presenter: Peter L. Kresan, UA Senior Lecture (retired) & Adjunct Faculty in Geosciences Admission: Free to the public Food: A free appetizer will be served. The kitchen will be closed; however, beverages will be available for purchase. Flandrau: The UA Science Center is holding its next "got Science? Café" at Enoteca Pizzeria Wine Bar in downtown Tucson on Monday, January 7, 2008. A science café is a casual forum for people to meet and discuss a particular science topic with a UA scientist in the relaxed atmosphere of a local restaurant. Topics of discussion will vary each month, but each one will be current, relevant, and perhaps even slightly edgy and humorous, or controversial. On Monday, January 7th, at 5:30 p.m., Peter L. Kresan, UA Senior Lecture (retired) & Adjunct Faculty in Geosciences, will start the evening with a short talk entitled "Why Are There Mountains?" www.gotUAsciencecenter.org [top] Eric Force to speak at Arizona Geological Society Meeting, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Arizona Geological Society Without reservations you may not get dinner. If you do, an extra $2.00 will be charged. To make dinner reservations please call the AGS answering machine at (520) 663-5295 by 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before the meeting. Leave name, number of attendees, and whether a vegetarian or low-salt meal is required. This number can be used for field-trip reservations and leaving messages for Society officers. Please cancel your reservation via the answering machine if you find that you will be unable to attend. Abstract Chaco
and McElmo canyons both featured arroyos during Anasazi (AD 500-1300)
habitation, but their histories of fluvial evolution differ sharply. Chaco's
history was governed by a succession of dams, some eolian, one manmade, at
the mouth of the wash. Chaco may have been originally chosen for
settlement in its dammed state because of an impounded lake, but when the
dams failed, entrenchment was rapid. Abandonment of much of the canyon
was the initial Anasazi response, but resettlement in a much grander and labor-intensive
style began around AD 1030 while an arroyo still existed. This is the
period for which Chaco Canyon is most famous, due to its numerous great
houses, regional system of straight roads, great kivas, water-control
features, etc. The arroyo was filled in by about AD 1100, prior to
canyon abandonment about AD 1200. Thus entrenchment did not cause abandonment
as some earlier authors thought; indeed abandonment came during a period that
may have been a little swampy. GENERAL NEWS Classroom Technology Demonstrations and Practice for Spring Semester With the beginning of classes just around the corner, many instructors will be teaching in classrooms with which they are unfamiliar or classrooms which were renovated and contain new technology. We would like to invite all interested instructors to take advantage of demonstrations on how to use the various technological equipment in their classrooms. Please encourage instructors to bring actual instructional materials with which they will be working this semester. Following demonstrations of how each element of technology works, time will be provided for instructors to practice using the multi-media capabilities of the classroom in which they will teach. We encourage all instructors to take advantage of these demonstrations and practice sessions. We are committed to doing all we can to support the instructional needs of all faculty. We are available throughout the year to provide assistance, but want to devote this uninterrupted time for your convenience. To schedule a demonstration/practice time for January 9 - 15, please call 621-3852. Due to the fact that many departments are holding special events and orientations at this time, we may not be able to show you the exact room you will be teaching in, but we will be able to show you a room in which the equipment is set up the same as the room you will be teaching in during the semester. [top] Grants Available for Nanotech Applications in the Oil Industry Consortium Eyes Nanotech Applications Showcasing the potential importance of nanotechnology for the oil and gas industry, eight companies have formed a consortium to study practical nanotech applications. Known as the Advanced Energy Consortium, the project will be managed by the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) at the University of Texas at Austin, said BEG director Scott Tinker. Consortium members are Shell International E&P, BP America, ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil, Occidental Oil & Gas, Schlumberger Technology, Baker Hughes and Halliburton Energy Services. The consortium was formed because none of (the members) are deeply engaged in nanotech currently, and they can see the potential upside in improved reserve management and a significant upside in enhanced recovery, Tinker said. Each member company has made a rolling two-year pledge to fund the research, which will be carried out at universities and other research institutions around the world, he said. Tinker, also AAPG president-elect, expects requests for proposals for global participation to go out next year. Rice University is technical partner in the project. Work will begin as proposals are accepted, and in three years, we would hope to see some interesting prototypes, he said. Tinker called the AEC a positive sign because it shows the industry collaborating to do pre-competitive research and a willingness to invest in the long-term future. That should send a very positive message to young people in our industry that there are still major challenges to solve, he noted. Lee Allsion notes that the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology expects to have about $8M per year in available funds, much of which will be awarded externally via a grant competition. From Lee Allison and http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2007/12dec/nanotechnology.cfm [top] EarthWorks On-Line Archive: http://www.geo.arizona.edu/events/enewsletter |
