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.

On-line version available at http://www.geo.arizona.edu/events/enewsletter/EarthWorks-05-16-08.html (for Pine and webmail users).

In This Issue:

Departmental News
         •   From the Head
         •   Congratulations to Undergrad Claire Landowski for Garnering a Summer Internship at the WRRC
         •   Paul Kapp to Receive Donath Medal at This Fall’s Geological Society of America Meeting in Houston
         •   Congratulations to Our Spring (or Almost) Graduates!
         •   New Grants
         •   NSF June 1 Deadline Reminder
 
Geosciences in the Media
         •   George Gehrels on Course Availability, in the Daily Wildcat
         •   Overpeck and Cole Staying at the UofA, in The Arizona Daily Star and Lo Que Pasa
         •   Overpeck Testifies Before Congress on Managing Water Supplies, in UA News
 
University News
         •   Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference, June 24, 2008
 
Funding/Job/Intern Opportunities
         •   University of Arizona Biosphere 2 Earthscience Graduate Research Assistantships
         •   Geology Technicians Needed for Copper Triangle Mining Services, Superior AZ
 

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

From the Head

Congratulations to all our spring and summer graduates and a very happy end-of-the-semester to all. Thanks to all for your support in helping me survive and mostly enjoy my first academic as department head.

EarthWorks will now go on its summer schedule, with issues appearing only monthly. Watch your inbox for issues on June 15 and July 15. Have a good summer; see you in August!
Karl W. Flessa
Professor and Head [top]

Congratulations

To undergraduate Claire Landowski for being awarded a Montgomery & Associates Summer Internship at The University of Arizona's Water Resources Research Center.
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Paul Kapp to Receive Donath Medal at This Fall’s Geological Society of America Meeting

Paul Kapp has been named as the 2008 recipient of the Donath Medal (Young Scientist Award). The Donath Medal, established in 1988, is awarded to a young scientist (35 or younger) for outstanding achievement in contributing to geologic knowledge through original research that marks a major advance in the Earth sciences. This follows the award in 2007 of the Donath Medal to Carmie Garzione, a UA Geosciences alumna.

The award, consisting of a gold medal called the Donath Medal and a cash prize of $20,000, was endowed by Dr. and Mrs. Fred A. Donath. The medal will be awarded at the GSA meeting in Houston.
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Congratulations to Our Spring (or Almost) Graduates!

B.S. Degrees
         •   Nicolas Breckenfeld (summer)
         •   Carla Eichler
         •   Carrie Welty (summer)
         •   Christopher Earnest
         •   Christopher Moreno
         •   Galen Randall
         •   Jennifer McGraw
         •   Derek Hoffman
M.S. Degrees
         •   Robert Dietz
         •   James Girardi
         •   Christian Rios Vargas
         •   Joshua Spinler
         •   Ross Waldrip
Ph.D. Degrees
         •   David Maher
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New Grants

Karl Flessa - Yuma Desalting Operations, Water Quality and Vegetation Distribution in the Cienega de Santa Clara, UA Water Sustainability Program and Central Arizona Project.

Jonathan Overpeck - Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Research Project, UA Water Sustainability Program.
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NSF June 1 Deadline Reminder

If you are submitting a proposal for NSF's June 1 deadline and haven't gotten your budget to the Business Office, do it now. Because June 1 falls on a Sunday, the actual deadline will be Monday, June 2, at 5:00 pm. Please remember that Sponsored Projects requests that your proposal be ready for full submission three working days before the actual deadline. So plan to have your proposal ready to go by Thursday, May 29 at the latest. Sponsored Projects will submit later submissions but will do so as it can after submitting proposals released to them on time.
      Also, Noah Fay has pointed out that for acceptable fonts, NSF has returned to requiring Times Roman instead of Georgia. For details see http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf08_1/gpg_2.jsp#IIB2.
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GEOSCIENCES IN THE MEDIA

George Gehrels on Course Availability in the Daily Wildcat

From the article "Council wants more class seats":  

      Class availability has been a fly in George Gehrels' eye for more than 30 years. In the 1970s, he struggled to find the
      courses he needed as a UA undergraduate and now, as a geosciences professor, he must turn away eager students
      from his inundated general education class while seated others wait to drop it that evening.

For the full story, see this link.
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Overpeck and Cole Staying at the UofA

From the Arizona Daily Star - "Author of Nobel-winning report to stay at UA," http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/239104

From Lo Que Pasa - "Jonathan Overpeck, Julia Cole to Stay at UA, Citing Strong Faculty, Administration,"
http://lqp.arizona.edu/node/193.
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Overpeck Testifies Before Congress on Managing Water Supplies

From UA News:

       On Wednesday morning [May 14] on Capitol Hill, Jonathan Overpeck was one of five scientists offering expert
       testimony about "Water Supply Challenges for the 21st Century" to the House Committee on Science and Technology.
       Overpeck is director of the UA's Institute for the Study of Planet Earth and professor of Geosciences and Atmospheric
       Sciences. He was one of the lead authors on an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released earlier this
       year that shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

For the full story, see http://intelligencer.ccit.arizona.edu/node/19720.
To download Overpeck's testimony, see http://www.science.house.gov/publications/Testimony.aspx?TID=13161.
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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference, June 24, 2008

Although Early Bird Registration for the WRRC Conference closed Thursday, May 15, you may still register for the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center’s Annual Conference.

The Importance of the Colorado River to Arizona’s Future
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Conference Overview:  http://ag.arizona.edu/azwater/programs/conf2008/
To Register:  http://cals.arizona.edu/AZWATER/conf2008/registration/registration.html
Agenda:   http://cals.arizona.edu/AZWATER/conf2008/registration/agenda.html

Contact Jane Cripps if you have any questions:
Water Resources Research Center
305 N. Campbell Avenue
520-792-9591 Ext. 55
jcripps@cals.arizona.edu
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FUNDING/JOB/INTERN OPPORTUNITIES

University of Arizona Biosphere 2 Earthscience Graduate Research Assistantships

From:  Dr. Travis Huxman
Re:      The University of Arizona Biosphere 2 Earthscience Graduate Research Assistantships

B2 Earthscience invites highly qualified prospective and current graduate students at the University of Arizona to apply for research assistantship funding (0.25 FTE) to begin in fall semester 2008. Assistantships are intended to support graduate research efforts conducted within the controlled-environment setting at Biosphere 2 and/or in complementary studies of natural systems.

Proposed research must be consistent with the goals and objectives of B2 Earthscience http://www.b2science.org/
b2earthscience. html, and should focus on coupled surficial processes affected by the behavior of water in the terrestrial landscape. Example research foci include ecosystem dynamics, hillslope hydrology, geomorphology, and biogeochemistry, and preference will be give to proposals that seek to couple two or more of these disciplines.

Who should apply?

Prospective and current graduate students at the University of Arizona.

How much is an Assistantship?

The Assistantship is $8,902 for the 08-09 academic year beginning August 11, 2008-May 17, 2009, with possibility of renewal depending on progress.

How to apply?

To apply, you must submit a curriculum vita, including a two-page research proposal, and arrange to have1-2 letters of reference from major advisors. Submit the applications and letters via email to Candace Crossey crossey@email.arizona.edu.

Applicants will be ranked on their qualifications and relevance of their research to Biosphere 2 programs, and the level of commitment for this activity expressed by their major advisors.

Deadline for applications is June 6, 2008.

For more information on The University of Arizona Biosphere 2 Earthscience Graduate Research Assistantships, please contact Dr. Travis Huxman (huxman@email.arizona.edu; 626-4092), or visit http://www.b2science.org).
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Geology Technicians Needed for Copper Triangle Mining Services, Superior AZ

Copper Triangle Mining Services is now accepting applications for Geology Technicians. Please contact our office to request an application. Information regarding this position is enclosed below.

Contact Information
Copper Triangle Mining Services
16 N. Magma Ave
Superior, AZ 85273
(520) 689-5200

Contact
Ana Guerrero, Coppertriangle@worldlinkisp.com

Expected Work Responsibilities

Geological technicians support the work of professional geologists by collecting and analyzing information from rock samples. Much of the work involves routine laboratory duties such as preparing rock and soil samples for testing, and carrying out tests on the chemical composition and/or physical properties of samples.

A range of specialized instruments and computers are used, and technicians may be involved in servicing and maintaining the laboratory equipment. Depending on the type of research being carried out, other duties can include data entry and processing, interpreting data from seismic surveys and the preparation of geological maps.

Senior technicians may be responsible for training and supervising juniors, scheduling the work, maintaining quality standards and producing reports.

Hours and Environment

Geological technicians working in a laboratory usually work normal office hours, but sometimes work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines. If they are involved in the maintenance of electronic equipment and computers they may have to work outside normal hours during emergency call-outs. Part -time work may also be available.

If working in a laboratory, geological technicians have to wear protective clothing and safety equipment when involved in certain type of activities.

Recommended Skills for a Successful Geological Technician

         •   have good scientific and technical skills
         •   be able to pay careful attention to detail and accuracy
         •   have good numeracy skills
         •   be patient and have good observational skills
         •   have an ability to take a methodical approach to problem solving
         •   be able to use information and communication technology
         •   have practical skills to use instruments and technical equipment
         •   be able to work without direct supervision
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