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In This Issue:
- Departmental News
Related News
General University News
Get A Job
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS
From the Head
 Folks, entries for naming the newsletter have not been pouring in. Do you really want such a lame title as Weekly Geosciences E-Newsletter? You cannot only keep this from happening, you can win a prize too. Please submit your entries to Lauren or Norm.
Best wishes to all going to AGU, it will be a quiet week in Tucson without you.
And best wishes for the holidays and for the New Year. This is the last edition of the Weekly Geosciences E-Newsletter (see how klunky that is?) for 2007. See you in 2008. Travel safe.
Karl. [top]
Andy Cohen DOSECC/ICDP Town Hall Presentation at AGU
Andy Cohen will be making a Town Hall Presentation at AGU Monday, December 10, for the combined DOSECC /International Continental Dilling Program Town Hall Meeting, to be held at the San Francisco Mariott Hotel, Golden Gate Salon A. Andy's presentation, on the upcoming Human Origins Drilling Initiative, along with a presentation by Ken Miller on drilling studies of sea level change, will be accompanied by several new short films on scientific drilling. The entire Town Hall session will run from 6-7:30PM. For more information see http://www.dosecc.org/Town_Hall_flyer_07.pdf. [top]
Spring 2008 Graduate Seminar on Drought
The graduate seminar, Drought in Western North America: Mechanisms, variability, and abrupt change (GEOS 596C, section 2), will be offered during the spring 2008 semester on Thursdays from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM. In this class, students will develop a regionally focused understanding of drought from the perspectives of scientific literature on physical mechanisms, paleoclimate records, and future projections of drought. We will examine the societal and ecological implications of drought and efforts to develop institutional responses. The class is open to graduate students across the relevant sciences or by instructor permission.
For more information, contact one of the instructors: Julia Cole at jecole@email.arizona.edu or Jonathan Overpeck at jto@u.arizona.edu. [top]
College of Science Commencement Ceremony
You are cordially invited to attend the College of Science Commencement Ceremony Friday, December 14, at 10:30 am at Centennial Hall. A reception will follow. For questions, contact Christina Dental, Program Coordinator, College of Science, 626-1092 or cdentel@email.arizona.edu. [top]
Annual Geosciences Casa de Los Niños Run
As we have done for the past couple of years, we are once again collecting donations for Casa de los Ninos this year. Casa de los Ninos will gladly take monetary donations or new children's clothing (No toys this year).
Please make your checks out to “Casa de los Ninos” in the memo portion. Bring your gift or check to Enedina in Room 208 by December 20th.
As always thank you for giving.
Enedina Cervantes
Geosciences Department [top]
Revised Description of Structural Geology Field Trip
II now have scouted out potential sites for my Spring Semester Structural Geology Field Trip, and provide this revised description of what we will do.
First of all, a schedule conflict developed (obliged to be at NSF during the time originally established for this field trip), and now plan to lead this trip over SPRING BREAK, namely departing Saturday, March 15th and returning Friday March 21st. I apologize for this change, but am hoping that Spring Break may actually be a better time for many.
Second, rather than leading a trip with an enormous amount of driving (original plan to go north all the way to Salt Lake City), I have concluded that a tremendous opportunity exists in working exclusively in southernmost Utah, near St. George. In particular, there is a beautiful ‘active normal fault relay system’ along the Hurricane fault zone that we will map in detail, using color aerial photography and topographic maps as base control. The clarity of units within the Moenkopi Formation, which is the dominant stratigraphic unit exposed within this relay system, will permit exacting mapping of the geometry of transferring displacement from one fault segment to another.
Third, there are provocative examples of the hazards and risks of population expansion in a region marked by active faulting, landslides, and rock falls, which creates a nice framework for discussing "active tectonics and society."
Fourth, though we can’t forecast temperatures and weather, the chances for ‘better’ weather in mid-March are far greater in southern Utah than further north.
What follows is the revised course description:
Geos 496e/596e, Structural Geology Field Trip, 2 units, G. Davis
Detailed structural geological mapping of a transfer zone between two segments of the active Hurricane fault zone, near La Verkin, Utah. Within this zone the displacement along one segment is ‘relayed’ to another, and the ‘transfer’ takes place by systematic displacements on a family of distributed faults. Exposures are excellent, and the Moenkopi stratigraphy, with a half-dozen distinct members, provides stratigraphic control for determining magnitudes of displacement. In addition, we will visit sites expressing active faults, landslides, and rock falls, exploring through discussion the ramifications of burgeoning population in a region marked by geological hazards. The map area proper sits on the boundary between the Basin and Range and Colorado Plateau tectonic provinces. The Hurricane fault, at this location, cuts and offsets the easternmost major fold within the Sevier fold-and-thrust zone at this particular latitude.
Quality of preparation of materials, engagement on the trip itself, and individual portfolios of field observations/interpretations will be basis for grade.
Dates: March 15-21, 2008
Grades: S, P, U
Prerequisite: undergraduate structural geology and geology field camp
Costs: Transportation provided. Costs for meals and lodging to be paid by participants if Davis is unable to achieve 'underwriting’ of costs.
Day-to-Day Schedule
Saturday, March 15
Drive from Tucson through Las Vegas and St. George to the Red Cliffs Campground. In late afternoon light examine Moenkopi stratigraphy and Hurricane fault expression.
Sunday, March 16
Overview above town of Hurricane. Then begin structure mapping of La Verkin normal-fault relay system. Visit Dixie (Pah Tempe) hot springs at end of day, which is located in Hurricane fault zone.
Monday, March 17
Continue structure mapping of La Verkin relay system. Visit Rockville overlook at end of day, to see effects of rock falls and landslides.
Tuesday, March 18
Continue structure mapping of La Verkin fault relay system. Visit Angell Heights Drive at end of day. This is a new housing development build on the fault zone.
Wednesday, March 19
Complete structure mapping of La Verkin fault relay system. Visit Kanarra anticline and southern termination of same along trace of the Hurricane fault zone.
Thursday, March 20
Stops include Washington paleoseismic trench (active faulting), the Johnson Farm track site (unique exposure of dinosaur tracks), the St. George Airport landslide area, the Truman Drive landslide area, and perhaps Snow Canyon State Park, with its excellent exposures of Navajo Sandstone.
Friday, March 21
Return to Tucson.
George H. Davis, Regents Professor
Department of Geosciences. [top]
RELATED NEWS
GSA Cord/Rocky Mountain Abstracts Deadline Reminder
Geological Society of America Cordilleran/Rocky Mountain Joint Section Meeting, 19-21 March 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada
I. Abstracts Deadline
II. Registration Information
III. Upcoming Dates
I. Abstracts Deadline
To accommodate those who are attending the AGU fall meeting next week, the abstract deadline for the GSA Cordilleran/Rocky Mountain Section meeting has been extended to 18 December 2007. If you are attending the AGU meeting, please enjoy it and upon your return submit your abstract.The abstract form is located at http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2008CD/index.epl. If you have any questions about the form, please contact the GSA Technical Program Manager, Nancy Wright, nwright@geosociety.org. We look forward to seeing you 19–21 March 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For additional meeting information, visit http://www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/08mtg/index.htm, or contact General Chair, Rod Metcalf, rod.metcalf@unlv.edu, or the Technical Program Chair, Terry Spell, terry.spell@unlv.edu.
Take advantage of this great opportunity to meet with friends and colleagues, learn about cutting edge research in your region, and experience the geologic paradise surrounding Las Vegas.
II. Registration Information
Online registration is now open! And while you are thinking about it, why not invite your friends and colleagues to join you? You may register at:
http://www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/08mtg/registration.htm
The early registration deadline is Monday, 18 February 2008, and the cancellation deadline is Monday, 25 February 2008. Please note: ALL SPEAKERS MUST REGISTER FOR THE MEETING. Persons who wish to attend field trips only must also register; please note that special registration fees apply.
III. Upcoming Dates
Student Travel Grants
DEADLINE: Student Travel Grant Application is due by Monday, 11 February 2008. Visit the web site for more information:
http://www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/08mtg/students.htm
Hotels
Make your hotel reservation in one of the GSA hotels before they fill up. The GSA discounted hotel rates will expire beginning Friday, 1 February 2008. For more information click on the following link: http://www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/08mtg/lodging.htm. [top]
First Congress on the Geology and Ecology of Northwestern Mexico
First Congress on the Geology and Ecology of Northwestern Mexico, Hermosillo, Mexico. 21-23 April, 2008. For more information: http://www.geologia-son.unam.mx/congreso.htm. [top]
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Assignment of Incomplete Grades
To: All Teaching Faculty
From: Jerry Hogle, Interim Vice President for Instruction
Bill Conway, Chair of Instruction and Curriculum Policy Committee
Re: Assignment of Incomplete Grades
The Faculty Senate has recently reaffirmed its support of the Incomplete Policy as articulated in the University Catalogs both Graduate and Undergraduate. This support also includes a contract to be initiated between the student and instructor at the time the “I” is negotiated. The contract is available for printing on the Registrar’s website at http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/forms.htm and is titled “The University of Arizona, Report of Incomplete Grade.”
The contract is to be filled out, signed by student and instructor, and filed in the Office of the Department Head in the department that offers the course, with a copy going to the student. The completed form will include a statement, and possibly supporting documents, of work that must be completed, together with how the completed work is to be graded and how the course grade is to be determined. It will allow a student to complete an “I” even in the absence of the instructor. It provides an agreement of understanding for both student and instructor.
The Registrar’s Office is working to modify WEBROSTER so that when an “I” is assigned, a pop-up window will direct the instructor to the form. Use of this form will benefit you, your student, and the University, because an agreement will be in writing that can be honored, even in your absence, and the student who paid to take the course will have an opportunity to finish the work.
The direct link to “Report of Incomplete Grade” form from the Incomplete Grade Policy in the general Catalog is http://catalog.arizona.edu/2007-08/policies/grade.htm, and from the Graduate Catalog the link is: http://grad.arizona.edu/Catalog/Policies/Incompletes.php.
Thank you very much for following this re-affirmed policy throughout the years ahead. [top]
GET A JOB
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago invites applicants for a joint faculty position at the rank of assistant professor in Natural Sciences and the Learning Sciences beginning August 16, 2008.
The position is offered as part of a university-wide interdisciplinary initiative in the Learning Sciences (http://www.lsri.uic.edu), which currently has four split-appointment faculty members in addition to over a dozen active associated faculty. A Ph.D. program for Learning Sciences has recently been approved and has enrolled its first students. The natural science departments (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Physics) situated in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences have strong programs in teaching and in all areas of basic research, including vibrant Ph.D. programs. [top]
Student Internships in Cimate Change
Concerned about climate change? Wondering when world oil production will peak and what renewable energies are ready to step in? Want to improve the communication of sound science and policy on these topics to a global audience?
Here's your chance. We are looking for motivated individuals to become student Encyclopedia Interns on a major climate change initiative underway at the Encyclopedia of Earth (http://www.eoearth.org/), a new electronic reference about the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society. The Encyclopedia is a free, fully searchable collection of articles written by scholars, professionals, educators, and experts who collaborate and review each other’s work. The articles are written in non-technical language and will be useful to students, educators, scholars, professionals, as well as to the general public.
The goal of this project is to build the Web's largest and most authoritative resource on climate change. Encyclopedia Interns will help harvest public domain content, copyedit articles, and otherwise assist authors and topic editors in producing and publishing articles. Encyclopedia Interns will learn the basics of Mediawiki software, the collaborative content platform that underlies Wikipedia, and work with researchers, educators, professionals, and other experts on climate change and related topics
The time commitment is flexible and you can work at home, your school's Food Court, Starbucks, or wherever you can grab an Internet connection.
You can see the current group of "e-scribe" Interns here: http://www.eoearth.org/article/E-scribes. Here's your chance to make a difference and gain unique professional experience. Interested? Contact Maggie Surface at eoe@eoearth.org.
With best regards,
Cutler J. Cleveland
Editor-in-Chief
Encyclopedia of Earth. [top]
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