^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AWG E-MAIL NEWS No. 2000-19, April 12, 2000 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CONTENTS: 1) WALKING WITH DINOSAURS-APRIL 16 2) PARKS IN JEOPARDY: 3) POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS **The University of Oklahoma-Robert E. Lowry Chair in Meteorology **Long Beach Community College District ***Don't forget to check the AWG JobWeb at www.awg.org*** 4) SUBMISSION & MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1) WALKING WITH DINOSAURS Check your TV listings for the Discovery Channel's 3-hour program "Walking With Dinosaurs" scheduled for April 16. By combining state-of-the-art computer animation and real-world landscapes that duplicate Mesozoic scenery, the program is supposed to give viewers the impression of seeing living, breathing dinosaurs. My friends in Britain, where the program was produced and aired last year, say it is not to be missed.-Editor 2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 2) PARKS IN JEOPARDY: **The National Parks and Conservation Association"s 2000 List of 10 Most Endangered National Parks The National Park System includes 378 areas throughout the U.S., many of which are endangered. The National Parks Conservation Association hopes to draw attention to the problems facing all of our parks by highlighting ten that need the most immediate attention. The parks on the list for 2000 are: Yellowstone National Park The winter recreational season brings 1,000 snowmobiles into the park daily. The sounds of nature and the peaceful surroundings that draw many visitors to the park is shattered by these noisy machines, and degraded by the pollution they create. Denali National Park This nearly pristine park faces a proposal to open access by snowmobiles to 2-million-acres of designated wilderness, habitat to bear, wolf, and moose populations in the heart of the park, and is further threatened by road and resort development. Joshua Tree National Park What would be the nation's largest landfill has been proposed for a site just 1.5 miles outside this park. As much as 20,000 tons of garbage could be dumped daily on land adjoined on three sides by designated wilderness and home to the threatened desert tortoise. Haleakala National Park The park's rare plants and animals are under attack by alien species. A proposal to increase international flights near this Hawaiian park threatens greater introduction of non-native organisms and could cause irrevocable harm to island species found nowhere else. Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, and Big Cypress National Preserve North America's largest wetlands, the Everglades and adjoining Big Cypress are damaged by water management. Big Cypress also suffers from off-road vehicle use. Biscayne is threatened by proposed airport development. Petrified Forest National Park Park visitors take an estimated 12 tons of fossilized wood annually, removing the 250-million-year-old remains that give the park its name. In addition, valuable archaeological and paleontological sites outside the park still need protection. Stones River National Battlefield This historic Civil War site, where nearly 7,000 soldiers are buried, is threatened by proposed highway and commercial development. The park, which represents just 10 percent of the original battlefield, needs to be expanded by new land acquisition. National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom This historic symbol of courage and the road to freedom, recently recognized by Congress, requires funding for acquisition of private property critical to the preservation of this network of sites. Great Smoky Mountains National Park The breath-taking vistas of this popular park are being clouded by noxious air pollution from regional power-generating plants and motor vehicles. Nitrous oxide and other pollutants have damaged 30 of the park's plant species and contributed to poor air quality. Ozarks Scenic Riverways National Park The watershed of this scenic riverway is threatened by mining in the surrounding Mark Twain National Forest. NPCA wants the federal government to withdraw the Mark Twain from consideration for further mining. -National Parks Conservation Association "Protecting Parks for Future Generations" 3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 3) POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS **ROBERT E. LOWRY CHAIR IN METEOROLOGY The University of Oklahoma, College of Geosciences, School of Meteorology Applications and nominations are invited for the Robert E. Lowry Chair in Meteorology, the only endowed chair dedicated to meteorology in the United States. To fill the Lowry Chair, we seek an internationally recognized scientist with a doctoral degree and an outstanding record of scientific and professional achievement in atmospheric science or a related discipline. In addition to carrying out a vigorous personal program of teaching, research and professional service, the holder of the Lowry Chair is expected to provide scientific leadership to the Oklahoma Weather Center, attract exceptional students and inspire them to become national leaders in the meteorological profession, and work effectively with the professional leaders of Oklahoma and the nation to stimulate knowledge transfer and articulate the importance of weather information to the wider world. The individual filling this Chair will be awarded tenure and the rank of professor. Salary will be commensurate with expertise and is negotiable; starting date is also negotiable. An academic unit of the College of Geosciences, the School of Meteorology (http://www.weather.ou.edu/~som/) is one of the largest programs in atmospheric science in the nation, with some 270 undergraduates and approximately 65 graduate students. There are 19 regular faculty members and an equal number of adjunct faculty members, most of whom are research scientists in one of the federal organizations in the Oklahoma Weather Center (http://owc.ou.edu). The School of Meteorology is the academic anchor of the Oklahoma Weather Center, which includes the School, the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Norman, the WSR-88D Operational Support Facility, the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, and the Oklahoma Climatological Survey. This confederation of unique research and operational facilities involving 600 employees provides outstanding opportunities for research collaboration. The College of Geosciences (http://geosciences.ou.edu) offers programs in geography, geology and geophysics, and meteorology. Faculty in the Department of Geography conduct research in hydroclimatology and geotechniques. The School of Geology and Geophysics is known worldwide for its research and teaching related to the oil and gas industry. In recent years, this program has broadened its interests to include geochemistry and environmental geology. The College's programs are housed in the Sarkeys Energy Center, the focal point for research and education in energy and the environment at The University of Oklahoma. To apply, submit a letter of interest, current vitae or resume, and names of up to five individuals who can serve as references (with full mailing and e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers). Every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality. Address all correspondence to: Dr. John T. Snow, Dean, College of Geosciences, Sarkeys Energy Center, Suite 710, 100 E. Boyd, Norman, OK 73019-1008 Phone:(405) 325-3101/Fax:(405)325-3148 Screening of complete applications will begin on 30 June 2000, although we reserve the right to accelerate the process in the case of exceptional circumstances. The search will continue until the position is filled. The University of Oklahoma is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The University of Oklahoma has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual-career couples. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ **Long Beach Community College District Long Beach Community College District is seeking one full-time tenure track Environmental Scientist/Physical Geography Instructor for the 2000-2001 academic year. Required qualifications are: Master's in the interdisciplinary area, OR hold a valid credential to teach in the discipline, OR meet equivalent qualifications established by the district. Applications must be received in the Office of Human Resources no later than April 26, 2000. Applications and additional information can be obtained through the 24-hour job hotline (562) 938-4050 or e-mail at jobs@lbcc.cc.ca.us or online at www.lbcc.cc.ca.us. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ **Houston Museum of Natural Science-Curator of Paleontology Ph.D. preferred, but will consider all qualified candidates. Please send a letter of application, CV, and reprints of professional and popular writings, and 3 references. Applications must be received by August 1, 2000, and be sent to L. Rebori, Houston Museum of Natural Science, #1 Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, Texas 77030-1799. 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 4) SUBMISSION & MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ***Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of AWG E-Mail News. For submissions to AWG E-Mail News, contact Editor Joanne Kluessendorf at editor@awg.org. For advertising, contact Ad Editor Kata McCarville at ads@awg.org. PLEASE SEND AD COPY OR OTHER SUBMISSIONS AS RTF FILES OR AS PART OF AN E-MAIL MESSAGE ***For membership information or to join AWG, visit our website at or contact our business office at ***E-mail or address changes? Send to office@awg.org, please.