^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AWG E-MAIL NEWS No. 2000-41, September 6, 2000 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CONTENTS: 1) JOB-HUNTING IN THE GEOSCIENCES WORKSHOP (**Please note time change**) 2) AWG WINIFRED GOLDRING AWARD (application deadline has been extended to October 1, 2000) 3) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW-AUGUST 2000 4) POSITION OPENINGS ***University of North Carolina at Wilmington-Kenan Professor in Marine Science ***Idaho State University-Volcanic Stratigrapher Post-Doctoral Position ***Virginia Division of Mineral Resources-Geologist ***OPM Vacancy-Geologist (Paleontology), GS-1350-12,(FPL GS-13) >>>>>>>>>>PLEASE NOTE CORRECTION IN WEBSITE ADDRESS IN JOB BELOW<<<<<<<<<<<<< ***Kansas Geological Survey/University of Kansas-Mapping Section Chief 5) SUBMISSION & MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1) JOB-HUNTING IN THE GEOSCIENCES WORKSHOP (**Please note time change**) AWG is sponsoring a free job-hunting workshop at the upcoming Geological Society of America annual meeting in Reno from 1-3 pm on Sunday, November 12, 2000. Learn the job-hunting skills necessary to survive in today's changing and challenging job market. These skills may be applied to jobs in government, industry, and academia. Topics include: How to use two methods to seek em-ployment opportunities: searching for advertised jobs in your area of specialty and networking for the hidden job market How to network through professional or-ganizations as well as through casual contacts How to write a rèsumè and c.v. that will get you an interview (AWG has an excellent, moderately-priced rèsumè- writing workbook for geoscientists available.) How to develop interviewing skills that will differentiate you from the competition Limit: 75 participants For more information about the workshop and to register contact: Dr. Pranoti M. Asher, Dept. of Geology and Geography, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460-8149; (912) 681-0338 pasher@gsaix2.cc.gasou.edu OR Ms. Leuren Moret leurenmoret@yahoo.com 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 2) AWG WINIFRED GOLDRING AWARD >>>Note application deadline has been extended to October 1, 2000<<< The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) is pleased to announce the 2000 Winifred Goldring Award competition. The award, which consists of a one-year membership in both the Paleontological Society and AWG, will be presented to an outstanding female student interested in pursuing a career in paleontology. The award is named for Winifred Goldring, a pioneering woman paleontologist, who became State Paleontologist of New York State in 1939 and the first female president of the Paleontological Society in 1949. Applicants may be either undergraduate or graduate students; the recipient must be enrolled as a student during the period of the award, and proof of student status is required. To apply, the student should submit a concise, one-page statement discussing her interests in paleontology, career plans, and any pertinent extracurricular activities (e.g., research projects, educational outreach, museum volunteerism) related to the realization of her goals. A letter of recommendation from a faculty member is also required. Evaluation is not based solely on scholastic ability, but on the applicant's motivation and professional potential. There is no application form. Deadline for receipt of applications is October 1, 2000. The award recipient will be announced at the Paleontological Society luncheon at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Reno. Applicant's statement, faculty recommendation, and proof of student status (photocopy of student id, official class schedule or transcripts) should be sent to: Dr. Joanne Kluessendorf Dept. of Geology University of Illinois 1301 W. Green Street Urbana, Illinois 61801 For information, please e-mail jkluesse@uiuc.edu 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 3) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW-AUGUST 2000 *** Crunch Time for FY 2001 Appropriations Congress will return from the August recess next week to pick up where they left off in July - preparing the remaining eleven appropriation bills. This year's end game is likely to be spirited, especially since the White House Office of Management and Budget has issued a veto threat on nearly all the remaining appropriation bills. The Agriculture, Interior and Related Agencies, and the Labor/HHS appropriation bills are awaiting Conference Committee action. Most likely, these bills will be among the first up for consideration. The Senate still needs to vote on the Commerce and the Energy & Water appropriations bills before the two chambers can begin conference committee consideration. The VA/HUD Appropriations bill, which includes funding for the NSF, NASA, and EPA, still awaits consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senators Kit Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)-the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate VA/HUD Appropriations Subcommittee-have signed up twenty senators so far in their effort to generate support for doubling the NSF budget over the next five years. If science programs are to be successful in receiving allocations even close to the record budget requests, scientists need to contact their senators and representatives in the coming weeks about the value of federal investments in science. AGI encourages the members of its member societies to contact their congressional delegation and make the case. More on appropriations at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis106/appropsfy2001.html. *** More National Monuments Under Consideration On August 11th, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt recommended the creation of a new national monument in Arizona and the expansion of an existing monument in Idaho. The Vermilion Cliffs National Monument on the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona covers nearly 300,000 acres near the Grand Canyon. Cited as a geologic treasure, the area also contains a number of ancestral human sites. The second proposed site would increase Craters of the Moon National Monument to nearly 12 times its original size. Created by President Coolidge in 1924, Craters of the Moon preserves a portion of the largest young basaltic lava field in the conterminous United States. The additional lava flows, like the current monument, would be managed by the National Park Service. Vermilion Cliffs would be managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The Department of the Interior website at http://www.doi.gov/news/monument811.htm provides a full description and maps of the proposed monuments. According to EENews, Clinton has used his presidential powers under the 1906 Antiquities Act to expand one national monument and designate ten others. More at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis106/natmon.html. *** Both VP Candidates Familiar With Value of Geosciences The major political news in August flowed from the conventions and the selection of vice presidential candidates. Both Texas Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore picked running mates who have considerable knowledge of the role played by the geosciences in society. Bush's choice, Richard Cheney, comes out of the oil patch, having headed up Halliburton, one of the largest oil-service companies, for the past six years. In recent years, he has been a vocal proponent of normalizing relations with Iran, a move that would have major implications for the future of Caspian Sea oil pipelines. Senator Joe Lieberman has been a vocal proponent of scientific research, leading the bipartisan charge for doubling federal investment in research. Lieberman is a founding member of the Senate Science and Technology Caucus. Lieberman's interest in science extends to his staff, where he has been one of the most prolific users of congressional science fellows, often taking two a year. Three of the past six Geological Society of America fellows have worked for Lieberman, and he currently has AAAS fellow Christy Johnson, also a geoscientist, on staff. *** President Establishes National Oceans Commission President Clinton signed the Oceans Acts of 2000 (S. 2327) into law on August 7th with Martha Vineyard as the backdrop. The law establishes the Commission on Ocean Policy, which will review current federal ocean policies and activities in order to prepare a report on recommendations for a "coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy." The 16-member commission-appointed by congressional leadership and the president-will consist of representatives of state and local government, academia, ocean-related industries, and the conservation and scientific communities. Recommendations for a national ocean policy are to promote: coastal hazards mitigation, coastal resources stewardship, protection against coastal pollution, expansion of our understanding of the oceans, incorporation of marine-related commerce and the private sector in sustainable use of ocean resources, investments in ocean technologies, coordination of federal and private activities, and help for the U.S. to maintain its leadership in ocean and coastal activities. An American Geophysical Union ASLA on the new law is at http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/asla/asla-list?read=2000-19.msg. More on S. 2327 and other oceans legislation at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis106/oceans.html. *** Revival of Regulatory Interest in Asbestos Continues Unabated The recent revelations about Libby, Montana-where vermiculite mining has been linked to nearly 200 asbestos- related fatalities-have produced a renaissance of interest in asbestos toxicity. Following the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) lead, two agencies in the Department of Labor have launched investigations into why the federal government, which knew about the dangerous levels of asbestos in the vermiculite ore since the 1980's, did nothing to warn the mine workers or Libby residents about the health risks. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), as well as EPA, performed several inspections at that time, but only the owner of the mine, W.R. Grace Co. was informed. In related news, asbestos made headlines in California in late July. The state's Air Resources Board unanimously decided to ban the use of asbestos- containing rock for walking or driving surfaces. Because asbestos has been found in serpentine deposits, the board also ruled that all ultramafic rocks must be tested for asbestos fibers. Local mining and construction industries protested the move, and a spokesman for the Construction Materials Association of California noted that there is no evidence that all ultramafic rocks have asbestos fibers in them. More at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis106/asbestos.html. On another front, MSHA has announced that it expects to propose a standard this coming February on respirable crystalline silica. Some experts predict that increased regulation of crystalline silica could make the asbestos litigation caseload pale in comparison. The MSHA rulemaking comes as several state and federal agencies are giving heightened scrutiny to silica as a carcinogen. The original announcement can be found at http://www.msha.gov/regs/unified/1219%2Dab12.htm. *** Verardo To Provide GSA With Washington Presence On August 18th, GSA Chief Science Officer Cathleen May announced that David Verardo will be working with GSA Headquarters "to implement a program in public service and policy that is consistent with the historical roots, traditions, and values of GSA." In addition to serving as a policy advisor to GSA, Verardo will provide a local contact for the GSA/USGS fellow and will represent GSA at science and policy meetings in the Washington D.C. area. Verardo was the 1997-1998 GSA/USGS Congressional Science Fellow, working in the office of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Thanks to Verardo's efforts, Sen. Wyden issued a statement endorsing the inaugural Earth Science Week. Prior to coming to Washington, Verardo was on the faculty at the University of Virginia and served for several years as the Association of Engineering Geologists' representative to AGI's Government Affairs Advisory Committee. Since his fellowship, Verardo has worked for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, overseeing development of a scientific and technical assessment of the role of land use, land-use changes, and forestry in climate change mitigation. --Monthly review prepared by Margaret Baker and David Applegate, AGI Government Affairs Program, and AGI/AIPG Geoscience Policy Intern Audrey Slesinger. 444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 4) POSITION OPENINGS ***University of North Carolina at Wilmington-Kenan Professor in Marine Science The UNCW Department of Earth Sciences and Center for Marine Science are looking for a distinguished scientist with an international reputation in geological and biological processes to establish an Isotopic Facility based at the new Center for Marine Science in Wilmington, North Carolina. The candidate should (1) have expertise in a wide range of mass spectrometry and isotope problems as applied to oceanographic, geologic, environmental, biological, biomedical, and/or hydrological problems as demonstrated by an extensive publication record, (2) be capable and enthusiastic about teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in his/her area of expertise, and (3) have an established record of raising research funds from industrial, governmental and local organizations. The candidate will be expected to participate in raising funds for the new facility and direct its operation in conjunction with other interested faculty members. Rank and salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. For further information about the Department of Earth Sciences and the Center for Marine Science applicants are encouraged to visit the following Web sites: http://www.uncwil.edu/earsci and http://www.uncwil.edu/cmsr. Applications, including a curriculum vita, statements of teaching and research objectives, and names and contact information of three referees, should be sent to: Chair, ERS/CMS Isotope Kenan Professor Search, Department of Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA Review of applications will begin in November 2000. The appointment is expected to begin in August 2001. UNCW is an equal-opportunity/affirmative- action employer, and we strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, and disabled individuals. ******************************************************************************* ***Idaho State University-Volcanic Stratigrapher Post-Doctoral Position The Geology Department at Idaho State University seeks a post-doctoral research scientist to fill a two-year position studying the volcanic stratigraphy of the eastern Snake River Plain. Research duties will focus on the correlation of subsurface basalt flows, especially a critical appraisal of published correlations and the viability of correlation techniques. The critiqued correlations will be used to interpret volcanic and deformational processes that operate on the Plain as well as groundwater flow parameters. Experience in basalt petrography and borehole geophysics is required, while experience in geochemistry, paleomagnetism, geochronology, and GIS analysis is desireable. See www.isu.edu/departments/geology for additional information. Send CV, statement of research interests, and names of 3 referees to Dr. David Rodgers, Department of Geology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209-8072. Applications will be reviewed beginning October 1, 2000. ISU is an EO/AA Employer. ******************************************************************************* ***Virginia Division of Mineral Resources-Geologist GEOLOGIST (Scientist I), Position #00428, Location: Abingdon, VA, Salary Range $36,962 - 57,706 Research geologist to perform and publish geological studies of the Appalachian Plateaus and Valley and Ridge mapping provinces. TO Experience in sequence-stratigraphy, field mapping, subsurface geology, digital databases and digital mapping required. Experience in contouring; gas or coal geology; coal-bed methane; hydrogeology; and/or web page creation is desirable. Send State of Virginia Application for Employment (Form #10-12) to: Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Human Resources Office,202 North 9th Street, 8th Floor Richmond, VA,23219//Telephone:(804) 692-3215; TTY/TDD (800) 828-1120; FAX: (804) 692-3237 ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:00PM.Tuesday, October 31st,2000 (Kay T. Hasenauer khasenauer@geology.state.va.us) ***************************************************************************** ***OPM Vacancy-Geologist (Paleontology), GS-1350-12,(FPL GS-13) Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming, will open on OPM's website Thursday, August 31 through September 21, 2000. This is a full-time permanent position and is open to all qualified U.S. citizens. No previous Federal experience is required. The full announcement can be viewed on OPM's USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/a9blm.htm ***************************************************************************** >>>>>>>>>>>>>>PLEASE NOTE CORRECTION IN WEBSITE ADDRESS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ***Kansas Geological Survey/University of Kansas-Mapping Section Chief Develop and carry out a program to complete the geologic mapping of the state of Kansas subsurface, and specialty maps as appropriate. Required: Advanced degree in geosciences,; demonstrated background in modern field techniques and methodologies; demonstrated geologic mapping experience with modern stratigraphic and cartographic concepts; excellent written and oral communication skills; capable of supervising an integrated mapping program; demonstrated track record in successful grant-writng, supervision of large projects, and meeting project and deliverable deadlines; demonstrated ability to worh with the scientific community, gov't, and the public, and supv/mgmt experience. Salary range $55K-$72K, commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus admin. Supplement. See: http://www.kgs.ukans.edu/General/jobs.html for complete details of requirements and application procedure or contact Annette Delaney at (785) 864-2152, (adelaney@kgs.ukans.edu). Applications postmarked on or before 10- 31-00 will be given first consideration. EO/AA employer. 55555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 5) 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 the Ad Editor 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.