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Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News
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1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM ACTION ALERT: 4-23-04
*** Representatives Needed to Support Seismic Network ***
IN A NUTSHELL: Reps. Nick Smith (R-MI) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) are asking their colleagues to co-sign a letter of support for the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). They will send the letter at the end of May to the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the U.S. Geological Survey, where ANSS is located. AGI urges geoscientists to contact their representatives this week and recommend that they sign onto the Smith-Lofgren letter. The text of the "Dear Colleague" letter is included at the bottom of this message. Additional signatures for the letter must be received by May 26th, but Reps. Smith and Lofgren are urging everyone to take action before then.
The bill that would increase funding and reform the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) was passed by the House of Representatives on October 1, 2003. The bill authorizes more than $500 million through FY 2006 and designates the National Institutes of Standards and Technology as NEHRP's chair. To date, there has been no action on this bill in the Senate. Staff members of the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space have said that the subcommittee will consider the House bill and are currently working with the Senators to schedule a hearing and markup sometime later this year.
** Please call your representative and ask him or her to sign on to the Smith-Lofgren letter by Wednesday, May 26th. ** The U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 will connect you to your representative's office. E-mail messages can be sent to your representative via the Write Your Representative website at http://www.house.gov/writerep/.
When you talk to your representative's staff, let them know that to add their Member to the list they should contact one of the following personnel: If Republican, James Hague, professional staff member for the House Science Committee (202 225 7858); if Democrat, David Carreiro in Rep. Zoe Lofgren's office (202 225 3072). Just to reiterate, these are the people whom staff should call to add their Member to the list, not the individuals whom we are asking geoscientists to contact.
For additional information on ANSS, please see the following: An article on ANSS appeared in the October 2002 issue of Geotimes and can be read on the web at http://www.agiweb.org/geotimes/oct02/feature_anss.html . The USGS fact sheet on ANSS can be found at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-012-03/ and related resources are available at http://www.anss.org.
A summary of the May 8th Research Subcommittee hearing with links to testimony is at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/nehrp.html and for additional commentary on the hearing, please see the Political Scene column in the June 2003 issue of Geotimes -- "Congress Re-examines Earthquake Policy" -- at http://www.geotimes.org/june03/scene.html
Thank you for acting on this request for action. Please let us know if you make a contact or if you have any questions (govt@agiweb.org; 703 379 2480 x212; fax 703 379 7563).
*** Text of Smith-Lofgren Dear Colleague Letter ***
April 2, 2004
Hon. Charles H. Taylor, Chairman Hon. Norman Dicks, Ranking Member House Committee on Appropriations House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior Subcommittee on Interior B308 Rayburn HOB B308 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515-6023 Washington, DC. 20515-6023
Dear Chairman Taylor and Ranking Member Dicks:
As you begin consideration of the FY05 budget for the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS), we ask that you consider a funding level of at least $10 million for this important program. The ANSS, an integrated seismic monitoring network that will be concentrated in high-seismic risk urban areas, was authorized in 2000 as part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), but has been funded at only about one-eighth of the authorized level ($4.4 million in FY04).
We have growing concerns that continued under-funding of the program will substantially limit the ability of NEHRP to mitigate earthquake hazards. While we would much prefer to see the program funded at its authorized level of $35 million, we understand that may not be possible in this budget environment. However, by funding ANSS at least $10 million, the program will be able to move ahead with the bare minimum of implementation necessary to learn from the next significant earthquake.
The need for ANSS cannot be disputed. Much of the seismographic equipment currently being used today is over 30 years old, and cannot reach the level of precision and scope of modern equipment. The ANSS provides an equipment upgrade, and harnesses modern telecommunications and robust centralized computer processing to provide a nationwide uniform minimum standard for earthquake monitoring.
The data that ANSS provides will be crucial for citizens, emergency responders, engineers, and government officials. With modern equipment, the USGS can develop detailed "shakemaps," which provide a precise geographic measurement of shaking intensity during an actual earthquake. The ANSS will provide important information to emergency management officials in the moments following an earthquake to determine where to dispatch first responders. The ANSS will also yield important data to help engineers design buildings to prevent the future loss of life in earthquakes, as well as important information on fundamental earthquake processes to earth scientists trying to better understand why and how earthquakes occur.
As originally conceived, the ANSS calls for expenditures of $170 million over a five-year period for equipment, plus additional maintenance costs. In reality, however, funding levels have fallen far short of this figure, and the Administration's request of $1.9 million for FY 2004 is the lowest level yet. If this trend were to continue, the ANSS would not be completed for another fifty years.
The United States Geological Survey puts the likelihood of a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurring in the San Francisco Bay Area by 2032 at 62%. Those of us in the Western United States know all too well the high costs in terms of human life and property of such a large earthquake. However, this problem is not limited only to California, the state most often associated with America's earthquake threats. Many other parts of the country, including the Mississippi River valley, Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West, Alaska, Hawaii and parts of the eastern seaboard face significant earthquake risks. In fact, seventy-five million people, including forty-six million outside California, live in metropolitan areas in the United States at moderate to high earthquake risk.
The time to properly fund ANSS is now. We can't afford to wait for the next big earthquake to start providing this badly needed funding. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Nick Smith and Zoe Lofgren
Member of Congress - Member of Congress
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Alert prepared by Emily M. Lehr and Gayle Levy, AGI Government Affairs Program
Sources: NEHRP Coalition.
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2) US COMMISSION ON OCEAN POLICY RELEASES ITS PRELIMINARY REPORT
By Michael McPhaden, President, AGU Ocean Sciences Section
The US Commission on Ocean Policy has released its preliminary report today. The public comment period is open for 30 days, ending on 21 May. You may wish to send comments to the Commission during this period. Details about the Commission and its work are available at http://oceancommission.gov/.
AGU has also formed a panel to draft a position statement on the report, focusing on issues that deal with research and education. The panel welcomes your input and recommendations. A copy of the comments you send directly to the Commission would be helpful to the panel. Please send your comments to Peter Folger at AGU headquarters, pfolger@agu.org.
The commission report establishes findings and makes recommendations to the President and Congress for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy. It addresses a range of issues, from stewardship of marine resources to marine science and research, including coastal and estuarine research. This is the first comprehensive review of U.S. ocean policy since the Stratton Commission report over 30 years ago.
Panel members are:
Michael J. McPhaden-Chair Kenneth H. Brink Antonio J. Busalacchi Janet W. Campbell Margaret L. Delaney Jeff Dozier Rana A. Fine David M. Karl John A. Knauss Cindy Lee Jeffrey J. Park
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3) GOP 2004: SEARCH EXTENDED FOR FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS
Looking for a unique field opportunity? Career enhancement?
High-profile research project to broaden your graduate school experience? Planning
a sabbatical? AWG, in cooperation with the National Park Service, is
pleased to announce its support of new Geologist-in-the-Parks positions
for 2004. These were chosen for their outstanding scientific and
educational potential, spectacular locations, time-frame flexibility, and
housing availability. All appropriately qualified women are welcome to
apply, including students. As long as credentials match a position, any
application is welcome; you do not have to be a member of AWG to apply.
Stipend for each position is a flat rate of $2500, payable in three
installments, with the final installment contingent upon submission of a
final report and photographs to AWG. Please see the below for full
descriptions of the positions, park geology, and park contacts.
To apply for any of the AWG GIP positions, write a cover letter
detailing your relevant experience for each position, provide a
well-constructed resume or CV, and the names and contact information of three people
who can speak directly about your work experience and qualifications.
Application information should be sent to AWG's GIP Coordinator, Dr. M.
A. Toscano, via email to office@awg.org. MS Word, rtf, pdf, Star
Office and Word Perfect files are acceptable. The new deadline is May 20 for
the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument position. Please pass this
announcement on to colleagues.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Petrified Stump Stabilization and Preservation ¡V The GIP will assist
in selecting and applying appropriate conservation measures to stabilize
the stumps.
The petrified redwood stumps at Florissant are a primary park resource, and the only paleontological resource that can be seen in-situ, with nearly 95% of the Monument¡|s 80,000 annual visitors viewing them. A number of the stumps have been exposed to weathering since they were first excavated in the 1920s, resulting in fracturing and decay. Two permanent shelters are presently being constructed as a means of stabilizing the physical environment surrounding the stumps. The stumps themselves, however, need further conservation attention. Methods for stabilizing and conserving fossil stumps are poorly researched and need to be tested further before they can be used for long term stabilization. In order to determine which methods are most effective at preventing further deterioration, and to ensure that conservation materials will do no long-term harm to the appearance or integrity of the stumps, multiple conservation materials need to be applied to a "test" stump in order to as sess long term effects. In the interim, additional measures such as metal bands need to be applied to prevent further deterioration.
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4) AWG MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP
This new program encourages young minority women to pursue an education and later a career in the geosciences. It provides financial aid, but also matches the student with a mentor in the same field who will offer guidance and support. This exchange will enhance the student¡|s experience and provide a view of the world ahead. General Information
Award Amount: One or more awards totaling $5,000 will be given each
summer for use during the next academic year (awards include AWG
membership)
Application Deadline: MAY 15 of each year.
Application Criteria and Procedures
The applicant must be:
Application procedures:
Applications should be sent to the following address:
Association for Women Geoscientists
Attn. Minority Scholarship
P.O. Box 30645
Lincoln, NE 68503-0645
Scholarships are funded by the AWG Foundation with generous support from the ExxonMobil Foundation and individual donors.
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5) INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR - VOLUNTEER JUDGES WANTED
Hi! My name is Valerie Honeycutt. I am actively trying to recruit three AWG judges for this year's upcoming International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) to be held in Portland, Oregon during the week of May 9-15. AWG gives three geoscience awards to deserving young women at the ISEF - one $1000 award and two $100 awards, along with t-shirts and Gaea subscriptions. However, in order to give these awards at the ISEF, we need AWG members to volunteer as judges. I would really appreciate hearing from any interested persons. Contact me asap at styles@hpnc.com or 972-723-2260 (home) as I need to have the judges lined up and submitted to Science Service (the sponsoring organization) by the end of April.
Volunteering as a judge will require a time commitment but I've found it to be well worth my time. Usually judging begins on Tuesday afternoon and goes all day Wednesday, with the award presentation on Thursday evening. My best case scenario is three judges who can attend both the Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday judging sessions. A different person can present the awards on Thursday if necessary. The Tuesday judging is without the students present and it is a great time to get an overview of the projects and then narrow down the list to the ones that are eligible. The Wednesday judging consists of interview time with all prospective awardees which were narrowed down on Tuesday. It is really important to have at least one person who can attend both judging sessions, in order to have continuity, as well as because of the number of projects that need to be considered. More information about the ISEF and scheduling may be found on http://sciserv.org/isef/.
I have several resources to share, including a "calling card" that I developed after seeing what some of the other judges, especially those from the military, were leaving on the exhibits they were considering for their awards. They usually leave these on Tuesday. I have the certificate paper and certificate templates in Word. After picking the winners on Wednesday, someone would need access to a computer and printer to fill out winner info and print the certificates. I also have AWG judging guidelines and miscellaneous info to share as well. I do arrange for the checks to be written and forwarded to the award-presenting judge who then fills in the name and presents them with the certificate. T-shirts are mailed later.
Please consider volunteering. It is a great deal of fun and very rewarding to participate in the ISEF as a judge, and no experience is necessary! I do have one volunteer already with some Science Fair experience, but she would really appreciate some help with this event. Thanks again for your help and I am looking forward to hearing from you.
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6) CONTACT INFORMATION
To submit an item to E-MAIL NEWS contact: editor@awg.org
To submit advertising contact: ads@awg.org
To change your address or be removed from the list contact: office@awg.org