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AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2004-20
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CONTENTS
1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW - OCTOBER 2004
2) GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM SPECIAL UPDATE - OCTOBER 26,
2004
3) AWG AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR
2004
4) AWG DISCUSSION AT GSA: ISSUES FACING WOMEN CHAIRS,
DEANS, AND OTHER ACADEMIC LEADERS
5) AWG EXHIBIT AT AGU - CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS, BOOTH # 924
6) POSITION OPENINGS
2004-062 Brock University - Tenure-track position in Applied
Geosciences
2004-064 Wright State University - Environmental Sciences Ph.D.
Program and Fellowships
2004-067 Kansas State University - Earth Science Educator
2004-077 University of Michigan - Geoscience Professorships
2004-084 University of Minnesota - Tenure-track Position in
Paleoclimatology
2004-091 Georgia Southern University - Temporary Position in
Coastal Geology
2004-092 Texas A&M University - Geochemist Specializing in Climate
Change and/or Environmental Geochemistry Research
2004-095 University of Arizona - Geosciences Department:
Biogeochemistry
2004-101 Washington University, St. Louis - Faculty Position:
Cosmochemistry
2004-104 Queen’s University - Canada Research Chair Tier 2:
Geochemistry
2004-106 Texas A&M University - Biological Oceanographer
2004-107 University of California, Santa Cruz - Assistant
Professor
of Earth Sciences
2004-108 Solid Earth Sciences - University of Florida
2004-110 Marie Tharp Visiting Fellowship, The Earth Institute,
Columbia University
7) CONTACT INFORMATION
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Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News
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1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW - OCTOBER 2004
* FY05 Funding Incomplete; Congress to Convene Lame-duck Session
* Renewable Energy, Brownfields, Biodiesel Approved
* Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Passes House, Senate
* President Bush Signs Earthquake and Wind Hazards Bill
* Climate Change: Senate Bill Would Invest in Computing
* Russian Duma Ratifies Kyoto Protocol
* Natural Gas Hearings
* Math and Science Partnerships Program Expands In Its Third Year
* Grand Canyon Bookstore Moves Book to "Inspirational" Section
* Evolution/Creationist Battles Ensue
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
* Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program
* May 4 - 5 are Congressional Visit Days
* AGI Seeks Director of Government Affairs
* Key Federal Register Updates
* New Updates to Website
*** FY05 Funding Incomplete; Congress to Convene Lame-duck Session ***
Congress passed its first continuing resolution (CR) before leaving
Capitol Hill to head home for the upcoming elections. The CR will keep
the federal government operating at the fiscal year (FY) 2004 levels
through November 20th, after which Congress will return to continue to
debate the funding levels for various agencies for FY05, which began on
October 1st. Federal agencies with budgets that have been approved by
Congress, such as the Department of Defense, will not be affected by the
CR. Members are expected back in Washington on November 16th for a
lame duck session to finish the appropriations bills. Some congressional
observers believe
Congress will pass another CR that will extend through Thanksgiving
while others think this fight will drag into the New Year. Another school
of thought suggests that the House and Senate are simply too divided
and too far apart on these spending measures to resolve their
differences. This divide is unlikely to change after the election, thus some
believe Congress will leave their work on the FY05 budget incomplete and
instead fund the government for an entire year at FY04 levels - a move
that would stymie new research and initiatives at our nation's science
agencies as well as introduce additional confusion into next year's
budget process.
*** Renewable Energy, Brownfields, Biodiesel Approved ***
Late on October 7th, Congress passed H.R. 4520, the corporate tax bill
that contains several tax breaks for the energy industry. Although the
bill's primary purpose is to eliminate the now 12% tariff on American
goods in Europe from a WTO injunction against American trade policies,
it carries along hundreds of coattail-tax breaks and subsidies for a
myriad of industries. Twenty-six oil companies would receive over $60
billion under the tax break. The bill did not include incentives to
improve energy efficiency; however, it did include incentives for biodiesel
technologies.
Also included in the bills were provisions related to refiners who
blend gasoline with ethanol and the Highway Trust Fund. Congress did
include a tax break for not-for-profit corporations that clean up
Brownfields. More information on the corporate tax bill is available at,
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/energy.html
*** Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Passes House, Senate ***
After years of hearings and congressional debate, Congress included
authorizing language for the Alaska natural gas pipeline to the FY05
Military Construction Appropriations bill that was passed shortly before
Congress adjourned for the upcoming election. According to Environment
and Energy Daily, the language includes: "a ban on a northern route for
the line that would bypass Alaska markets, provisions that allow Alaska
to control in-state use of the gas to promote its use for heating or
enhancement of a gas industry in Alaska, and a streamlined permitting and
expedited court review process to speed construction and limit judicial
or regulatory delays... The bill also includes $20 million for a worker
job training program in Alaska, including $3 million for construction
of a Fairbanks training facility." This language, which effectively
provides all the necessary prerequisites for the $20 billion project to
get underway, was welcomed by the Alaska congressional delegation
and may help Senator Lisa Murkowski who is currently in the midst of a
tough reelection campaign.
For more information on the Alaska natural gas pipeline, go to
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/energy.html.
To learn more about how energy issues are playing into the election,
see http://www.geotimes.org/current/feature_energy.html.
*** President Bush Signs Earthquake and Wind Hazards Bill ***
On October 8th, the House of Representatives approved the National
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Reauthorization Act of 2004.
The President signed the bill into law on Monday, October 25th. H.R.
2608 reauthorizes the NEHRP program for five years, moving it from the
jurisdiction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The bill
authorizes $900 million to be spent over the next five years on implementing
earthquake hazard reduction measures as well as funding earthquake
research activities, such as the Advanced National Seismic System. A pleased
Representative Nick Smith (R-MI) said: "Over the past two weeks,
significant earthquake events in California and Washington have garnered our
attention and concern. Thanks to NEHRP-supported monitoring equipment
managed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Science
Foundation, scientists have been able to collect an unprecedented harvest
of data from both of these geologic events." The bill also included
authorization for a new National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program for
three years. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers: "If
funded, the new wind hazards program would promote research and other
activities at FEMA, NIST, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and NSF. The program is modeled after NEHRP and is aimed
at studying the impact of wind on structures and on developing
cost-effective ways to mitigate those impacts. The legislation authorizes
$72.5 million over three years for this program." Rapid population growth
and development in high wind risk coastal areas and an estimated $4.5
billion in windstorm damage each year between 1995 and 2002 have
provided great impetus for the passage of this bill.
For more information on this new law, go to
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/NEHRP.html.
*** Climate Change Modeling: Senate Bill Would Invest in Computing ***
On October 10th, in a rare Sunday session, the Senate passed H.R.4516,
Department of Energy (DOE) High-End Computing Revitalization Act. This
bill will invest $165 million over two years in an advanced computer
research and development program within the DOE. The bill's sponsor,
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), said that it would help the United States
develop computers that rival the Earth System Simulator supercomputer in
Japan that is used for climate modeling and other environmental
applications. According to an auxiliary House Committee report, the US fell
behind in supercomputing because of a complete reliance on private
investment rather than direct government development. This bill, which is
expected to pass in the House during the lame-duck session in November,
attempts to reinstate the US as the supercomputing leader.
For more information on climate change, go to
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/climate.html.
*** Russian Duma Ratifies Kyoto Protocol ***
On October 21, Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, voted
overwhelmingly to ratify the Kyoto Protocol by a vote of 334-73. Now the
treaty goes to the upper house, the Federation Council, where it is
expected to pass easily. After Russia enters into the treaty, there will
be enough countries, accounting for at least 55% of all greenhouse gas
emissions, to put the emissions targets into effect. Ninety days after
Russia signs the treaty, it will join 122 countries pledged to reduce
their emissions by 5.2 percent of 1990 levels during the five-year
period 2008-2012. Until now, Russia and the United States were the only
countries yet to sign the treaty that could put this agreement into
effect.
For more information on climate change, go to
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/climate.html.
*** Natural Gas Hearings ***
On October 7th, the Senate Joint Economic Committee, chaired by Senator
Bennett (R-UT), held a hearing on the long term economics of natural
gas. Senators Reed (D-RI) and Bingaman (D-NM) were also in attendance.
In his opening statement, Bennett noted that the domestic industry is
being negatively affected by the high cost of natural gas. Reed also
voiced concern over gas prices; however, he said, "I myself believe very
strongly that the best strategy we have for dealing with these
conditions in the natural gas market is to put a much greater emphasis on energy
efficiency and conservation."
Dr. Yergin, Chairman of the Cambridge Energy Research Associates,
attributes the volatile gas prices to a simple rise in demand without a
concurrent rise in domestic production, resulting in an increased
dependence on foreign liquid natural gas (LNG) imports. Paul Sankey, the senior
energy analyst for the Deutsche Bank, emphasized that the potential
role of LNG in America's energy future. He said that, "Abundant global
gas is the overpoweringly logical solution to the increasing shortage of
energy in the US." Mr. Magruder, a representative from the Independent
Petroleum Association of Mountain States, focused his testimony on
increased drilling for natural gas. He said that more than 25% of the
nation's natural gas comes from the Inter-mountain West, an area where half
of the land is owned by the federal government. Magruder criticized
the federal land leasing process, which he thinks is abused by
environmentalists who make legal appeals. William Prindle, speaking on be
half of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE),
emphasized the importance and near term feasibility of energy efficiency
standards. According to a study by the ACEEE, if the US could reduce
gas demand by 4% over the next five years, the wholesale natural gas
prices would be reduced by 20%, "a savings which would put over $100
billion back into the US economy at a cost of $30 billion in new investment,
of which $7 billion would be public funds." Because of the limits of
the supply side of the gas equation, Prindle suggested that in the short
term, the federal government should move towards increased funding for
efficiency deployment programs, expanded public benefits funds for
efficiency, tax incentives for high-efficiency technologies, and a national
efficiency and conservation campaign.
For a full wrap up of this hearing, see
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/naturalgas_hearings.html.
In related news, Senator Stevens (R-AK) held a Senate Competition,
Foreign Commerce, and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing on the domestic
supply and cost of natural gas. In his opening remarks, Senator Stevens
expressed his support for the proposed Alaskan natural gas pipeline.
Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) expressed his concern that natural gas prices
on the east coast, specifically in his home state of New Jersey, were
the highest in the country. He remains interested in improving
distribution infrastructure while taking extra caution to minimize
environmental risks.
Mr. Caruso discussed the findings of the Energy Information
Administration's new report discussing the spike in natural gas prices since 2000.
Since then, American companies have increasingly turned to natural gas
to satisfy their energy needs, thereby moving from a natural gas
surplus to a deficit. Because of this change, the prices of propane, natural
gas, and heating oil have gone up 22%, 15.3%, and 28.4% respectively.
Mr. Wilkinson, who represents the gas industry, testified that since
natural gas demand has been increasing more rapidly than supply,
resulting in a tight energy market and volatile gas prices, the federal
government and private industry should take aggressive action to increase
supply. Gary Huss, the president of Hudapack Metal Treating, spoke on
behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers. He emphasized that
since the manufacturing industry is reliant upon the supply of natural
gas to meet its energy needs, the recent spike in gas prices have
had a significant negative effect. Finally, Ms. Hauter weighed in on
the importance of regulating industry and improving the efficiency of
our economy to lower the demand side of the equation. She said that
deregulation of the energy markets in the 1990s has led to massive market
manipulation by corporations such as Enron.
For a full committee hearing summary, see
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/naturalgas_hearings.html.
*** Math and Science Partnerships Program Expands In Its Third Year ***
In October, the National Science Foundation announced that after its
third year of existence, the Math and Science Partnerships (MSP) program
is growing to include 48 comprehensive, Targeted and Teacher institute
projects across the country. This program aims to improve the quality
of math and science instruction by providing teachers with the
necessary knowledge and pedagogical resources. Seven more universities will
receive five year grants totaling $31 million to create Institute
Partnerships: Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century. These institutes will
connect experienced K-12 teachers of mathematics and sciences with the
university faculty in order to deepen teachers' knowledge of content
and instructional skills. These awards have been awarded to: the
University of Nebraska, Oregon State University, Tufts University, the
University of Pennsylvania, Rice University (Houston), Virginia Commonwealth
University, and Florida Atlantic University.
The NSF also announced five large Targeted Partnerships, "with grants
amounting to a combined $60 million over five years, aimed at improving
math and science performance in nationwide classrooms." This program
is projected to affect 224,000 students at 13 institutions of higher
education and 21 local school districts. Awardees include Arizona State
University, City College of New York, University of Massachusetts in
Boston, and the University of Colorado in Denver which will each receive
$12.5 million.
The NSF press release on MSPs can be found online at
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/newsroom/pr.cfm?ni=15100000000127.
*** Grand Canyon Bookstore Moves Book to "Inspirational" Section ***
According to an October 15th article in the Washington Post, the
controversial book Grand Canyon: A Different View, Tom Vail's biblical
explanation for the formation of the Grand Canyon, has been moved from the
natural science section to the inspirational section in the Grand Canyon
National Park bookstore. This move complies with a letter signed by
the presidents of AGI and six of its member societies (American
Geophysical Union, Association of American State Geologists, Geological Society
of America, National Association of Geoscience Teachers,
Paleontological Society, Society for Vertebrate Paleontology) sent to the National
Park Service last December, which states: "The Grand Canyon: A Different
View is not about science and we strongly urge that, if it remains
available in Grand Canyon bookstores, it be clearly separated from books
and materials that do discuss our scientific understanding of Grand
Canyon geology. As you know, the Grand Canyon provides a remarkable and
unique opportunity to educate the public about Earth science. In
fairness to the millions of park visitors, we must clearly distinguish
religious tenets from scientific knowledge."
*** Evolution/Creationist Battles Ensue ***
Maryland
In October, the Charles County Board of Education in Maryland ignited a
firestorm of criticism when they published a proposal to: 1) censor
reading lists for "immorality" or "foul language," 2) to invite an outside
organization to hand out Bibles in schools and 3) to teach the theory
of creationism in science classes. At a public forum, more than 200
people passionately expressed their views, and according to the Washington
Post, their resounding sentiment was that the Board should not focus on
religious and moral lessons in the public schools. No action has been
taken on the proposals. The seven board members have split into small
groups to decide which items should come back before the full board for
more discussion. They said the meeting was a chance for the public to
weigh in on the issues before anything is decided.
For more information on the recent surge of anti-evolution attacks go
to http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/evolution.html.
Pennsylvania
In a surprise move, a Pennsylvania school board recently voted to
include "intelligent design" in the district's science curriculum. At its
meeting on October 18th, the Dover Area School Board revised the science
curriculum to include the following: "Students will be made aware of
gaps/problems in Darwin's Theory and of other theories of evolution
including, but not limited to, intelligent design. Note: Origins of life
will not be taught." The district is now apparently the first school
district in the country to require the teaching of "intelligent design" --
a move that prompted two school board members to resign and that is
likely, locals fear, to result in a lawsuit.
Casey Brown, a ten-year veteran of the school board who resigned over
the vote, commented, "There seems to be a determination among some board
members to have our district serve as an example; to flout the legal
rulings of the Supreme Court, to flout the law of the land. They don't
seem to care. I think they need to ask the taxpayers if they want to be
guinea pigs,” adding that the board has already spent almost one
thousand dollars in legal expenses. The National Center for Science
Education's (NCSE) Executive Director Eugenie C. Scott told the York Daily
Record, "Intelligent design is just a sham to get creationism into the
curriculum," explaining that "even if [its advocates] haven't convinced the
scientific community, they have been able to convince the politicians
... And that's too bad for the students in Dover." Concerned readers
who are in, or who have family or friends in, the Dover, Pennsylvania,
area are urged to get in touch with Nick Matzke (matzke@ncseweb.org) at NCSE.
For a story on the vote in the York Daily Record, visit:
http://ydr.com/story/main/45864/. For further coverage on NCSE's web
site, visit:
http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2004/PA/39_a_dubious_first_for_intellige_10_21_2004.asp.
Wisconsin
In October 2004, the Grantsburg School board in Wisconsin adopted a new
science policy that requires teachers to include "Intelligent Design"
in their curriculum. Intelligent Design will be taught under the guise
of improving students' critical thinking skills through balanced
instruction as, according to board chairman Dave Ahlquist, the policy is
"opening the door that was closed before and was too narrow." However, the
Deans of the University of Wisconsin expressed their stern disagreement
with the policy in a letter sent to the school board which lambastes
the teaching of religious non-scientific principles in science classes.
Wisconsin residents who wish to become involved in this issue should
contact the National Center for Science Education at www.ncseweb.org.
*** Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program ***
The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program offers
current public or private elementary and secondary mathematics,
technology, and science classroom teachers with demonstrated excellence in
teaching an opportunity to serve in the national public policy arena.
Fellows provide practical insight in establishing and operating education
programs.
Fellowships increase understanding, communication, and cooperation
between legislative and executive branches and the science, mathematics,
and technology education community. Selected teachers spend a school year
in a Congressional Office, the Department of Energy (DOE), or a federal
agency such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), or the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST). Albert Einstein Fellows bring to
Congress and appropriate branches of the federal government the extensive
knowledge and experience of classroom teachers. They provide practical
insights and "real world" perspectives to policy makers and program
managers developing or managing educational programs. Fellows receive a
stipend of $5000 per month plus travel and moving expenses. The
application process is now open. Candidates will be selected in the spring.
More information is available on the Triangle Coalition for Science and
Technology Education's website at
http://www.triangle-coalition.org/ein.htm.
*** May 4 - 5 are Congressional Visit Days ***
The 10th annual Congressional Visit Day is scheduled for May 4 - 5,
2005. The CVD is a two-day annual event that brings scientists,
engineers, researchers, educators, and technology executives to Washington to
raise visibility and support for science, engineering, and technology.
With a new congress and possibly a new administration, the CVD is an
important opportunity to make science issues and science funding a
priority for the 109th congress. More information about CVD is available at
www.aas.org/cvd/. The site contains a downloadable packet of briefing
materials updated to demonstrate the need for sustained federal
investment in scientific research.
*** AGI Seeks Director of Government Affairs ***
The American Geological Institute (AGI), a nonprofit federation of 43
geoscience societies, is seeking a director of Government Affairs. This
position is responsible for all phases of AGI's Government Affairs
Program, working actively with member societies, Congress, and federal
agencies to bring accurate science into the decision-making process of
public policy; serve as a focused voice for the shared policy interests of
the geoscience profession; monitor and analyze legislation and policy
developments affecting the geosciences; and develop AGI congressional
testimony and policy positions on national geoscience issues.
Candidates should have an advanced degree in the geosciences, with a
Ph.D. preferred, as well as experience in science and public policy.
Demonstrated outstanding written, verbal, and management skills are also
required. A strong familiarity with the geoscience community through
active society participation is desired.
Candidates should submit a resume, including salary requirements and
the names of three references, with cover letter to: Government Affairs
Director Search, AGI, 4220 King Street, Alexandria VA 22302-1502 or
jobs@agiweb.org.
For more information on the program, see http://www.agiweb.org/gap.
Applications will be considered on a continuous basis until the position
is filled. EOE.
*** List of Key Federal Register Notices ***
Below is a summary of Federal Register announcements regarding federal
regulations, agency meetings, and other notices of interest to the
geoscience community. Entries are listed in chronological order and show
the federal agency involved, the title, and the citation. The Federal
Register is available online at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont04.html. Information on
submitting comments and reading announcements are also available online
at http://www.regulation.gov.
NPS: The National Park Service announces the availability of a Draft
Environmental impact Statement for the Colorado River Management Plan,
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The National Park Service will
accept comments from the public on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for 90 days after publication of this notice. Public meeting dates
will be posted on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/grca/crmp. For more
information contact: Mary Killeen, Project Assistant, Grand Canyon
National Park, (928)-638-7885.
[Federal Register: October 1, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 190)]
NOAA: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
revising the Strategic Plans of five Line Offices. NOAA recently updated
its Strategic Plan for the period 2005-2010 to reflect updated
stakeholder priorities, recent external events, and changes to NOAA's
operations. Public comments on this document must be received at the appropriate
mailing or e-mail address on or before 5 p.m., local time, November 30,
2004. Submit comments to: strategic.planning@noaa.gov. The draft NOAA
Line Office Strategic Plans and the New NOAA Strategic Plan have been
posted at http://www.spo.noaa.gov/. For further information contact:
Mr. Joshua Lott, phone: 301-713-1622, Extension 210, fax: (301)-713-0585.
[Federal Register: October 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 205)]
NSF: The National Science Foundation announces the EarthScope Science
and Education Advisory Committee meetings. The meetings are on Tuesday,
November 16, 2004 from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, November 17,
2004 from 1 p.m.-5p.m. at the National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson
Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230, Stafford I Building, Room 770. A
meeting will also be held at the Earthscope office on Wednesday, November
17, 2004, from 8:30
a.m.-12 p.m. The Earthscope office is at 1200 New York Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC. For more information, contact: Dr. Kaye Shedlock,
Program Director, EarthScope Program, Division of Earth Sciences, Room 785,
National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA, (703) 292-4693.
[Federal Register: October 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 205)]
NOAA: The NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on Tuesday,
November 2, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, November 3, 2004,
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the National Geographic Society Headquarters,
1145 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC. For information on the agenda
visit the SAB Web site at http://www.sab.noaa.gov.
[Federal Register: October 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 206)]
*** New Updates to Website ***
Special Update: Public Access to Federally Funded Scientific Research
Political Challenges to the Teaching of Evolution (10-22-04) Energy
Policy Overview (10-20-04) Natural Gas Policy (10-20-04) National
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (10-20-04) Wind Hazards (10-20-04) Ocean
Policy (10-19-04) Superfund and Brownfield Legislation (10-18-04) Climate
Change Policy Overview (10-17-04) Natural Gas Hearings (10-13-04).
Special update prepared by Emily Lehr Wallace, AGI Government Affairs
Program and David Millar, AGI/AAPG 2004 Fall Intern.
Sources: AAAS; National Science Foundation; Thomas Legislative
Database; Greenwire; Energy and Environment Daily; The Washington Post;
Triangle Coalition; National Science Teachers Association.
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2) GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM SPECIAL UPDATE - OCTOBER 26, 2004
*** Public Access to Federally Funded Scientific Research ***
In A Nutshell: The way science is disseminated appears to be about to
change dramatically, possibly altering fundamentally the way scientific
results are vetted and distributed. Both Congress and the
Administration are advancing the idea that any U.S. citizen should have free and
open access to research funded with tax dollars. Each is proposing,
legislating or advocating that the National Institutes of Health lead the
way into this uncharted territory by requiring that all final
manuscripts produced with NIH dollars be submitted to a government-run online
information storehouse that will be freely accessible to the public six
months after initial publication. Though specific right now to
NIH-related activities, the results may well represent models by which all
federally-funded research may need to adhere in the future, largely at the
discretion of the funding agencies, and not necessarily with the power
of Law.
In recent years a movement toward "open access" to scholarly
publications has been building momentum fueled by the high costs of scholarly
journals, budget cuts and the technological advances that make information
distribution incredibly efficient. Open access means anyone can access
literature that is digital, online, free of charge, and free of most
copyright and licensing restrictions.
This momentum has been gaining steam throughout the rest of the world,
especially in Europe and Australia. In the United States, the National
Institute of Health (NIH) has been spearheading the move toward open
distribution of federally-funded research. The movement dates back to
1998 but only recently has come to the forefront as an active policy
initiative. In 2003, Representative Sabo (D-MN) introduced a bill to
exclude the research funded substantially by federal agencies from
copyright. Opposition to the bill was quick and it has languished in Committee
for the past two years; however, a new version of the idea has surfaced
and is advancing rapidly.
On September 9, 2004 the House of Representatives approved the FY2005
Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill.
Accompanying this bill was a report issued by the subcommittee.
Traditionally, reports that accompany appropriations bills are non-binding
because they are not law; however, most agencies pay very close attention to
their contents. This report contained language about PubMed Central,
an online storehouse of life science articles maintained by the National
Library of Medicine (NLM).
The Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee
commented on PubMed Central by saying, "The Committee is very concerned that
there is insufficient public access to reports and data resulting from
NIH-funded research. This situation, which has been exacerbated by the
dramatic rise in scientific journal subscription prices, is contrary to
the best interests of the U.S. taxpayers who paid for this research.
The Committee is aware of a proposal to make the complete text of
articles and supplemental materials generated by NIH-funded research
available on PubMed Central (PMC), the digital library maintained by the
National Library of Medicine (NLM). The Committee supports this proposal and
recommends that NIH develop a policy, to apply from FY 2005 forward,
requiring that a complete electronic copy of any manuscript reporting
work supported by NIH grants or contracts be provided to PMC upon
acceptance of the manuscript for publication in any scientific journal li
sted in the NLM's PubMed directory. Under this proposal, NLM would
commence making these reports, together with supplemental materials,
freely and continuously available six months after publication, or
immediately in cases in which some or all of the publication costs are paid with
NIH grant funds. For this purpose, `publication costs' would include
fees charged by a publisher, such as color and page charges, or fees for
digital distribution. NIH is instructed to submit a report to the
Committee by December 1, 2004 about how it intends to implement this
policy, including how it will ensure the reservation of rights by the NIH
grantee, if required, to permit placement of the article in PMC and to
allow appropriate public uses of this literature."
The Senate's version of the bill and the accompanying report, which
were approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on September 15th,
contained no such language.
On the heels of this report, NIH published a notice of intent and
request for comments in the Federal Register on September 17th. The notice
details NIH's plans to enhance public access to NIH health-related
research information. NIH proposes to have all grantees and supported
Principal Investigators provide the NIH with electronic copies of final
manuscripts that have been peer-reviewed, modified and readied for
publication. According to the notice, NIH will archive these manuscripts in
PubMed Central and each will be made freely available to the public six
months after publication. If the publisher agrees, the manuscript may
be made freely available sooner. The NIH is encouraging persons,
groups and organizations to comment on its intentions and proposal by
logging onto http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/public_access/add.htm.
Alternately, comments may be e-mailed to PublicAccess@nih.gov or sent via
U.S. postal mail to NIH Public Access Comments, National Institutes of
Health, Office of Extramural Research, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Room 350,
Bethesda, MD 20892-7963. Comments must be received on or before
November 16, 2004.
Scientists have an opportunity to weigh in with their Congressman,
Senator and the NIH prior to the November 16th deadline and let them know
how these changes would affect their research, their department, their
professional society and the journal to which they most often submit
papers.
There are a lot of questions yet to be answered in the wake of NIH's
announcement. With the open access model in place, most publishers
believe that journals would be forced to recover the cost of publication by
levying author fees. This is known as the author-pays model and some
publishers doubt this is an effective or efficient way to recover costs;
others predict outright failure and bankruptcy for many not-for-profit
journal publishers.
Under this system, NIH would incur the cost of publishing the research
it supports. Not only would taxpayers be paying for an online archive
that would cost untold sums to maintain, but an author-pays system
would introduce an inherent, structural conflict of interest into the
peer-review process. The integrity of research could be, and some would say
must be, questioned if the author submitting that research for
evaluation and eventual publication is also the journal's source of income.
All scientists are standing at the crossroads of our profession - the
intersection of the quest for knowledge and the dissemination thereof.
We encourage you to weigh in with the decision makers on this issue
prior to the November 16th deadline.
More information about public access to federally funded scientific
research is available at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/public_access.html.
Special update prepared by Emily Lehr Wallace, AGI Government Affairs
Program
Sources: Thomas Legislative database and the Federal Register.
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3) AWG AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR 2004
At this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
held in Portland, OR from May 9-15, a geoscience project won top
honors, garnering international distinction and a $50,000 scholarship for the
17-year-old researcher, Sarah Langberg.
AWG’s First Place award of $1,000 was also presented to Sarah Langberg
for her project “Petrology, Morphology, and Geochemistry of the
Southern Juan de Fuca Ridge: Evidence for Off-Axis Volcanism”. According to
her abstract, Ms. Langberg hypothesized that off-axis magnetism and
volcanic processes contribute to the heterogeneity in petrology,
morphology, and geochemistry of the Earth’s crust at the seafloor. Her data
supports a radiating dike hypothesis and the proposed geologic association.
A Second Place award of $100 was presented to Caroline Larson for her
project “A Comparative Study of Facies Sequences in the Pennsylvanian
Oquirrh Basin: The Thorpe Hills and Cascade Mountains”.
Another Second Place award of $100 was presented to Shannon Babb for
her project “Troubled Waters: A Six Month Longitudinal Water Quality
Study of the Spanish Fork River Drainage System and Remediation
Strategies”.
The 2005 ISEF will be held in Phoenix, Arizona from May 8-14, 2005. We
would like to field a team of at least three AWG judges at the ISEF.
AWG members interested in participating as an AWG judge at the ISEF are
invited and encouraged to contact Valerie Honeycutt at styles@hpnc.com
by February 2005.
AWG also participates at the regional science fair level by providing
Student Award for Geoscience Excellence (SAGE) certificates through
Science Service, the sponsoring organization of the ISEF, to young women
whose projects exemplify an understanding of our world and its processes.
If you or your Chapter might be interested in participating as judges,
or sponsoring an additional award at a local fair, please contact
Valerie Honeycutt for affiliated local fair information in your area. You
can also visit the Science Service website (http://sciserv.org/isef/)
for more information about science fairs.
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4) AWG DISCUSSION AT GSA: ISSUES FACING WOMEN CHAIRS, DEANS, AND OTHER
ACADEMIC LEADERS
Tuesday, November. 9, 2004 - 12:15-1:15 pm
Room 111-113 in the Denver Convention Center
Please join us for an informal session to discuss issues facing women
who are department chairs, deans, and other academic leaders in the
Earth sciences. We hope this session will provide an opportunity to share
ideas, discuss challenges and solutions, and consider next steps. We
welcome all who are interested in this topic. Please bring your own
lunch.
Conveners:
Marjorie Chan, University of Utah
Heather Macdonald, College of William & Mary
Support provided by the AWG Foundation
If you are unable to attend and are interested in these issues and want
to be included in future communications, please email Heather Macdonald
at <rhmacd@wm.edu>. Please put "AWG Women Chairs and Deans" in the
subject line.
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5) AWG EXHIBIT AT AGU - CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS, BOOTH # 924
Are you presenting a paper or sharing your research via a poster
presentation at the Fall 2004 American Geophysical Union Conference in San
Francisco? Are you planning to attend AGU to catch up on the latest
research in your field of expertise? If so, please consider setting aside
a little time to volunteer at the AWG booth. We will be booth #924.
Either contact Phyl Halvorson prior to the conference or stop by and
let us know that you'd like to help. We'll work with you to find a time
that fits into your schedule. Lunch breaks, a morning or afternoon, or
even short one hour breaks are appreciated. While sitting the booth,
you can help share AWG's mission with attendees. We recruit new
members, tell folks about our networking opportunities, education outreach,
field trips, newsletters, and professional programs. Order forms for AWG
products are available to members. We encourage donations to AWGF from
companies and individuals who are enthusiastic about our nonprofit
projects and encourage members to become involved in developing and running
projects. Universities commonly seek us out for the sake of
advertising positions in Gaea. We are a catalyst for putting these university
contacts in touch with our Gaea ads manager. There is something for
everyone at our AWG booth. If you plan to attend AGU, please take
a moment to see if you can fit us into your schedule. Phyl's email is:
phylgeo@earthlink.net.
AGU will be held from December 13-17, 2004.
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6) POSITION OPENINGS
2004-062
Brock University
Tenure-track position in Applied Geosciences
The Department of Earth Sciences at Brock University is seeking to fill
a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor level in a field
of applied geosciences that complements and enhances the current
departmental expertise. Exceptional candidates will be considered at the
Associate Professor level.
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to an existing
broad based undergraduate program. The candidate will also be expected
to maintain a productive, externally funded research program and to
attract and supervise graduate students. The department current research
strengths are broadly based in Quaternary environments. Further
information about the Department of Earth Sciences can be found at:
http://www.brocku.ca/earthsciences.
The review of submissions will begin December 2004 but applications
will be considered until the position is filled. The preferred start date
for the position is July 1, 2005. This position is subject to final
budgetary approval.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians
and permanent residents will be given priority. Brock University is
committed to a Positive Action Policy aimed at reducing gender imbalance in
faculty; qualified women candidates are especially encouraged to apply.
More information on Brock University can be found on the University’s
website www.BrockU.ca.
Applications, including a curriculum vitae and the names, surface and
electronic addresses of three referees should be sent to: The Chair,
Department of Earth Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St.
Catharines, ON L2S 3A1 Tel: (905) 688-5550, ext. 3526; Fax: (905)
682-9020; e-mail: earth@brocku.ca.
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2004-064
Wright State University
Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Program and Fellowships
The Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Program at Wright State University
provides a strong interdisciplinary focus on stressor fate and effects in
3 areas of faculty expertise: Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry,
Environmental Stressors, and Environmental Geophysics and Hydrogeology.
There are over 30 program faculty from the Departments of Biological
Sciences, Chemistry, Geological Sciences, Pharmacology & Toxicology, and
Physics. Wright State University is located in Dayton, Ohio with a
student enrollment of approximately 17,000. The ES program began in 2002
and is a program of excellence with internationally recognized research.
Research and Teaching Assistantships are available (>$18,000 stipend +
tuition & fee waiver). In addition, the prestigious YSI Fellowship is
available for $25,000 (+ tuition & fee waiver) to outstanding
applicants. Students are encouraged to apply to the program and for financial
awards with either a B.S. or M.S. degree from a relevant major (e.
g., biology, chemistry, geology, physics, toxicology, environmental
sciences). There is no deadline for applications; however review of
applications will begin in January with awards made at any time. For more
information see www.wright.edu/academics/envsci.
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2004-067
Kansas State University
Earth Science Educator
The Department of Geology at Kansas State University invites applicants
for a tenure track Assistant Professor position in Earth Science
Education to start fall 2005. The successful applicant will also take an
active role in the activities of the K-State Center for the Understanding
of Origins. Job responsibilities include teaching introductory
geoscience courses, coordinating lab sections and training Graduate Teaching
Assistants. It is expected that this faculty hire will develop an
externally funded research/graduate program in earth science education, have
a firm commitment to undergraduate and graduate education, and be
involved in outreach activities. Interdisciplinary collaboration with
K-State colleagues is strongly encouraged. Preference will be given to
applicants who are dynamic teachers and who can demonstrate multicultural
competence and expertise in the scholarship of teaching. A PhD is
required, preferably in an area of the geological sciences; however, re
lated areas will be considered if expertise in geosciences is
demonstrated.
Review of applications will begin November 1, 2004 and will continue
until the position is filled. Applications should include a complete
vita, a teaching portfolio that demonstrates applicant's experience in
education scholarship, and a statement of research interests. Three
letters of reference must be sent to the department at the time of
application. All materials should be sent to: Dr. Jack Oviatt, Search Committee
Chair, Department of Geology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
66506 (joviatt@ksu.edu). For further information about the department
and the
K-State Center for the Understanding of Origins see:
http://www.ksu.edu/geology and http://
http://www.phys.ksu.edu/~origins.%A0
Kansas State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer and actively seeks diversity among its employees.
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-077
University of Michigan
Geoscience Professorships
Geological Sciences
The Geological Sciences Department at the University of Michigan
anticipates that one or more faculty positions will be available with a
September 2005 start date. The position or positions will be enhanced by
the newly established Henry N. Pollack Professorship Endowment. We are
seeking candidates at the Assistant, Associate or Full Professor level.
The department plans to fill positions over the coming years in several
areas spanning the general fields of Earth System Science and
Geological Hazards. Applicants with strengths in any of the following fields
are especially encouraged to apply: physical and chemical processes
linking the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and terrestrial surface; interactions
between biological and geological processes; neotectonics; processes
that occur in coastal environments; and seismology. Priority will be
given to applicants that complement existing strengths in the Geological
Sciences and/or interactions with other closely related departments at
the University of Michigan.
The successful candidate is expected to establish an independent
research program and to contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching
programs. Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, a statement of
present and future research plans, a statement of teaching experience and
interests, and the names of at least four persons who can provide letters
of recommendation. Additional information about the department can be
found at: http://www.geo.lsa.umich.edu/.
Applications should be sent to:
Joel D Blum, Chair
Department of Geological Sciences
425 E. University Avenue
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1063
For full consideration applications should be received before January
3, 2005. The University of Michigan is a non-discriminatory/affirmative
action employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The
University is supportive of the needs of dual career couples.
Turner Postdoctoral Fellows
The Department of Geological Sciences invites applications for Turner
Postdoctoral Fellows, which are positions of two-year duration that are
open to any area in the Geological Sciences. We offer a competitive
compensation package that includes benefits and a travel/research fund.
Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with existing researcher(s) at
the University of Michigan or to propose an independent research
project, which cost-share salary with other sources involving research and/or
teaching responsibilities. Visit our Department webpages for more
information on faculty and research (http://www.geo.lsa.umich.edu); contact
Profs. Eric Essene (essene@umich.edu), Ben van der Pluijm
(vdpluijm@umich.edu) or Lynn Walter (lmwalter@umich.edu) for additional
information. Please submit a curriculum vitae, a brief (3 pages or
less) research proposal and names of at least three references by January
7, 2005 to: by email, turnerpdf@umich.edu; by mail, Turner Postdoctoral
Commi
ttee, Dept. of Geological Sciences, 425 E University Ave., Univ. of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1063.
The University of Michigan is an affirmative action/equal opportunity
employer.
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-084
University of Minnesota
Tenure-track Position in Paleoclimatology
The Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Minnesota
invites applications for a tenure track position in the broad field of
paleoclimate research over any interval of geologic
time. The main research approach may be record-based or modeling but
should emphasize processes. We seek applicants who will take advantage
of many collaborative opportunities within the Department and the
University, which include, but are not limited to, the National Center for
Earth-surface Dynamics housed at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, the
Limnological Research Center and LacCore (National Lacustrine Core
Curation Facility), the Minnesota
Supercomputer Institute, the Institute for Rock Magnetism, and
Quaternary Paleoecology Graduate Minor Program.
The appointment will be made at the Assistant Professor level. The
successful applicant is expected to teach at both the graduate and
undergraduate levels, advise graduate and undergraduate students, and
establish a research program in the area of paleoclimatology which
involves supervision of students who are PhD candidates. Review of
applications will begin on November 12, 2004. Send research and teaching
statements, CV, and 3 letters of recommendation to: Paleoclimate Search
Committee, Department of Geology and Geophysics,
University of Minnesota, 310 Pillsbury Drive, SE, Minneapolis, MN
55455, USA. A PhD is required at the time of appointment.
Interested persons are encouraged to visit www.geo.umn.edu. The
University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-091
Georgia Southern University
Temporary Position in Coastal Geology
Position Description
The Department of Geology and Geography invites applications for a
temporary position in coastal geology. Specific areas of expertise might
include, but are not limited to, beach and near-shore sedimentation,
coastal geomorphology, shallow marine environments, or coastal plain
geology. This individual will teach sedimentation and stratigraphy, coastal
geology, and will share responsibility for courses in environmental
geology and historical geology and associated laboratories. The rank
(either Assistant or Associate Professor of Geology) and salary will be
commensurate with the applicant's experience and accomplishments.
Preference will be given to candidates who have active research projects on
the Atlantic Coast of the United States, who apply GIS to their research,
and those with prior undergraduate teaching experience. A PhD in
geology or a closely related field must be completed by the position
starting date of August 1, 2005. The one-year position may be renewable
for two additional one-year appointments.
The University and the Department
Georgia Southern University (http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/), a unit
of the University System of Georgia, is the largest center of higher
education in the southern half of Georgia. The Department of Geology and
Geography offers courses that lead to the BS and BA degrees with majors
in both geography and geology. The Department's web site
(http://cost.georgiasouthern.edu/geo/) provides an overview of our
programs, faculty, and facilities, as well as a more extensive description
of this position.
Application Information
Please direct a letter of application including a statement of research
and teaching interests, a curriculum vitae, supporting documentation
(such as reprints and evidence of teaching effectiveness), and the names,
e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers for three references to: Dr.
Charles H. Trupe, Search Committee Chair, Department of Geology and
Geography, P.O. Box 8149, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
30460-8149. Initial review of applications begins on December 15, 2004 and
will continue until the position is filled.
The names of applicants and nominees, résumés, and other general
non-evaluative information may be subject to public inspection under the
Georgia Open Records Act. Persons who need reasonable accommodations under
the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to participate in the
search process should notify the Search Committee Chair. Georgia Southern
University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution.
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-092
Texas A&M University
Geochemist Specializing in Climate Change and/or Environmental
Geochemistry Research
The Department of Geology and Geophysics at Texas A&M University
invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in low-temperature
geochemistry exploring the complexity of (bio)geochemical trends,
cycles, and feedbacks between marine, terrestrial and atmospheric systems
through geologic time. This position is part of the College of
Geosciences' new Climate Change initiative, which is in its second year of a
four-year plan to add eight positions. This is in addition to13 new
positions in two other signature areas. The position is budgeted at the
senior level, but applicants at all levels will be considered. Applicants
should possess a Ph.D. in Geosciences or related fields.
We specifically seek applicants specializing in the development and
application of multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) to the study of climate change, geochemical cycles, and
the biogeochemistry of surficial systems. The successful candidate will
be expected to develop a vigorous, externally-funded research program
and teach at the graduate and undergraduate levels, including the
mentoring of graduate students. A new isotope geochemistry facility is being
built that will include shared clean laboratory space, a thermal
ionization mass spectrometer, and the MC-ICP-MS. The candidate will have the
opportunity to contribute to this lab's development.
The Department of Geology and Geophysics (http://geoweb.tamu.edu) is
part of the College of Geosciences, which also includes the Departments
of Geography, Oceanography, and Atmospheric Sciences, Sea Grant, the
Geochemical and Environmental Research Group (GERG), and the Integrated
Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). Interested candidates should send a
current curriculum vitae, statement of teaching and research interests, and
the names, postal addresses, and e-mail addresses of four references to
Dr. Ethan L. Grossman, Search Committee Chair, Department of Geology &
Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA 77843-3115.
Applications will be reviewed beginning 1 December 2004, with a start
date of September 2005. Texas A&M University is an affirmative
action/equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity and
encourages application from minorities, women, veterans and persons
with disabilities.
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-095
University of Arizona
Geosciences Department – Biogeochemistry
The Department of Geosciences and Institute for the Study of Planet
Earth, University of Arizona, seek to hire a tenured or tenure-track
Assistant or Associate Professor interested in the application of
biogeochemistry to the interdisciplinary study of Earth systems. The department
is seeking an individual who is able to work with diverse students and
colleagues, and who has experience with a variety of teaching methods
and curricular perspectives. We are especially interested in
individuals who focus on biogeochemical cycles of carbon or nutrients, who
utilize organic tracers to reconstruct past environments, and/or who would
expand our expertise in paleoceanography. We welcome applicants whose
approaches may include geochemical analysis and/or modeling at a range of
spatial and temporal scales. The successful candidate will show
promise for research excellence that complements departmental and campus
strengths in global environmental change, Earth surface processes, pal
eoclimatology, paleoecology, and/or paleolimnology.
The University of Arizona is home to several nationally recognized
programs in global change science and applications (see
www.ispe.arizona.edu). The ability to play a significant role in campus-wide efforts in
biogeochemistry, remote sensing, and/or environmental science in support
of societal decision-making would be considered a plus. A Ph.D. or
equivalent degree in an appropriate field is required. The Department of
Geosciences is committed to sustained excellence in research, to
innovation in the Geosciences curriculum both at the undergraduate and
graduate levels, and to leadership in graduate student training.
The selection process will begin November 15, 2004, and will continue
until the position is filled. Information about the Department of
Geosciences is available at http://www.geo.arizona.edu.
Interested applicants please apply online through the University of
Arizona Human Resources webpage at https://www.uacareertrack.com for job
number 31444. In addition to the electronic submission of the
curriculum vitae and statement of research and teaching interests, please
provide three letters of references to be mailed directly to: Susan Beck,
Biogeochemistry Search; Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona,
1040 E. 4th St., Tucson AZ 85721, 520-621-6024, 520-621-2672 (fax),
chair@geo.arizona.edu. Please reference job number 31444. The
University of Arizona is an EEO/AA Employer - M/W/D/V.
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-101
Washington University, St. Louis
Faculty Position – Cosmochemistry
Washington University in St. Louis announces a tenure track position in
cosmochemistry to complement our existing programs in geochemistry and
the study of extraterrestrial materials. We seek an outstanding
individual who will begin in Fall 2005 at the rank of assistant professor.
Candidates should apply modern, quantitative analytical techniques and
demonstrate or show promise of excellence in both teaching and research.
We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in the
chemical and/or isotopic analysis and characterization of a range of
extraterrestrial samples (e.g., lunar, meteoritic, planetary). Candidates
must have been awarded the Ph.D. at time of appointment. Send resume,
statement of future research interest, and names and contact information
for at least three references to Raymond E. Arvidson, Search Committee
Chair, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington
University, C/B 1169, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, or
via e-mail: FacSearch@levee.wustl.edu. Women and minorities
are encouraged to apply.
Washington University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer. Employment eligibility verification required upon employment.
Applications will be considered until the position is filled, but priority
will be given to those received by December 31, 2004.
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-104
Queen’s University
Canada Research Chair Tier 2
Geochemistry
The Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering,
Queen’s University, one of Canada's oldest and best-known earth-science
departments, seeks exceptional researchers to apply for a Tier 2 Canada
Research Chair in the field of Earth System Science, with a focus on the
geochemical processes that take place on or within the Earth. Areas of
specific interest are: rock-forming processes in the lithosphere, the
origin of mineral deposits, biogeochemistry, sedimentary geochemistry,
and the origin/diagenesis of bio-chemical sediments. The successful
candidate must be within 10 years of receipt of their Ph.D. and have an
outstanding research record in order to fulfil the criteria for Tier 2
Canada Research Chairs (see www.chairs.gc.ca/web/program/nominate_e.asp).
It is expected that the Chair holder will supervise graduate students
at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels, contribute actively to undergraduate and
graduate teaching, undertake vigorous externally funded research,
and collaborate with departmental colleagues. The department has
faculty with a wide range of expertise and emphasizes the linkage between
field and laboratory-based research and teaching. Its labs include
state-of-the-art geochemical facilities. For more information about the
Department, visit www.geol.queensu.ca .
The University invites applications from all qualified individuals.
Queen's is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace
and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, aboriginal
people, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation
or gender identity. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply;
however, Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents will be given
priority. The academic staff at Queen's University is governed by a
collective agreement, the details of which are posted at
http://www.queensu.ca/qufa. In accordance with the Queen’s guidelines
for the assignment of Canada Research Chairs, applications from
qualified women are particularly encouraged for this position.
Applicants should send a current curriculum vitae, a statement of
research interests and future plans, a statement of teaching experience and
interests, and samples of research writing to the following address.
Individuals who intend to apply should provide to the undersigned, as
soon as possible, the names and addresses of five persons of
international standing who have agreed to provide letters of reference. Doctoral
and/or post-doctoral supervisor(s) may be included. Review of complete
applications will begin on January 24, 2005.
Robert W. Dalrymple, Head,
Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering,
Queen's University,
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Telephone: 613-533-2598
Fax: 613-533-6592
E-mail: zarichny@geol.queensu.ca
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-106
Texas A&M University
Biological Oceanographer.
The College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University in College Station,
TX will hire 20 new faculty over the next four years in three target
areas: Climate Change; Oceans. Atmospheres, and Environmental/Human
Health; and Environmental and Hydrological Geosciences. As part of this
effort, the Department of Oceanography is seeking applications for a
faculty position in Biological Oceanography that would complement an
on-going program in ocean observing systems. This is a tenure-track faculty
position which provides 9 months per year of state support. Applicants
should possess a Ph.D. in Oceanography or closely related field.
Examples of relevant interests include (but are not limited to): development
of new sensor technologies suitable for deployment on an observing
platform, remote sensing of the marine environment, use of optical or
acoustical technologies for studying biological processes, and modeling of
biological systems that incorporates data from observing platforms.
The position is at the Assistant Professor level, although
exceptional candidates will be considered for Associate or Full Professor status.
The successful candidate is expected to teach and mentor graduate and
undergraduate students, and develop a strong research program with
extramural funding. We encourage applications from candidates who will
increase the exposure of our students to a diverse culture. See
http://oceanography.tamu.edu for more information about our program.
Interested candidates should send current curriculum vitae, statement
of research interests, and the names, postal addresses, and email
addresses of three references to Professor George Jackson, Search Committee
Chair, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College
Station, TX 77843-3146, USA, gjackson@tamu.edu. The review of applications
will begin 15 December 2004 for a potential start date of 1 September
2005. Texas A&M University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity
employer committed to excellence through diversity. Texas A&M University
encourages applications from minorities, women, veterans, and persons
with disabilities.
* * * * * * * * * *
2004-107
University of California, Santa Cruz
Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences
The Department of Earth Sciences at the University of California, Santa
Cruz, seeks applicants who are on the cutting edge of research into the
dynamics and evolution of the Earth’s lithosphere, including its
surface. We are particularly interested in candidates focused on research
areas that include, but are not limited to geochronology, evolution of
mountain belts, magma evolution and volcanology, crustal and lithospheric
chemistry, tectonic geomorphology and geodesy, active tectonics, and
geofluids.
The successful applicant is expected to develop a vigorous,
externally-funded research program and supervise research by graduate and
undergraduate students. Faculty in our program all teach across the spectrum
of undergraduate and graduate levels, with a strong commitment to high
quality instruction. We anticipate that this faculty position will
contribute teaching expertise to important curricular areas in our large
undergraduate and graduate programs.
The Earth Sciences Department (http://www.es.ucsc.edu) consists of 18
faculty, ~60 graduate students and ~100 undergraduate majors.
Additionally, researchers are supported on campus by the Institute of Geophysics
and Planetary Physics. Diverse analytical and computational resources
are available on campus and UCSC researchers have access to a wide
range of additional people and facilities at Berkeley, Stanford, NASA,
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and the USGS in the San Francisco
and Monterey Bay areas.
The campus is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to
the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their
research, teaching and/or service.
Rank: Assistant Professor, Step I-III (Tenure tracked).
Salary: $46,300 - $51,700 (9-month basis), depending on qualifications
and experience.
Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Earth or Planetary
Sciences or related field completed or expected by effective date, a
demonstrated record of research excellence and potential to obtain external
funding, and a commitment to and talent for teaching at undergraduate
and graduate levels.
Position Available: July 1, 2005
To Apply: To be assured of full consideration, send curriculum vitae, a
brief summary of research and teaching interests, reprints, and the
names and addresses of five people from whom the Department may request
letters of recommendation (all letters will be treated as confidential)
to:
Assistant Professor Search Committee
c/o Roxanne Woodling (MSO)
University of California, Santa Cruz
Earth Sciences Department
E&MS Building Rm A233
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(Inquiries only: roxanne@es.ucsc.edu; 831-459-4478)
Please refer to Provision 176-05 in all letters of recommendation and
other correspondence.
Closing Date: opened until filled; 11/22/04 initial application
consideration date.
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2004-108
Solid Earth Sciences
University of Florida
The Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, invites
applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in the
solid earth sciences to begin in the 2005-2006 academic year. Preference
will be given to quantitative, process-oriented scientists who will
develop vigorous and innovative research and instructional programs which
will complement current strengths of the Department in geochemistry and
geophysics (e.g., chemical and physical geodynamics,
mineralogy-petrology, crust-mantle evolution, paleoclimatology-paleoceanography,
hydrogeology, and paleomagnetics). We are particularly interested in
candidates focused on research that integrates with the Department’s planned
growth into the fields of nanogeoscience, geodynamics, planetary geology,
coastal processes, and carbonate sedimentology. See
web.geology.ufl.edu for information concerning departmental research programs,
facilities, and affiliations.
Qualified candidates should send a letter of interest, including a
statement of research and teaching goals, a CV, and the names and addresses
of at least three references by 7 January 2005 to the search committee
chair:
Dr. David A. Foster (dfoster@geology.ufl.edu),
Department of Geological Sciences,
Box 112120, 241 Williamson Hall,
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611.
Ph. (352) 392-2231/FAX (352)-392-9294.
The University of Florida is an equal opportunity employer; qualified
women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
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2004-110
Marie Tharp Visiting Fellowship, The Earth Institute, Columbia
University.
The ADVANCE Program of the Earth Institute at Columbia invites
applicants for the Marie Tharp Visiting Fellowship for Women. The purpose of
the award is to provide an opportunity for women scientists and
engineers to conduct research at one of the research units or departments
within the Earth Institute for one to three months during their
career-building years. Up to $30,000 of support will be provided to the fellow
during this period.
The competition is open to women scientists in fields represented in
the Earth Institute, including the geosciences, the social sciences,
engineering, and the environmental health sciences. Applicants must hold
the Ph.D. In conformance with NSF policy, only U.S. citizens and legally
admitted permanent resident aliens are eligible to apply.
Applicants should submit a three-page proposal describing how she would
use her time on the fellowship, including whom she would like to work
with in the Earth Institute. Preference will be given to those who
propose research related to Earth Institute priorities, including
interdisciplinary research. The proposal must be accompanied by a CV, a
proposed budget, and a list of three references with full contact information.
All application materials may be submitted by mail to Jennifer Laird,
ADVANCE Program Coordinator, The Earth Institute at Columbia
University/Lamont-Doherty Earth laird@ldeo.columbia.edu. Applications must be
postmarked or dated by 5:00 pm EST on January 3, 2005.
Columbia University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Employer. Minorities are encouraged to apply.
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