^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2005-23
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CONTENTS
1) AWG ELECTION RESULTS
2) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 2005
3) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL UPDATE: 10-07-05
4) 3RD ANNUAL MAMMOTH SITE WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
5) POSITION OPENINGS
2005-080 San Diego State University - Stratigraphy/Sedimentology and
Low-Temperature
Geochemistry
2005-081 Georgia Southern University - Tenure-track position in
coastal geology
2005-085 and 086 University of Washington - Tenure-track Assistant
Professor in geobiology
and volcanology/magmatic processes (2 positions)
2005-094 California State University, Los Angeles - Igneous
Petrology/Volcanic Hazards
2005-101 Washington & Lee University - Tenure Track Position in
Geology
2005-103 University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Structural Geology and
Environmental
Geochemistry Faculty Positions
2005-106 University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Tenure-track Associate
or Assistant
Professor in GIS and Physical Geography
6) CONTACT INFORMATION
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1) AWG ELECTION RESULTS
2005-2006 Board of Directors - Election Results
The new board members are:
President – Laurie Scheuing
President-Elect – Nadine Langley
Past President – Allyson Anderson
Secretary – Tamie Jovanelly
Treasurer – Katie Matthews
Editor – Maggie Toscano
Regional Delegates:
North Central delegate – Sara Wilson
North Central alternate – Megan Jones
Northeast delegate1 – Sue Halsey
Northeast alternate1 – Jean Crespi
Northeast delegate2 – Katie Donnelly
Northeast alternate2 – Christa Ziegler
Pacific delegate1 – Jean Hsieh
Pacific alternate1 – Marcia Knadle
Pacific delegate2 – Paula York
Pacific alternate2 – Charlene Sundermann
Rocky Mountain delegate1 – Norma Castaneda
Rocky Mountain alternate1 – open
Rocky Mountain delegate2 – Eloise Kendy
Rocky Mountain alternate2 – Carol Strong
South Central delegate1 – Susan Nissan
South Central alternate1 – open
South Central delegate2 – Sarah Noble
South Central alternate2 – Kirsten Nicolaysen
Southeast delegate – KT Moran
Southeast alternate – Donna Deitz Khallouf
Student representative – Lisa Leija
Student alternate – Robyn Raftis
11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
2) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 2005
1. Hurricane Katrina Spending
2. Congressional Oversight of Katrina
3. Katrina Raises Gas Prices
4. More Energy Bills Spawned by Katrina
5. Much Ado about Appropriations
6. Ballooning Budget Deficit and Rough Road to Reconciliation
7. House Science Committee Announces Priorities for October
8. NASA’s Moon/Mars Visions
9. RAND Releases Results of Study on Gender and Federal R&D funding
10. Evolution Roundup a. Dover Case Starts b. Congressman Rush Holt
Decries Intelligent Design c. Museums Provide Training for Challenges from
Creationists d. American Astronomical Society Issues Statement
Supporting Teaching Evolution
11. Hazards Caucus Earthquake Briefing
12. Scientists Visit Congress in September
13. Royal Astronomical Society Urges Reconsideration of Leap Seconds
14. AAAS Brokerage System for Scientists Affected by Hurricane Katrina
15. National Ground Water Association Recommends Katrina Recovery
Registry
16. Federal Register Notices
17. New Updates to the Website
1. Hurricane Katrina Spending
On September 2, 2005 Congress approved a $10.5 billion emergency
spending package to cover the immediate costs of the disaster caused by
Hurricane Katrina. Public law 109-61 entitled “Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act to Meet Immediate Needs Arising From the Consequences of
Hurricane Katrina, 2005” gives FEMA $10 billion for direct relief
efforts and the Department of Defense $500 million for its expenses related
to disaster response.
On September 8, Congress passed a second emergency spending package for
$51.8 billion in additional relief. The actual language in this second
bill, public law 109-62, is very brief and gives $1.4 billion for
Defense Department operations and maintenance, $200 million for the Army
Corps of Engineers operations and maintenance, $200 million for the Army
Corps of Engineers flood control operations and $50 billion for the
Department of Homeland Security. How the funds should be used is not
specified in the Act. The House Appropriations Committee in a press release
indicated that they expect the funds to be distributed as follows:
$26.13 billion for public assistance ($813.4 million for unemployment
assistance, $250 million for damage inspections, $23.2 billion for housing
and other short-term aid, $1.6 billion for manufactured housing and $250
million for legal and mental health counseling); $7.65 billion for
rebuilding public infrastructure; $4.58 billion for FEMA ($2.6 billion
for logistics, $1.9 billion for supplies and $75 million for search
and rescue); $3.4 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers operations and
repairs; $3.9 billion for Defense Department operations and repairs;
$5.5 billion for other agencies and $648.8 million for future disaster
prevention.
On September 21, both houses of Congress passed the “Katrina Emergency
Tax Relief Act of 2005” (H.R. 3768), which offers $8.4 billion in tax
deductions and waivers. Of the $70.7 billion in total hurricane relief,
$16 billion has been spent, and it is unclear how soon Congress will
need to pass a third emergency package. The administration estimates
total costs will fall somewhere between $100 and $200 billion, including
the 3 initiatives described in President Bush’s speech to the nation from
New Orleans on September 15. Louisiana's Senators, Mary Landrieu (D)
and David Vitter (R), have proposed legislation to provide about $250
billion in federal aid to help their state rebuild over a 10-year period.
The bill includes about $180 billion in direct federal spending, with
the rest of the spending coming from tax breaks. The bill has been
criticized by some Members for being too costly and by others for including
measures that are not related to direct relief.
2. Congressional Oversight of Katrina
The federal government, as well as the state and local governments have
been criticized for their slow and disorganized response to Hurricane
Katrina. In addition Congress has been criticized for passing two
emergency supplemental spending bills with little to no oversight of how
these funds are being spent. Congress is now trying to deal with both
issues but has been stalled by debates among Members.
Soon after the hurricane, several committees in Congress announced
hearings on the government response to Katrina. Many of these hearings were
delayed or canceled as the leadership in Congress argued about setting
up a separate commission to investigate the Katrina response.
Democrats have repeatedly called for an independent, 9/11-style
commission to investigate government failures in the wake of Katrina, but thus
far Republicans have insisted that congressional committees are the
proper forum for this type of investigation. On September 8, 2005 House
Republican leadership announced a House Select Committee on Hurricane
Katrina, to conduct all of the Katrina investigations in the House. Thus
far most Democrats have boycotted the committee because there would not
be an equal number of Republicans and Democrats on the committee and
because the Democrats believe the Republican-dominated Congress cannot
investigate possible problems related to a Republican administration. In
the Senate, Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee
Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME) declined to form a special panel and forged
ahead with her own committee’s investigations.
Despite the ongoing debate over how an investigation should be
conducted, Congress has held at least nine hearings on recovery strategies,
energy supply impacts, and government accountability. In the second week
of September, members of Congress heard testimony from public officials
and emergency managers who had previously dealt with major disasters,
including former California Governor Pete Wilson and the former mayor of
New Orleans Marc Morial. These officials detailed their emergency plans
and offered some insights into what may have gone wrong following
Katrina. Several Democratic committee members raised concerns about holding
hearings on emergency response plans in other cities instead of
focusing on what had actually occurred in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
The following week, Congress began examining the predictions and
forecasts of Hurricane Katrina before it made landfall. The House Select
Committee on Hurricane Katrina convened its first hearing to understand the
specific timeline of predictions published by NOAA’s National Hurricane
Center and local weather stations. On the other side of Capitol Hill,
the Senate Disaster Prediction and Prevention Subcommittee convened
their first hearing related to Hurricane Katrina to examine various aspects
of hurricane prediction more broadly. Max Mayfield, the director of the
National Hurricane Center, testified at both hearings and said that he
had held daily briefings with FEMA for several days before Katrina made
landfall, and that at one of these briefings the President had been
present. Mayfield had also made personal phone calls to the governors of
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, as well as the mayor of New
Orleans, to warn them that this would be a very dangerous storm.
On September 27, the House Select Committee on Hurricane Katrina
followed up with a much-publicized hearing to interrogate the former Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director Michael Brown. Brown
testified that most of the problems in the response to Katrina were due to
state and local government ineptitude, particularly in Louisiana. Brown
also said that FEMA has not received adequate funding since it was
reorganized within the Department of Homeland Security.
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have begun conducting
oversight on the use of funds allocated for Katrina response and
recovery. Thus far hearings have been held for Housing and Urban Development,
Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, and Homeland Security expenditures.
FEMA is supposed to provide weekly updates on expenditures for Hurricane
Katrina, however, Members have complained that these updates are too
vague to determine where the money is actually being spent.
Full summaries of the Hurricane Katrina hearings are available at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/katrina_hearings.html
An updated timeline and more background on Hurricane Katrina is
available at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/katrina.html
3. Katrina Raises Gas Prices
Hurricane Katrina shut down about 95% of Gulf oil production and 72% of
Gulf natural gas production as a result of evacuations, electricity
outages and flooding. Several refineries and platforms were also damaged
by the storm and will be shut down for a longer period of time. The shut
down also affected oil and natural gas pipelines from the Gulf coast to
inland distribution centers causing some gas shortages. Gasoline prices
skyrocketed in many parts of the country, rising by 50 – 75 cents per
gallon within hours. In response to the supply shortages, several
congressional committees held hearings to address rising energy prices.
Members of Congress offered ideas on how to protect consumers from price
hikes, increase domestic supply, and exercise conservation of gasoline
and natural gas.
Several energy sector representatives, who were witnesses at these
hearings called for a relaxation of oil refinery regulations and a
reduction in the number of “boutique” fuel blends required in some areas during
the summer months. Witnesses associated with natural gas interests
pointed out a need to import more liquefied natural gas from abroad and to
modify environmental laws that inhibit domestic gas production.
Industry representatives also warned Congress that interfering in energy
markets, for instance by establishing gasoline price caps, would create
market distortion. One energy consultant, Robin West of the PFC Energy
Team, also made it clear that high prices were due to high demand and not
any action on the part of OPEC, the Middle-Eastern oil cartel.
Many Members and other witnesses, however, insisted that the rising
prices were due to price gouging and not supply-demand issues. Federal
agency representatives repeatedly deflected questions about how to
identify and crack down on market manipulation. Guy Caruso, Administrator of
the Energy Information Administration and John Seesel, Associate General
Counsel for Energy at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), refused to
call the rising prices “price gouging,” and insisted that energy trading
on the futures market was the principle cause for the price hikes.
Members continued to press witnesses on evidence that oil companies are
making huge profits at the expense of consumers.
Several senators, including Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Gordon Smith (R-OR),
and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced legislation designed to prevent gasoline
price gouging, and senators successfully attached an amendment to the
Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill directing the FTC to
investigate and prosecute such activities.
Full summaries of recent hearings on high energy prices are available
at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/energy_hearings.html
4. More Energy Bills Spawned by Katrina
Several lawmakers have used the aftermath of Katrina as an opportunity
to introduce new energy legislation. Two bills introduced in the House
that focus on expanding domestic energy production have gained the most
momentum in recent weeks.
The “Gasoline for America's Security Act of 2005” (H.R. 3893),
introduced by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX), would
repeal parts of the energy bill in order to provide new refinery
construction incentives, and it would relax certain Clean Air Act
requirements. The second bill, sponsored by House Resources Committee Chairman
Richard Pombo (R-CA) takes bold steps to open up more public land and
offshore areas to energy development, including a provision to allow states
to opt out of offshore leasing bans and to allow drilling in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The bill also includes minor titles to
provide funding for engineering and mining schools and to establish a
geologic mapping and data preservation program using royalties from
mining and offshore energy revenues.
While the full House is going forward with Barton’s bill with a vote
due on October 7, Republican leadership decided not to call a House vote
on Pombo’s bill; instead, the bill may be incorporated into the House
budget reconciliation package, which is immune to filibuster in the
Senate. Meanwhile, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Pete
Domenici is expected to roll out Katrina-related energy legislation of his
own later in October that will contain offshore oil and gas options and
incentives to encourage energy conservation.
See http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/issues/emr/energyprint0926.pdf
for more details on Pombo’s energy bill. A print of Barton’s bill is
available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.03893:
See AGI’s action alert
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/energyschools_alert.html for more
details about the engineering and mining schools section of Pombo’s bill.
5. Much Ado about Appropriations
Congress passed a continuing resolution on September 30, 2005, which
will remain in affect until November 18. The continuing resolution
provides temporary funding for federal agencies that have not been
appropriated funds for the next fiscal year. Funding levels will be kept at the
lowest possible level, either the fiscal year 2005 enacted levels or the
House or Senate-approved levels for 2006. This is the ninth year in a
row that Congress has failed to pass all of its appropriations bills
before the start of the next fiscal year.
As fiscal year 2006 began on October 1, 2005, only two of eleven
spending bills have been enacted, covering budgets for the Legislative
Branch, the Department of Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The continuing resolution gives the House and Senate less than two
months to negotiate gaps between their proposed budgets for all other
agencies. If Congress fails to agree on the remaining bills, they may be
combined into an omnibus bill. Another option will be to extend the
continuing resolution through FY 2006. Complicating this process, lawmakers
must contend with emergency relief measures working their way into
several appropriations bills.
As of October 1, 2005, the Senate completed work on 8 of its 12 bills,
including $48.9 billion for Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and
Related Agencies, and $100.7 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Reconciling the House and Senate versions of the CJS bill will be
difficult as the Senate provided over $1 billion more than the House for the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the final Senate
bill contains numerous Katrina-related amendments that need to be
reconciled.
Conference negotiations seem particularly unlikely for Energy and Water
appropriations, which has been awaiting conference since July, when the
Senate passed a bill that had about $1.5 billion more than the House
bill. This bill funds the Department of Energy, Bureau of Reclamation and
Army Corps of Engineers. An inability to agree on spending parameters
could result in flat funding and threaten the Corps’ ability to fulfill
its obligations in New Orleans. According to E&E Daily, the Corps has
said it needs at least $2 billion to deal with Katrina damage; so far,
the agency has received $400 million in emergency funds. On the other
hand, new pressure to ensure the Corps is given a sufficient budget may
cause Congress to reevaluate spending priorities and push the Energy and
Water bill through.
For details about the status of key appropriations bills, visit
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/issues/alphalist.html#approps
6. Ballooning Budget Deficit and Rough Road to Reconciliation
The war in Iraq has cost about $200 billion so far and Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita are likely to add $200 billion or more to the growing
emergency spending. In September, the Congressional Budget Office estimated
that the federal deficit will grow to $503 billion in 2006 and this
estimate does not include any of the costs for any hurricane relief. In
April, Congress adopted a budget resolution that called for $70 billion
in tax cuts, $35 billion in mandatory spending cuts (most of the cuts
coming from reductions to Medicare and Medicaid) and drilling in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to supply much of the revenue needed
to offset the tax cuts. Reconciliation of the Budget Resolution has
been delayed until October 27 and there is significant concern and
disagreement among Members about the nation’s fiscal status.
Members of Congress must find ways to offset the emergency costs. Some
have suggested eliminating the proposed tax cuts and delaying the
Medicare Prescription Drug Program by one year. Others have suggested a 1 to
5 % rescission across all agencies. Among the more extreme and unlikely
proposals is “Operation Offset” a document published by the Republican
Study Committee, which is full of significant cuts to Medicare,
Medicaid and many other programs. Among the geoscience-related programs slated
for cuts, the Committee suggests eliminating NSF’s Math and Science
Partnership program, NASA’s Moon/Mars initiative, the clean coal
technology program, the hydrogen fuel initiative and applied research for
renewable energy sources program.
7. House Science Committee Announces Priorities for October
On Friday September 16, 2005, House Science Committee Chief of Staff
David Goldston held an informal press briefing to discuss what the
committee will be working on through October. The first issue brought up was
a bill (S. 1713) introduced by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) on
September 15th that would amend the 2000 Iran Nonproliferation Act (INA) to
allow NASA to use Russian vehicles for access to the International Space
Station. Currently the INA prohibits U.S. purchases of Russian space
technology and equipment while Russia could be exporting nuclear
technology or knowledge to Iran. Goldston said that the House Science and
International Relations Committees were currently discussing which committee
should introduce a House version of this legislation, which was later
passed by the Senate on September 21st. It is unclear how broad the
legislation will be. “No one wants the space station to shut down this
spring,” said Goldston, “the question is how many years we will cover.”
Goldston also addressed the impact on NASA of Hurricane Katrina, which
caused severe damage and suspended operations at the Michoud Processing
Facility, and NASA’s Stennis Space Center, which build important
components of the Space Shuttle. Goldston said that funding for NASA’s
Moon/Mars initiative would probably not be affected by the high cost of
recovery from Hurricane Katrina. The bill authorizing NASA to pursue these
missions passed by wide margins in both the House and the Senate.
The National Science Foundation funding also remains a high priority
for the House Science Committee, according to Goldston. In particular the
committee is working to protect the foundation’s education programs.
Tight budget constraints mean that the National Science Foundation will
not see any major funding increases in the near future. The Science
Committee continues to be concerned about the progress of NPOESS (National
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System), which will
provide Landsat-type data after the expiration of Landsat 7. Currently
the NPOESS program is over its budget and behind schedule, and Goldston
says the Science Committee may hold more hearings on the subject in
October.
Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) introduced
legislation to raise Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards on
Wednesday, September 14th. Goldston said that following Hurricane Katrina
there is a new opportunity to pass CAFE legislation. “It’s a lot harder to
vote no on this now,” he said. The hurricane is less likely, though, to
have an affect on the debate over climate change and greenhouse gas
control. Goldston added that over the long-term, current trends indicate
that Congress will begin to take this issue more seriously, but the
events of the past few weeks have not changed anyone’s opinion.
8. NASA’s Moon/Mars Visions
On September 19, 2005, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) administrator Michael Griffin unveiled its Exploration Systems
Architecture Study (ESAS), which details the agency’s plans for sending
humans to the moon and eventually to Mars. The exploration program
would utilize Apollo-style capsules propelled by rockets similar to those
used by the space shuttle, and would first make a lunar landing in 2018.
From there the plan calls for sending at least two missions to the moon
a year, with the eventual goal of establishing a semi-permanent lunar
outpost. These steps would ultimately prepare NASA to send humans to
Mars and hopefully colonize that planet. NASA emphasized that the new
spacecraft would be much safer than the space shuttle, which has become a
major concern since the Columbia disaster in 2002.
The response to the ESAS included much criticism, most of which was
directed at the high cost of the program. Given the United States’
commitments in Iraq and the rapidly increasing costs of recovery from
Hurricane Katrina, many in Congress are questioning the wisdom of spending $100
billion on space exploration. Griffin defended the cost, saying “The
space program is a long-term investment in our future. We must deal with
our short-term problems while not sacrificing our long-term investments
in our future.”
To read about the program, visit NASA’s website at
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/cev.html
9. RAND Releases Results of Study on Gender and Federal R&D funding
On September 14, 2005 the RAND Corporation released its report “Gender
Differences in Major Federal External Grant Programs”, which tracked
the distribution of federal research and development funding. The study
had been commissioned by an amendment inserted by Senator Ron Wyden
(D-OR) into the 2002 National Science Foundation (NSF) reauthorization
bill.
The results of the three year study show that there is no gender
difference in funding levels for grants issued by NSF or the U.S. Department
of Agriculture. With National Institute of Health grants, however,
women only receive about 83% of the amount that men do, even when the data
is controlled for factors such as age, academic degree and grant type.
The Departments of Defense and Energy do not track the gender of their
grant recipients, so RAND could not include them in its study. Senator
Wyden has announced that he will insert an amendment into upcoming
appropriations legislation that will require granting agencies to maintain
a database that includes gender, race, scholastic background, and
discipline for all grant recipients. The RAND report is available at
http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2005/RAND_TR307.sum.pdf.
10. Evolution Roundup
a. Dover Case Starts
Last year the Dover Area School District in Pennsylvania adopted a
requirement that school administrators deliver a statement warning students
that evolution is a theory among many and pointing them towards
intelligent design for alternative reading. Eleven parents were joined by the
American Civil Liberties Union and the American Union for the
Separation of Church and State in a lawsuit against the school district, arguing
that the directive is an attempt to bring religion into science
classrooms. The Dover Area School District is being represented pro bono by
the Thomas More Law Center, a Christian law firm based in Michigan. The
case, Kitzmiller vs. Dover, is being heard without a jury in Harrisburg
by U.S. District Judge John Jones III, whom President Bush appointed to
the bench in 2002.
The Discovery Institute, in a written statement before the trial,
disagreed with the Dover policy to try to distance itself from a case that
is likely to be decided as religious interference and unlikely to make
Intelligent Design look more like a science than religion. The institute
stated, “Misguided policies like the one adopted by the Dover School
District are likely to be politically divisive and hinder a fair and open
discussion of the merits of intelligent design among scholars and
within the scientific community.” Furthermore, the institute said, judges
should not be telling scientists “what is legitimate scientific inquiry
and what is not.” The institute’s website www.evolutionnews.org provides
daily news about the institute’s views of misrepresentation of
Intelligent Design in the court proceedings.
Opening arguments in the case began on September 26, 2005 and it is
possible that the case could end up in the Supreme Court through the
appeal process. Transcripts, web casts and daily updates on the trial from
the National Center for Science Education are available at
http://www2.ncseweb.org/wp/
b. Congressman Rush Holt Decries Intelligent Design. In a September 8,
2005 blog entitled “Intelligent Design: It’s Not Even Wrong”,
Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) responded to President Bush’s statement of
support for the teaching of Intelligent Design alongside evolution. Holt,
who is a physicist, pointed out that Intelligent Design, because it
cannot be tested empirically, is not science and therefore should not be
taught as such. “We must not allow this American intellectual habit to be
replaced with wishful thinking or lazy thinking,” wrote Holt.
“Intelligent design is lazy thinking.” Holt also argued that instead of debating
the teaching of this nonscientific concept, Americans should be finding
ways to improve our faltering education system. President Bush’s
comments were made on August 1st, and many scientific societies, including
the American Geophysical Union, responded with statements declaring
Intelligent Design to be unscientific. Representative Holt’s blog is a
vailable at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/evolution_holt0905.html.
c. Museums Providing Training for Challenges from Creationists In a
story printed on September 20th, the New York Times detailed how museum
docents are handling an increasing number of challenges to exhibits on
evolution. Dr. Warren Allmon, who is the Director of the Paleontological
Research Institution, one of AGI’s Member Societies, has held training
sessions for docents on ways to deal with visitors who reject
scientific theories for religious reasons. "Just telling them they are wrong is
not going to be effective," Allmon said. Similar steps are being taken
at museums across the country as the debate over evolution becomes more
heated. The Times story is available at
http://digg.com/science/Challenged_by_Creationists,_Museums_Answer_Back.
d. American Astronomical Society Issues Statement Supporting Teaching
Evolution On September 20th the American Astronomical Society (AAS)
issued a statement in support of teaching evolution in America’s K-12
science classrooms. The statement points out that the theory of evolution is
a foundation of modern science, and that Intelligent Design does not
meet the criteria of a scientific idea. AAS President Dr. Robert Kirshner
said, “Science teachers have their hands full teaching the things that
we actually know about the world we live in. They shouldn't be burdened
with content-free dogma like Intelligent Design.” The AAS joins many
other scientific and educational organizations, including the National
Academies of Sciences, the National Science Teachers Association, AGI and
the American Geophysical Union, in supporting evolution in science
education. The statement is available at http://www.aas.org/.
11. Earthquake Briefing
On September 20, 2005, the Congressional Hazards Caucus Alliance
sponsored an earthquake briefing in the Rayburn House Office Building. The
briefing was entitled “Earthquakes: Mitigation Through Effective Design
and Getting the Public Involved.” The first speaker was David Wald, a
USGS seismologist, who discussed ShakeMap, which provides near-real-time
maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant
earthquakes and “Did You Feel It?,” which produces maps of the shaking felt
by people who fill out an online questionnaire after an event. The
second speaker was Cliff Roblee, a geotechnical engineer, who discussed how
to design and build more earthquake-resistant structures and summarized
the work of the Network for Earthquake Engineering (NEES), Inc.. The
third speaker was Stuart Nishenko, a seismologist at Pacific Gas and
Electric, who discussed the cost-effectiveness of seismic monitoring and
how to protect our lifelines (communication lines, oil and gas pip
elines, water and sewage systems and others). Seventeen congressional
staff members from 6 states (California, Illinois, Missouri, North
Carolina, Minnesota and Utah) and the House Science Committee attended the
briefing. The presentations and a summary of the briefing is available
at http://www.hazardscaucus.org/briefings/earthquake_briefing0905.html
12. Scientists Visit Congress in September
A subset of the organizations involved in the Coalition for National
Science Funding (CNSF) organized congressional visits for scientists on
September 14, 2005. Our general objective was to ask for increased
support for the National Science Foundation and more specifically to ask
Members to support the House-level of NSF funding in the fiscal year 2006
science appropriation process. Sixty-five scientists from 28
organizations conducted 82 visits to congressional members from 23 states (AL,
CA, CO, DE, FL, KS, KY, IL, IN, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY,
OH, OR, TX and VA). AGI had four scientists, Maria Zuber, Chair of the
Earth, Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences Department at MIT; Dan
Fornari, Director - Deep Ocean Exploration Institute at Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution; Matt Davis, Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences
at the University of New Hampshire; and Jamie Austin, from the
University of Texas at Austin. The American Geophysical Union, the Soil Scie
nce Society and the Joint Oceanographic Institutions added at least
another 20 visitors, making the geoscientists the largest contingent of
any of the scientific disciplines. The Massachusetts visitors met John
Kerry during their office visit with his staff member, while the
Massachusetts, Virginia, Alabama and other delegations prepared letters of
support for NSF based on the visits from the scientists.
13. Royal Astronomical Society Urges Reconsideration of Leap Seconds
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) issued a statement on September
20, 2005 recommending that the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU) shelve a proposal to abolish leap seconds. Leap seconds are periodic
small adjustments to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) which allow
timekeeping to remain synchronized with the rotation of Earth and with the
position of the sun in the sky. Abolishing leap seconds would simplify
some precision timing applications, but it would cause problems for
scientists and others who use clock time as a measure of mean solar time.
The RAS is concerned because debate over the proposed change has been
limited to specialists and has not included many who would be affected by
it. The RAS recommends that the ITU shelve the proposal until a wider
debate is held. The entire statement can be found at
http://www.ras.org.uk/.
14. AAAS Brokerage System for Scientists Affected by Katrina
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has
developed a “brokerage system” through which scientists in the Gulf Coast
region can find needed resources for rebuilding their labs and
classrooms. Through this online service, scientists can post needed and
available resources, including computers, books, lab space or equipment, and
teaching materials. Additionally, AAAS has made articles from Science
related to hurricanes freely available as an aid to policymakers,
scientists, and the public. These articles include a widely publicized recent
study that links global warming with increased hurricane intensity. The
brokerage and the free Science articles are available at
http://www.aaas.org/katrina/.
15. National Ground Water Association Recommends Emergency Registry
The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) has suggested that its
members who are looking to help with recovery efforts following Hurricane
Katrina join the National Emergency Resource Registry. The registry is
run by the Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) as a way to
efficiently coordinate response efforts with communities affected by
Hurricane Katrina or other disasters. On the National Emergency Resource
Registry website, www.seern.com, persons or companies can register as a new
or existing member, select “water/waste water” as a service category,
and specify the type of assistance they can offer. "Our industry has a
big heart, which is evidenced by the many NGWA members offering their
services. We believe those who wish to volunteer should get on the
emergency registry to help and not hinder the recovery effort," said NGWA
Executive Director Kevin McCray.
16. Federal Register Notes
Below is a summary of Federal Register announcements regarding federal
regulations, agency meetings, and other notices of interest to the
geosciences 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/frcont05.html. Information on
submitting comments and reading announcements are also available online
at http://www.regulation.gov.
DOE/BLM: The Department of Energy and the Bureau of Land Management
have posted a notice informing the public of a proposed action on western
federal lands. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the Secretaries of
Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, and the Interior to designate
corridors on federal land for oil, gas and hydrogen pipelines and
electricity transmission and distribution facilities. The agencies intend to
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for this action and
will conduct 11 public scoping meetings and solicit public comments for
consideration in establishing the scope and content of the EIS. For
information about the scoping meetings and submitting comments visit
http://corridoreis.anl.gov. [Federal Register: September 28, 2005
(Volume 70, Number 187)]
EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency is extending the comment
period for their proposed Public Health and Environmental Radiation
Protection Standards for Yucca Mountain, Nevada which appeared in the Federal
Register on August 22, 2003. The purpose of this notice is to extend
the comment period to November 21, 2005, and to announce an additional
public hearing in Las Vegas on October 6, 2005. [Federal Register:
September 27, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 186)]
MMS: The Minerals Management Service published a final rule to provide
immediate temporary relief to the oil and gas industry in the aftermath
of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that provides an extension to pay
royalties owed on federal oil and gas leases and reports corresponding
royalty and production documents. Extending the due date for royalty payments
means that late payment interest will not accrue for the period between
the original due date and the new due date established by this rule.
[Federal Register: September 29, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 188)]
MMS: The Minerals Management Service is delaying until January 1, 2006,
the effective date of a rule that will implement fees to offset the
costs of providing certain services related to its mineral programs. This
delay is necessary because of damage caused in the New Orleans area by
Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding. The delay will provide
relief to the government and the oil and gas industry as they recover from
this disaster. [Federal Register: September 26, 2005 (Volume 70, Number
185)]
NSF: The National Science Foundation has posted notice of a meeting
that will be held to carry out a review of UNAVCO management and
leadership. The meeting will be held October 20-21, 2005 at UNAVCO headquarters
in Boulder, CO. For more information contact Russel Kelz
(rkelz@nsf.gov). [Federal Register: September 26, 2005 (Volume70, Number 185)]
NSF: The National Science Foundation announces its intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the potential environmental
impacts associated with the use of seismic sources in support of
NSF-funded research by U.S. academic scientists. NSF requests public
participation in the scoping process. A list of meeting dates and locations is
available on the Federal Registry. For more information contact
Alexander Shor (OCE-EIS@nsf.gov). [Federal Register: September 22, 2005
(Volume 70, Number 183)]
17. New Updates to the Website
FY2006 Commerce Appropriations
FY2006 NSF Appropriations (9-30-05)
FY2006 NASA Appropriations (9-30-05)
FY2006 Department of Agriculture Appropriations (9-30-05) Hearings on
Climate Change Issues (9-28-05) Action Alert: Support for the Energy and
Mineral Schools Reinvestment Act (9-27-05) Hearings on Hurricane
Katrina (9-23-05) Hearings on Natural Gas Issues (9-23-05) Hearings on Energy
Policy (9-23-05) Hearings on Brownfields (9-16-05) Political Challenges
to the Teaching of Evolution (9-15-05) Federal Science Education Policy
Overview (9-15-05) Mercury Policy (9-14-05) High-Level Nuclear Waste
Legislation (9-2-05) Public Access to Federally-funded Scientific
Research (9-1-05)
Monthly Review prepared by Linda Rowan, Director of Government Affairs,
Katie Ackerly, Government Affairs Staff and Peter Douglas, 2005
AGI/AAPG Fall Intern.
Sources: Washington Post, New York Times, Greenwire, E&E Daily, Library
of Congress, Congressional Quarterly, NASAWatch, American Astronomical
Society, Royal Astronomical Society, National Center for Science
Education, American Physical Society, American Institute of Physics, and
American Association for the Advancement of Science
22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
3) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL UPDATE: 10-07-05
The following presidential message was released by the White House in
recognition of Earth Science Week 2005 which is October 9-15. The
message joins other proclamations that are issued by numerous state governors
and city mayors across the country.
AGI thanks President Bush for his support and thanks geoscientists for
their dedication to the many Earth Science Week activities organized in
communities across the United States and around the world. More
information about activities and how to get involved are available at
www.earthsciweek.org
* * * * * * * * * *
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
October 4, 2005
I send greetings to those celebrating Earth Science Week 2005,
sponsored by the American Geological Institute.
The desire to explore and understand is part of our Nation's character,
and we have a rich history of scientific achievement. Across our
country, geologists, geophysicists, and other earth and environmental
scientists are expanding our knowledge of the world around us and showing us
innovative ways to care for the environment. Their curiosity and passion
for discovery reflect the spirit of America.
I salute the geoscience community for helping us appreciate the wonders
of our natural surroundings. I also appreciate parents and teachers for
working together to educate our Nation's young people about the Earth.
Your efforts inspire future generations of scientists and remind us of
our responsibility to be good stewards of the environment.
Laura and I send our best wishes.
George W. Bush
* * * * * * * * * *
Special update prepared by Linda Rowan, AGI Government Affairs Program
33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
4) 3RD ANNUAL MAMMOTH SITE WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
A gap in the career aspirations of boys and girls in science or
engineering exists as early as eighth grade. While high school seniors of both
genders are equally likely to look to a career in science or
mathematics, male seniors are much more likely than their female counterparts to
expect a career in engineering. What can we do about this? Early in
the pipeline, girls are dropping out. We have an idea to encourage and
stimulate interest.
The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota is a sponsor for the
annual Women in Science and Technology Conference on Monday, March 6, 2006.
This FREE day-long conference at the Mammoth Site is one of five
conferences conducted statewide the week of March 6-10, 2006. The Mammoth
Site envisions this conference as a continued association promoting Women
in Science Conferences in South Dakota. These conferences are aimed at
seventh- through 12-grade girls. More than 1,000 students attended
statewide in 2005. The Mammoth Site hosted 157 girls from the southern
Black Hills region and from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
This will be the third WIS conference at the Mammoth Site. The design
of the 2005 Mammoth Site Women in Science Conference incorporated seven
vendors with hands-on activities and 4 simultaneous sessions after the
Keynote Speaker, Karen Lyn Simon-Stoos-Geneticist at the National Human
Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD. Our sessions were: Session I
Geosciences, Session II Animal Sciences; Session III Women in Medicine;
Session IV Weather/NOAA. Girls who attend get a tote bag with a packet
of information about the conference, information about notable women in
science and references to other information about careers in science
Growing the American talent pool requires a nationwide call to action
and a major shift in how we educate, train, and recruit citizens in the
fields of science, engineering, and technology. Barriers exist today
throughout the SET pipeline that limit the number of women seeking and
retaining these jobs. “We don’t need to ask whether women can excel,” WIS
Conference Coordinator Kris Thompson said. “We already know that. We’ve
got some fantastic women scientists who have been around for a number
of years doing fantastic, groundbreaking things.” If we are to compete
effectively in the global marketplace, we must advance the full and
equitable participation of all Americans in science, engineering, and
technology fields. Our economy will not only be positively affected by
bringing more women into the SET workforce, but our high-tech, scientific,
and engineering industries will benefit from their diverse viewpoints
and approaches, as well as their skills. We can and must reinvest
in our people and work together to build a strong economic future that
holds promise for all Americans.
“Until our scientific and technological workplace reflects our
diversity, we are not working to our potential as a nation.”
For more information contact: Kristine M. Thompson, Bonebed
Curator/Educator, Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota, Inc. Phone: 605
745-6017 ext. 32 or send an e-mail to: kmt1@mammothsite.com. Website:
www.mammothsite.com.
44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444
5) POSITION OPENINGS
2005-080
San Diego State University
Stratigraphy/Sedimentology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry
The Department of Geological Sciences at San Diego State University
invites applications for two tenure-track Assistant Professor positions,
one in stratigraphy/sedimentology and one in low temperature
geochemistry, beginning Fall 2006. A Ph.D. is required at time of appointment and
post-doctoral experience is preferred. We seek motivated
teacher-scholars who will establish vigorous, externally funded and nationally
recognized research programs involving both graduate and undergraduate
students. Research specialty within the two positions is open but will
preferably complement and build on existing strengths in the department
which has extensive analytical and computational facilities. See
http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/. The successful candidates will have
teaching responsibility at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, statement of research and teaching
interests, curriculum vitae, and names and contact information of three
re
ferences to: Faculty Search Committee, Department of Geological
Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego CA 92182-1020. Deadline Nov
1, 2005.
SDSU is a Title IX, equal opportunity employer and does not
discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, religion, national origin,
sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, disability or veteran
status, including veterans of the Vietnam era.
* * * * * * * * * *
2005-081
Georgia Southern University
Tenure-track position in coastal geology
The Department of Geology and Geography invites applications for a
tenure-track faculty 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 oceanography, sedimentation
and stratigraphy, coastal geology, and will share responsibility for
courses in environmental geology and historical geology and associated
laboratories. The appointment will be made at the rank of Assistant
Professor. Salary will be commensurate with the applicant’s experience and
accomplishments. A PhD in geology or a closely related field must be
completed by the position starting date of August 1, 2006. 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
who have prior undergraduate teaching experience.
Georgia Southern University, a member institution of the University
System of Georgia, is the largest and most comprehensive center of higher
education in the southern half of Georgia. More information about the
institution is available through http://www.georgiasouthern.edu. The
Department of Geology and Geography offers courses that lead to the BS
and BA degrees with majors in both geology and geography. The
Department’s web site (http://cost.georgiasouthern.edu/geo/) provides an
overview of the programs, faculty, and facilities.
Screening of applications begins December 1, 2005, and will continue
until the position is filled. A complete application consists of a
letter addressing the qualifications cited above; supporting documentation
(such as reprints and evidence of teaching effectiveness); a curriculum
vitae; and the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses
of at least three professional references. Other documentation may be
requested. Georgia Southern University seeks to recruit individuals
who are committed to working in diverse academic and professional
communities. Applications and nominations should be sent to: Dr. Charles H.
Trupe, Search Chair, Department of Geology and Geography, Georgia
Southern University, P.O. Box 8149, Statesboro, GA 30460-8149. Electronic
mail: CHTrupe@GeorgiaSouthern.edu. Telephone: 912 681-0337.
Georgia Southern University seeks individuals who are committed to
excellence in teaching, scholarship, and professional service within the
University and beyond. Georgia is an Open Records state. Georgia
Southern University is an AA/EO institution. Individuals who need reasonable
accommodations under the ADA in order to participate in the search
process should contact the search chair.
* * * * * * * * * *
2005-085 and 086
University of Washington
Tenure-track Assistant Professor in geobiology and volcanology/magmatic
processes (2 positions)
Geobiology. The Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of
Washington invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor
position in geobiology, to begin September 2006. In exceptional
circumstances, appointment as Associate Professor or Professor may be
considered for candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to mentoring
underrepresented students in the sciences. Applicants must have a Ph.D. by
the start of appointment.
Duties will include engaging in undergraduate and graduate teaching,
independent research, and service. Preferred research areas include, but
are not limited to, geomicrobiology and biogeochemistry, emphasizing
the reciprocal interactions between the Earth, life and environments
through time. We are particularly interested in individuals who use new
genetic, microbiological, geochemical and/or computing techniques in their
research and who can incorporate these into their teaching.
Opportunities for collaboration exist with the Burke Museum, Program on Climate
Change, Marine Geology & Geophysics, Atmospheric Sciences, Astrobiology
Program, and departmental research groups in isotopic geochemistry,
sedimentology/stratigraphy, Quaternary studies and geomorphology, among
others.
Applications must include a curriculum vitae and list of publications,
a statement of research and teaching experience and interests, and
three letters of reference (sent directly to the search committee by the
referees). Send applications and reference letters to: GEOB Search
Committee, Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Box
351310, Seattle, WA 98195-1310. Electronic applications will be accepted
at geob-search@ess.washington.edu, with subject line "GEOB-Application,
(your name)."
Priority will be given to applications, including recommendations,
received by November 11, 2005.
The University of Washington is an affirmative action, equal
opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Volcanology/Magmatic Processes. The Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences
at the University of Washington invites applications for a tenure-track
Assistant Professor position in volcanology/magmatic processes, to
begin September 2006. In exceptional circumstances, appointment as
Associate Professor or Professor may be considered for candidates who have
demonstrated a commitment to mentoring underrepresented students in the
sciences. Applicants must have a Ph.D. by the date of appointment.
Duties will include engaging in undergraduate and graduate teaching,
field work, independent research, and service. Preferred research areas
include, but are not limited to, mineral chemistry and thermodynamics of
minerals, experimental or theoretical modeling of the formation and
stability of mantle and crustal materials, isotope geochemistry, and the
role of volatiles in magmatic processes. We are especially interested in
an individual who complements current departmental programs in surface
processes, crust and mantle geochemistry, or solid-earth geophysics.
Applications must include a curriculum vitae and list of publications,
a statement of research and teaching experience and interests, and
three letters of reference (sent directly to the search committee by the
referees). Send applications and reference letters to: VMP Search
Committee, Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Box
351310, Seattle, WA 98195-1310. Electronic applications will be accepted
at vmp-search@ess.washington.edu, with subject line "VMP-Application,
(your name)."
Priority will be given to applications, including recommendations,
received by November 11, 2005.
The University of Washington is an affirmative action, equal
opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
* * * * * * * * * *
2005-094
California State University, Los Angeles
Igneous Petrology/Volcanic Hazards
The Department of Geological Sciences seeks to fill a tenure-track
position in igneous petrology, volcanology, or volcanic hazards at the
assistant professor level, with a starting date of September 2006 and at an
initial salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. A
Ph.D. in geology from an accredited institution of higher education is
required. The successful applicant must demonstrate a potential for or a
record of research, scholarly and/or creative activity involving
students whenever possible, and a potential for effective teaching using a
variety of methodologies. A demonstrated ability and/or interest in
working in a multi-ethnic, multicultural environment and proficiency in oral
and written communication are also required. Duties will include
teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level. Teaching responsibilities
will include igneous/metamorphic petrology, optical mineralogy,
introductory courses, and advanced courses in applicant’s area of exper
tise. We seek applicants capable of integrating laboratory and field
instruction. Maintaining an active research program, mentoring and
advising students at the undergraduate and graduate level, and
participating in University service are expected. Applicant documentation should
include a statement of teaching and research interests, a detailed
curriculum vita, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts from
institutions awarding highest degree. Employment is contingent upon proof
of eligibility to work in the United States and completion of the
University’s Application for Academic Employment form. Review of
applications will begin on November 14, 2005 and will continue until the position
is filled. Address applications, required documentation and/or
requests for information to: Dr. Kim Bishop, Search Committee Chair,
California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los
Angeles, CA 90032-8203, kbishop@calstatela.edu, (323) 343-2409. Depar!
tment Web Page: http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/geology.
* * * * * * * * * *
2005-101
Washington & Lee University
Tenure Track Position in Geology
The Geology Department at Washington and Lee University
(geology.wlu.edu) seeks applicants for a new tenure track, Assistant Professor
position to begin Fall 2006. A PhD is required. The successful candidate will
be an excellent teacher and scientist in a specialty that complements
and builds on the existing strengths of our faculty. We seek a colleague
who is dedicated to diverse teaching approaches, is enthusiastic about
teaching intensive major/non-major field geology courses, and will
develop a strong research program including collaboration with
undergraduates. W&L is a nationally ranked, highly selective liberal arts college.
Our department is well equipped for high quality teaching and research,
is ideally situated for field studies in the Appalachian Mountains of
southwestern Virginia, and is a member of the Keck Geology Consortium. A
resume, teaching and research statements emphasizing how the
candidate’s methods, interests, and experience will enhance our program, a
nd 3 letters of reference should be sent to David Harbor
(harbord@wlu.edu), Geology Department, Washington and Lee University,
Lexington, VA 24450. Review of applications will begin immediately and
continue until the position is filled. Washington and Lee University is
committed to the development of a campus climate that supports equality
and diversity. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Equal
Opportunity Employer.
We will be at GSA and AGU in the fall. Please email if you will be
attending and are interested in speaking with us formally or informally.
To see current openings for the University, go to
http://personnel.wlu.edu/.
* * * * * * * * * *
2005-103
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Structural Geology and Environmental Geochemistry Faculty Positions
The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (http://web.eps.utk.edu)
invites applications for two tenure-track faculty positions starting
Fall 2006. Successful candidates are expected to develop strong,
externally funded research programs involving graduate and undergraduate
student supervision and publication. Post-doctoral experience and the ability
to complement one or more existing departmental strengths (crustal
structure and seismology, Earth systems history, geochemistry, hydrogeology
and environmental science, and planetary geoscience) are desirable.
Structural Geology: Assistant Professor—open to candidates with a PhD
in Earth Sciences, Geology or a related discipline, with experience in
structural geology, and a strong emphasis on field geology that focuses
on almost any aspect of lithospheric deformation and related processes.
The successful candidate is expected to teach undergraduate courses,
and graduate courses in his/her specialty, as well as participate in
field geology course(s) at all levels. Candidates are encouraged to take
advantage of the regional geologic setting of the southern Appalachians.
Environmental Geochemistry: Assistant Professor—open to candidates with
a PhD in Earth Sciences, Geology, Geochemistry, or a related
discipline. We seek an individual with expertise in topics such as organic
contaminants, biogeochemistry, aqueous geochemistry, low-temperature
geochemistry, isotope geochemistry, or biomarker analysis, with a broad
emphasis on environmental problems. The successful candidate is expected to
teach undergraduate courses, and graduate courses in his/her specialty.
In developing a research program, the individual may take advantage of
the Department’s strong ties with nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory
and the UT Center for Environmental Biotechnology. This position carries
with it the Jones Environmental Geochemistry Endowment, which partially
supports the candidate’s research and teaching program.
UT-Knoxville is the flagship campus for the UT system and is located
close to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. The Department comprises an energetic group of tenure-track,
research and teaching faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and about 100
graduate and undergraduate students. Instrumentation available for
research and teaching includes GC-IRMS, GC-MS, ICP-AES, LC-MS, AFM, XRD,
XRF, EPMA, Vibroseis and seismic recording equipment, LANDMARK software
license grant for 3D graphics and seismic processing, and other
facilities. The university welcomes and honors people of all races, creeds,
cultures, and sexual orientations, and values intellectual curiosity,
pursuit of knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity. Applicants
should e-mail their résumé, letter describing research and teaching
interests, and list of 3 references in .pdf format to Dr. Chris Fedo, Search
Committee Chair, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University
of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1410; Phone 865-974-6002; Fax
865-974-2368; E-mail: <cfedo@utk.edu>. Supplementary materials, such as copies
of refereed publications, can be e-mailed or mailed to Dr. Fedo at the
above address. Review of applications will begin on December 15, 2005,
and will continue until both positions are filled.
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section
504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment
programs and services.
* * * * * * * * * *
2005-106
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Tenure-track Associate or Assistant Professor in GIS and Physical
Geography
The University of Tennessee Department of Geography invites
applications for a new, tenure-track position for an Associate or Assistant
Professor with expertise in Geographic Information Science and Physical
Geography, beginning in August 2006. We seek applicants with active
research in GIScience-oriented theory and modeling of natural processes and
systems. Ph.D. in geography or closely related field is required at the
time of appointment. Applicants must exhibit a strong commitment to
undergraduate and graduate teaching, and develop and sustain
externally-funded research. This position will provide an intellectual bridge
between the department’s programs in Geographic Information Science and
Physical Geography. The successful applicant will join a dynamic, growing
department characterized by strong mutual support, broadly shared
interests among faculty, a tradition of internal and external collaboration,
and excellent computational and laboratory facilities for GIScien
ce and physical geography research. For information about the
department, see http://web.utk.edu/~utkgeog/. The
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is the state’s flagship research
institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates, and a
premier graduate institution. As a land-grant university, it is committed
to excellence in learning, scholarship, and engagement with society. In
all its activities, the university aims to advance the frontiers of
human knowledge and enrich and elevate society. The university welcomes
and honors people of all races, creeds, cultures,
and sexual orientations, and values intellectual curiosity, pursuit of
knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity. The university intends
that its graduates will promote the values and institutions of
representative democracy, and be prepared to lead lives of personal integrity
and civic responsibility.
Send letters of application to Dr. Shih-Lung Shaw, Search Committee
Chair, Department of Geography, 304 Burchfiel Geography Building,
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0925. Applications should include
a curriculum vitae and a cover letter highlighting the applicant’s
teaching and research strengths and experience. Applicants should arrange
for at least three letters of reference to be sent to the search
committee chair. Review of applications will begin on 1 December 2005 and
will continue until the position is filled.
The University of Tennessee does not discriminate on the basis of race,
sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or veteran
status in provision of educational programs and services or employment
opportunities and benefits. This policy extends to both employment by and
admission to the University.
The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or
disability in its education programs and activities pursuant to the
requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
Inquiries and charges of violation concerning Title VI, Title IX,
Section 504, ADA or the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) or any
of the other above referenced policies should be directed to the Office
of Equity and Diversity (OED), 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996
3560, telephone (865) 974-2498 (V/TTY available) or 974-2440. Requests
for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA
Coordinator at the UTK Office of Human Resources, 600 Henley Street,
Knoxville, TN 37996-4125.
55555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555
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