The YES Network is hosting ELECTIONS FOR THE 2012-2014 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE! Voting is NOW OPEN!
Check out the details on how to vote in the Leadership News section.
Do you have news, a member profile, updates about your team or project, an article, or artwork you'd like to share?
Send us an email at networkyes.newsletter@gmail.com with the information posted under "How to Contribute to the YES Network Newsletter"
YES Network Newsletter
Read about what's going on in the YES Network around the world and stay current with upcoming events by reading our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter by filling out a YES Network membership form.
Each newsletter features the latest activities and upcoming events in the YES Network from around the world.
Current Issue
Newsletter Highlights:
1. The YES Newsletter Team is looking for 2 Associate Editors! If you're interested in becoming more involved in communicating with geoscientists from all over the world, this is a great opportunity for you. Please see page 2 for details.
2. We are seeking YES Members to be editors or reviewers for the YES Network Bulletin. See Page 2 for details.
3. Elshan Abdullayev from Azerbijan is this month's featured profile.
4. Do you want to get more involved in the YES Network? YES is holding the 2012-2014 elections for leadership roles! Voting is NOW OPEN through May 25th. For more information about who is running for positions and how to vote for your favorite candidates, please see page 3.
National Representatives, please remember that the next 'Drop-In' Skype chat session will be on 28 February 2012 at 4pm GMT. Hope to see you all there! Details are posted in the YES Network newsletter.
YES2012 Congress Information
Read the schedule for the YES2012 Congress and find out about all the YES Network activities you can participate in during the conference. The YES2012 website is now published online!
National Representatives - Connect with your National Chapter's membership
Keep in touch with the YES Network members in your country! Get your National Chapter’s most recent member ship list by emailing the YES Network’s Membership Administrator, Leila Gonzales at lmg@agiweb.org
YES Network Bloggers
We are seeking input for the YES Network blog. Share your experiences in the field, in the lab, or on any other (relevant) geoscience topic. Please send your submissions to networkyes.communications@gmail.com and we.ll post it on the blog. If you have a blog already, and enjoy writing, come join our blogging team to write about what interests you in the geosciences.
Membership Profiles
There are currently 128 members who have posted their profile in the YES Network.s Membership Directory! Join the community to find collaborators, develop YES Network projects and chat about geoscience topics of interest. Click on Join YES page on the YES Network's website to access the Membership Directory.
Even if you would like to keep your profile unlisted in the Membership Directory, please make sure to update your profile's Country of Residence field. That way, we can connect you with your local YES Network National Representative so you can keep current on YES Network activities in the country where you live.
Newsletter - Call for Photos!
We need new photos for the YES Network newsletter. If you have photos that you would like us to use as part of the YES Network newsletter, please email them to us at networkyes.newsletter@gmail.com.
Recent Results from the Retaining Students through the Student-to-Professional Continuum Survey
If you haven't shared your thoughts, please do so today! We'll be sharing the most recent results in the Newsletters over this summer.
We'd love to hear from you. Read our newsletter to find out what information you will need to include in your email to our Newsletter Team (networkyes.newsletter@gmail.com).
Previous Issues
How to Contribute to the YES Network Newsletter
Do you have news, a member profile, updates about your team or project, an article, or artwork you'd like to share? Send us an email at networkyes.newsletter@gmail.com with the information:
YES Network Member Showcase
Visit the YES Network website’s Member Showcase page for a complete list of information required to submit your profile to the YES Network Member Showcase. For inclusion in both the YES Network website and newsletter, please send your information to the Communications Team and the Newsletter Publication Team.
Crossing Borders Articles
We accept short (1 page) articles for publication that highlight the application of geoscience research to societal issues. Consideration is also given to articles that address the health of geoscience discipline as a whole and introduce new tools, research methods, and or concepts that can be applied to address societal challenges, raise the awareness of the geoscience in society, and improve the demographics of the geoscience profession as a whole. Submit your manuscript, name, affiliation, and references to the YES Network Newsletter Publication team.
News Items, Opportunities, Updates, National Chapter Information, etc.
Email the information (news, opportunities, updates to events, national chapter information, etc.) along with your name and email address.
Photos and Artwork
We accept .png or .jpg images. Please include your name, email, and your consent for the YES Network to use your photos and artwork in our media publications.
YES Network News
Check out what's going on in the YES Network around the world and get involved with upcoming YES Network activities!
News from the Leadership Teams
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*** YES Network Elections! ***
Dear YES Network Members,
The YES Network is holding elections for Executive Roles and Team Members for the next term, 2012-2014. Please view the following document for information about running for positions, voting and general information. We highly encourage you to become active members in the YES community if you are not already.
When can I vote?
YES Network Election Voting is NOW OPEN through May 25th at 22:00 GMT. To vote for your new Executive Committee Members, click HERE. Please take advantage of this opportunity to vote for your new Executive Leaders!
Who is eligible to vote?
Those YES Network members who joined the organization on or before February 10th, 2012.
How do I obtain my YES Network ID and Password?
Please visit the YES Membership Login webpage and enter in your information. Membership Services will respond to your request before the end of the voting period. Use your YES ID and Password to vote.
Where do I go to vote?
To vote, click here!
Who can I vote for?
All nominees who are running for Executive positions have written Letters of Intent for all YES Members to view. These letters explain why the candidate is running for the position and his/her 2-year plan for the YES Network if voted into the Executive Committee. Please carefully read each statement prior to voting.
How do I vote?
When the YES Elections Voting Ballot is up (starting May 11th), go to the voting website hosted by the American Geosciences Institute and follow the instructions. You will need your YES Network ID and Password to start the voting process. If you became a YES member after February 10th, 2012, you are ineligible to vote. Each YES Member will only be able to vote ONCE in this round of elections. Once your vote is submitted, you will be able to print your selections for your own records.
How will nominations be determined?
Nominations for the 2010-2014 Executive Committee is reviewed by the YES Election Committee. The Election Committee is composed of current and past Executive Members who are not standing for re-election: Joanne Venus (Outgoing President), David Govoni (Past President), Heather Houlton (YES Membership Services/Webmaster) and Current and Past Executive Members: Michelle Cooper, Sarah Gaines, Eliakim Kagimbo, Luca Micucci, Elyvin Nkhonjera and Syed Ajijur Rahman.
Sincerely,
YES Executive Committee
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Executive Board
We are happy to announce that the YES Network is the first international associate of the AGI Federation. Read the press release: http://bit.ly/eDY9IS
Communications Team Updates
Congratulations to Mohamed Assalmi! He is the new graphic designer of the YES Network. He will be working closely with the Communications Team and will be also helping in designing the newsletter.
We are looking for 8 dynamic YES Network members to join the YES Network leadership team as Regional Communications Officers. See the full position posting on page 4 of the March Newsletter.
Professional Development Team Updates
The Professional Development Team is currently working on a list of potential organizations where YES Network members can easily find career resources (e.g. jobs, scholarships), and are also in the process of interviewing scientists about career tips. Additionally, Reuben is working with Gabriela Perlingeiro on as part of the planning activities for the YES Congress 2012.
Skype Chats & Webinars
We are always looking for new and innovative ways to encourage YES Network members to become involved in YES Network activities. We are planning to start a series of on-line discussion sessions held via skype. These will run in a similar way to the online component of our roundtable sessions. If you would like to volunteer to run a topic please get in touch (networkyes.president@gmail.com). Topics could be related to Earth science, careers, outreach, crossing borders, etc. We will provide you with support on running the session.
28 January 2012, 4pm GMT
National Representatives - ‘Drop In’ Skype Chat
Add yesnationalreps to your Skype contacts. Meet and chat with other National Representatives, exchange tips and develop ideas on how to build your National Chapter. This session will run as as text chat session.
AGI/AIPG GOLI Webinar on giving effective geoscience professional presentations
The American Geosciences Institute and American Institute of Professional Geologists is pleased to announce the next of their Geoscience Online Learning Initiative (GOLI) webinars. This week's webinar is: "Giving a Speech, A Work of Art - How to Give a Professional Presentation with Top Quality PowerPoint Graphics" and is presented by Dr. Christopher Mathewson at the Texas A&M University Department of Geology and Gephysics.
Ideal for students and early-career professionals, this webinar will provide guidance on taking your professional geoscience presentations to the next level.
Also a great opportunity for geology clubs to help their members prepare for their next conference presentations.
The webinar is scheduled for 2pm EST, February 22, 2012 and is expected to last one hour.
With this webinar, we are pleased to announce a new pricing structure:
Full registration, including 0.1 CEUs: $99
Full registration without CEUs: $79
Students: $29
In addition, with registration, you will be provided access to the slides used, as well as a video recording of the entire webinar.
To register and for more information, please go to: http://www.aipg.org/e-mail/GOLI.html
Please email all inquiries regarding this webinar to Cathy Duran at cld@aipg.org
Watch the webinar on the AGI GeoWebinar site:
http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/webinars.html
YES Network Meetings & Activities:
YES Network Sessions and Activities
YES Network @ EGU: More information coming soon!
YES CONGRESS 2012
The YES Network2012 Congress will be held in conjunction with the 34th IGC (www.34igc.org) in Brisbane, Australia. Stay tuned for more information!
Opportunities for YES Network Members
Check out what's going on in the YES Network around the world and get involved with upcoming YES Network activities!
Leadership Team Opportunities:
Leadership teams, do you have positions and duties that YES Network members can help you with? If so, send your position announcements to networkyes.newsletter@gmail.com , and we will post them here and in the monthly YES Network Newsletter.
Call for YES Network members who wish to assist in various YES Network activities and projects
Do you want to help with the running of a YES Network event? Do you have an idea for a workshop? Or would you simply like to get more involved in the day-to-day running of the network? We have lots of exciting projects in development, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved! Please note that there will be a time commitment requirement with all projects, so do let us know how much time you can invest. Thank you! Contact me directly at networkyes.president@gmail.com if you are interested. Please ensure that the email subject reads: "Call for YES Network members" or I might miss your email.
~Best wishes,
Jo Venus, YES Network President
Become a YES Communications Team member!
We are seeking motivated YES members to join us in the team and participate in the different Communications Team activities!
Insterested? E-mail us now at: networkyes.communications@gmail.com with your CV and a short letter to explain to us your motivations for this position.
We're looking forward to hear from many of you soon!
The YES Communications Team
Research & Project Collaborations:
Have an idea that you’d like to develop with other YES Network members? Post your idea here. Send a brief description of your research or project idea and your contact information (name and email) to networkyes.newsletter@gmail.com, and we’ll post your information here and in the next YES Network Newsletter.
YES Network: Geomicrobiology Initiative
Punyasloke Bhadury
www.yesgeomicrobiology.blogspot.com/
Email: yesgeomicrobiology@gmail.com
Over the last decade the interdisciplinary domain of Geobiology including geomicrobiology has generated plenty of interests among geologists, earth scientists and biologists. New discoveries in geomicrobiology has significantly changed the way we think about the origin and evolution of life on earth. YES Geomicrobiology is an initiative of YES Network to motivate early-career geoscientists to pursue research in geobiology and also encourage collaboration amongst geologists, geochemists microbiologists and environmental scientists. Through this platform ideas will be exchanged among YES Network members in areas of geobiology including geomicrobiology. Job openings/PhD positions/Meetings and workshops/grants applications relevant to the field of geomicrobiology will be posted on a regular basis. Opportunities for establishing long-term international research collaborative link amongst early career geoscientists will be actively explored from this platform.
Updated Decision Points Survey
Jo Venus and Leila Gonzales
www.networkyes.org/index.php/projects/descision_points_survey/
Thank you to all who participated in the YES Network’s Decision Points Survey. We got a lot of feedback from our survey participants and had several good discussions with colleagues at the AGU 2010 Fall Meeting in December. Based on these discussions, we have updated the survey to be more extensive to better capture information about why people stay in or leave the geosciences. If you have not yet taken the survey, or if you have already taken the survey, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes out of your busy day to fill out the updated survey.
YES Bulletin News
We are seeking editors and reviewers for the YES Network Bulletin. Please, if you are interested send an email with a brief resume (CV) to networkyes.bulletin@gmail.com and cc: Dr. Carlos Gonella at carlos_console@yahoo.com.ar.
The Bulletin Team also seeks a Logo! Please inquire to networkyes.bulletin@gmail.com
Thanks,
Carlos and the editorial staff
Geoscience Community News
News from around the world from the international geoscience community!
General News:
AGI Launches GeoWord of the Day
In celebration of the release of the revised 5th edition Glossary of Geology for the Kindle and Nook platforms, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) has started a free GeoWord of the Day service.
The GeoWord of the Day is a fun and convenient way to learn a new geoscience term every day. Each morning (US ET) the service will highlight a new word or term featured in the Glossary of Geology, ensuring daily authoritative terms and definitions for years to come. Users may choose to receive the GeoWord of Day directly through email by subscribing online at http://www.agiweb.org/word/.
Geoscience Currents 57 Examines Engagement Factors of U.S. Geoscience Majors
AGI conducted a follow-up study to research conducted by Houlton (Geoscience Currents 45-48) in a Geoscience Currents series that examines the various pathways taken by undergraduate geoscience majors when deciding to concentrate in the Earth sciences. Conducted in late 2011, the new follow-up study featured in Geoscience Currents 57 utilizes data from 13 of the original 17 participants and discusses the similarities and differences between population groups in the context of their changing pathways. As part of the new Geoscience Academic Provenance Series, data also identify a new population group and assesses students' intrinsic motivations for pursing various geoscience pathways.
A copy of Geoscience Currents 57 can be found online and downloaded from http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/currents.html.
Stay tuned for Geoscience Currents 58 and 59 as a part of this continuing series.
Geoscience Currents are quick snapshots of data released by AGI on the status of the geoscience workforce. The Currents also represent data collaborations with other societies, employers, and professionals. Topics for these reports are inspired by inquiries from geoscience community leaders. Interested in participating in AGI's Geoscience Currents?
Visit http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/currents.html, and register to receive free email updates containing all the new Geoscience Currents.
Volcanoes Sparked - And Prolonged - The Little Ice Age
Volcanism is often implicated in periods of abrupt cooling. After the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, for instance, global temperatures dropped by half a degree Celsius due to airborne particulate matter blocking solar radiation. However, these effects don't normally last more than a few years. Yet, a recent study blames volcanism for a 500-year cold period referred to as the Little Ice Age.
Beginning around the end of the Middle Ages and lasting into the early 19th century, unusually cold conditions blanketed much of the Northern Hemisphere.
This period is known as the Little Ice Age. When exactly this period began, and how it was sustained for so long are matters of much debate. The culprit, according to a new study put forth by climate scientist Gifford Miller of the University of Colorado, is volcanism. How can a short-lived event like a volcanic eruption trigger cooling that lasts for centuries? Find out at
http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/volcanoes-sparked-and-prolonged-little-ice-age.
Be sure to check out the other fascinating stories in the May issue of EARTH available online now at http://www.earthmagazine.org/. Learn how Paleozoic plants shaped rivers; discover evidence of high life forms beneath the seafloor; and hit the road with mobile lidar mapping.
(Keep up to date with the latest happenings in Earth, energy and environment news with EARTH magazine online at http://www.earthmagazine.org/.)
Glossary of Geology now available as an e-book for Kindle and Nook
The revised 5th edition of the Glossary of Geology, published by the American Geosciences Institute, is now available as an e-book for the Kindle and the Nook. The e-book version provides users with the full layout and text of the Glossary for half the price and none of the pounds of the print edition. The Glossary is an indispensable reference tool. It contains nearly 40,000 entries, including 3,600 new terms and approximately 13,000 entries with revised definitions from the previous edition. The revisions encompass advances in scientific thought and changes in usage, and underscore the importance of this volume for any Earth science professional or student. In addition to definitions, many entries include background information and aids to syllabication. The Glossary draws its authority from the expertise of the more than 100 geoscientists in many specialties who reviewed definitions and added new terms.
The e-book version is available now for the Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Glossary-Geology-Edition-Revised-ebook/dp/B0080JB9DU
and the Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/glossary-of-geology-5th-edition-revised-klaus-neuendorf/1110608680
Or visit http://www.agiweb.org/pubs/glossary for information about the hardcopy and digital versions that the Glossary of Geology, 5th Edition, Revised is available.
OneGeology is very pleased to add a Russian translation of the OneGeologyKids web pages, now available online.
Many thanks to our colleagues at VSEGEI for their brilliant work. This now makes the information available in 5 languages. The pages are designed for young children under 10 years old and all young budding geologists out there. Investigate what geology is all about, from dinosaurs and volcanoes to water and energy. The pages are aimed at younger children as a basic and fun introduction to geology around the world.
The OneGeology Kids pages are available at: http://www.onegeology.org/extra/kids/home.html
If you would be able to help provide additional translations into your language, please get in touch with the OneGeology secretariat at onegeology@bgs.ac.uk
Mobile mapping with Lidar hits the road
A new generation of lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging
technology, is bringing the laser-based survey method down to Earth. The new technology involves mounting instruments atop cars, boats and even backpacks.
These new mobile mapping systems will give geoscientists a whole new way to map and study the world.
Traditional lidar uses satellites and airplanes to map the surface of the Earth below, whereas mobile mapping lidar scans from ground level. However, the real difference between the two methods lies in resolution and perspective. Most airborne scans have a resolution of a half-meter, whereas terrestrial scans are on the order of centimeters and can produce even better high-resolution 3-D datasets. Other benefits to mobile mapping include that it is much more cost-effective than other highway survey methods and that it leaves a much smaller environmental footprint than an airplane. How else is mobile mapping
lidar changing the way geoscientists map, and how soon until this new technology is available to everyone? Learn more at http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/mobile-mapping-lidar-hits-road.
Foretelling Next Month's Tornadoes
Tornadoes are notoriously difficult to forecast, with often deadly results: In 2011, tornadoes in the U.S. killed more than 550 people, a higher death toll than in the past 10 years combined. Now a new study on short-term climate trends offers a fresh approach to tornado forecasting that may give people in tornado-prone regions more warning that twisters may soon be descending.
By sorting through average atmospheric conditions in tornado-prone regions, Michael Tippet, a climate scientist at Columbia University, may have found a way to predict tornado trends. This new method could potentially help emergency relief agencies as well as communities and individuals better prepare for the volatile storms, but just how close are we to perfecting this revolutionary model? Find out at http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/foretelling-next-months-tornadoes.
EARTH: U.S. Navy Navigates a Sea Change in the Arctic
Alexandria, VA - The idea that the Arctic is changing is not breaking news.
Sea-ice extent has been declining by 12 percent per decade since 1979, and the ice is thinning too. Because of this, new shipping routes are becoming accessible during the summer months, and the Arctic is beginning to attract parties interested in resource exploration, scientific research and tourism.
Therefore, a more accessible Arctic not only means environmental changes, but also changes in our economy and our national security.
It is part of the U.S. Navy's mission to provide stability wherever and whenever human activity is occurring in the maritime environment. Toward that mission, the Navy has created a task force, developed a roadmap, and employed a corps of geoscientists to synthesize scientific information about the changing Arctic.
About halfway through the roadmap's five-year timeline, planning continues and scientific challenges remain. Find out more and read the rest of this story online now at
http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/us-navy-navigates-sea-change-arctic.
Support the Geosciences by Supporting the American Geosciences Institute
Over the years our science has become more integrated, incorporating many disciplines such as chemistry, physics, computer sciences, and biology to achieve a greater understanding of our planet. As the discipline has evolved, so too has AGI's membership. Today AGI's 50 Member Societies make up a diverse set of organizations that truly exemplify the rich and multifaceted nature of the Earth sciences. Therefore, to better reflect the broad range of scientists we have the privilege of representing, AGI has changed its name to the American Geosciences Institute. This is not a material change of what AGI does, nor is it a change to the focus of our programs. It is simply a public recognition that understanding our planet has become a wide-ranging endeavor, and that AGI can and will evolve to meet the challenges of the coming years.
As a member of the geoscience community, you play an essential role in communicating the importance of geoscience to society. The American Geosciences Institute continues to pursue this goal through collaborative efforts; however, we will require your help in 2012.
AGI is preparing for this critical political year. With the upcoming 2012 presidential election, AGI's Government Affairs Program (GAP) will be working with constituents like you to communicate the importance of geoscience to candidates and policymakers. Through Congressional Visits Days and increased engagement, AGI hopes to collaborate with our Member Societies to build upon our prior successes with the nationally acclaimed 2008 transitional document, "Critical Needs for the Twenty First Century: The Role of Geosciences."
In 2012 the American Geosciences Institute will help to ensure the geoscientces will be prepared to meet society's future challenges. AGI will lead the effort by coordinating week-long national workshops for top elementary through high school teachers in the Earth sciences. These programs, along with AGI's global sponsorship of Earth Science Week and numerous outreach and educational materials will reach thousands of young people and inspire them to pursue careers in the geosciences.
Please consider directly supporting these efforts. A tax-deductible contribution makes a difference, and you can increase the impact of your gift by stipulating a “matching funds contribution” offered by many employers.
For your convenience, you may make your contribution through our web site at: https://www.agiweb.org/store/contribution/give.html
I thank you for your continued interest and support of AGI and its services.
Sincerely,
P. Patrick Leahy
AGI Executive Director
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Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES) to become AGI's Third International Associate
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) welcomes the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES) as the third member of the International Associates Program.
Established in 2010, AGI's International Associates (IA) Program provides professional geoscience organizations based outside of the United States with a way to develop a formal collaborative and informational relationship with the Institute. Previously, AGI had only accepted member societies that resided within the United States or that had a large number of their members within the U.S. The IA Program provides an avenue for continued geoscience cooperation abroad and emphasizes the importance of global collaboration in promoting Earth science. The Youth Earth Science Network (YES Network) and the Geological Society of Africa (GSAf) are also members of AGI's IA Program.
The Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences, founded in 2006, acts as the unified voice for Earth science in Canada, and strives to raise awareness of the importance of geoscience in Canadians' daily lives. The Federation consists of 12 Canadian member societies and two cooperative groups. Their members represent organizations from industry, government and academia, and CFES has a total membership of approximately 20,000 Canadian geoscientists.
This new partnership will greatly enhance both AGI and CFES's abilities to engage new audiences about the importance of geoscience. Currently, AGI and CFES are collaborating to promote CanGeoRef - a bibliographic geoscience database that covers the Canadian geoscience literature from the early 1800s to the present.
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CanGeoRef Launches: Bringing Focus on Canada-Related Geoscience Research
www.cangeoref.org
The American Geological Institute (AGI) and the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES) are pleased to announce the launch of CanGeoRef on September 15, 2011. CanGeoRef (www.cangeoref.org) is a bibliographic database covering the Canadian geoscience literature since the early 1800’s. CanGeoRef is the result of a cooperative arrangement between CFES and AGI with the intent to expand GeoRef access for smaller companies and individuals focused on Canadian geoscience.
With seed money from the Committee of Provincial and Territorial Geologists (CPTG), CFES, in cooperation with the Canadian provincial and territorial geological surveys obtained publication data to be added to the existing Canadian references drawn from GeoRef, AGI’s global bibliographic database for the geosciences. Data have already been added for Alberta and Manitoba and Ontario is near completion. Newfoundland/Labrador and British Columbia will follow shortly.
“This is a very important product for users of Canadian geoscience literature” says Carolyn Relf, Chair of the CFES CanGeoRef Steering Committee and herself director of the Geological Survey of the Yukon. “For the first time, users will be able to have access to all necessary literature for a very competitive price. I expect CanGeoRef will become a popular tool and a recognized essential service for the private sector”.
At launch, CanGeoRef will contain almost 200,000 bibliographic references on Canada. These will include citations to the journal literature, meeting proceedings and abstracts, books, reports, theses and maps. During Phase 1 of the project, provincial and territorial publications are being targeted for inclusion. Phase 1 of CanGeoRef is expected to be complete by 2013. Subscription rates will be discounted while data entry is completed. Phase 2 will consider the inclusion of provincial and territorial mineral assessment reports.
Currently only Mineral Assessment Reports for Alberta are included in CanGeoRef.
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The American Geological Institute (AGI) welcomes three new Executive Committee members: Sharon Mosher, President-Elect; Michael D. Lawless, Treasurer; and John G. Parrish, Member-at-Large.
Sharon Mosher is the Dean of Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Mosher’s other leadership roles include President of the Geological Society of America (2001), chair of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents (2004) and a founder and past chair of GeoScienceWorld (2004-2006). She is also an honorary fellow with the Geological Society of London and was awarded the Association for Women Geoscientists’s Outstanding Educator Award in 1990.
Michael Lawless, AGI’s incoming Treasurer, is currently Environmental Division Manager at Draper Aden Associates, where he has been employed since 1996. Mr. Lawless is active in the American Institute of Professional Geologists, served as its national president in 2010, and is the current Virginias Section president. He also serves on Virginia’s State Water Supply Plan Advisory Committee.
John G. Parrish, State Geologist of the California Geological Survey, will serve as an AGI Member-at-Large. Prior to his assuming the position of State Geologist in 2005, he was the Executive Officer of the California State Mining and Geology Board (1994-2005). Prior to that he had a 20-year career in the petroleum industry. He is an active member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and was their 2005 John T. Galey Sr. Memorial Public Service Awardrecipient.
The new members of the AGI Executive Committee will be installed during the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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South Africa's Toxic Legacy: Acid mine drainage threatens water supplies
http://www.earthmagazine.org/
In the Witwatersrand goldfields, not far from bustling Johannesburg, South Africa, more than a century of mining has left the region littered with mounds of waste and underlain by a deep underground network of abandoned mine shafts, which are gradually filling with water.
Today, the mines are producing less and less gold - and more and more sulfuric acid.
Scientists estimate the volume of acid mine drainage from abandoned mines in the Witwatersrand goldfields alone could reach 350 million liters per day if something isn't done. A recent government report suggests that full cleanup will cost billions, not to mention the billions that would likely have to be spent to stop the ongoing damage. In "All That Glitters. Acid Mine Drainage: The Toxic Legacy of Gold Mining in South Africa" in the October issue, EARTH takes a look at how the toxic problem grew so massive, what steps could be taken to mitigate the damage before it is too late, and who should pay for the cleanup.
Read whether scientists think the government is doing enough to save South Africa's water, and read other stories on topics such as how one retired scientist spent years trying to confirm the discovery of an impact crater; how researchers are solving crimes and tracking fake whisky using isotopes; and how modern tools are helping researchers solve a World War I tunnel mystery in the October issue. And don't miss the second part of our series on the commercialization of geologic sites.
These stories and many more can be found in the October issue of EARTH, now available digitally (http://www.earthmagazine.org/digital) or in print.
For further information on the October featured article, go tohttp://www.earthmagazine.org/earth/article/48e-7db-9-17
Keep up to date with the latest happenings in earth, energy and environment news with EARTH magazine, available on local newsstands or online athttp://www.earthmagazine.org/.
Published by the American Geosciences Institute, EARTH is your source for the science behind the headlines.
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The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the release of the Glossary of Geology, Fifth Edition (revised) ISBN: 978-0-922152-89-6.
This amazing reference tool draws on the expertise of more than 100 geoscientists representing a range of specialties that reviewed definitions and added new terms. The Glossary contains nearly 40,000 entries, including 3,600 new terms and nearly 13,000 revised definitions from the previous edition published in 2005. In addition to definitions, many entries include background information and aids to syllabication. The revisions represent both advances in scientific thought and changes in usage, and make this 800+ page hardbound a must-have for any Earth science professional or student.
In addition, the Glossary of Geology App for the iPhone and iPad, available through the App Store already incorporates all of the updates in this new revision.
The hardcopy of the Glossary retails for $99.95 and for $79.96 for members of AGI’s member societies.
To learn more about the Glossary of Geology, Fifth Edition (revised) and to order this impressive publication, please visit www.agiweb.org/pubs. Bulk discounts are available to universities and non-profit organizations. To view AGI's complete publications catalog of resource and general interest books download our Publications and Services catalog at http://www.agiweb.org/pubs/catalog.html.
Upcoming Events:
1st international colloquium REZAS' 2012 on Water Resources in the Arid and Semi-arid Regions: challenges and prospects. Case of the African Continent
14-16 November in Béni Mellal, Morocco
This conference is organized by the University of Soultan Moulay Slimane and the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Beni Mellal, in collaboration with the Geoafriasciences Society.
PRESENTATION
Find the full circular and the registration form attached. French versions available on request.
The regular water supply constitutes one of the big challenges of the humanity of this millennium. In Africa, the scarcity of this resource is not an exceptional concept. It rises from the characteristics of the geographical and climatic context of the continent.
In the next decades, the uncertainty of the climatic fluctuations, the population growth, the increase in the socio?economic needs and the position risks will exacerbate the problems of availability of this resource quantity and quality. This will accentuate the tension between supply and demand and lets predict extreme situations in a close
horizon. Such situations will reproduce in the future and perhaps even more frequently if one attaches them to the phenomenon of desertification which affects the African West and to the extent of the climate changes to the planetary scale.
The integrated management of fresh water as a limited and vulnerable resource is a prerequisite essential with sustainable development and in the future of the African continent. The integration of programs and sectoral plans on water within the framework of the economic and social policy is of paramount importance for the action
at the 21st century. An effective management supposes to integrate knowledge and to cross complementary approaches (hydrological, hydrogeologic, geographical, historical, socio?economic, ecological and political), in order to try to reconcile from the contrasted points of view and to propose adapted answers.
This scientific demonstration is the occasion to exchange, communicate and discover thanks to professionals, actors, researchers, and users, the challenges and the prospects for an effective and rational management of the water resources at the level of the African continent. It will also make it possible to the participants to put the point on the last developments in the field of management and the safeguarding of the water resources by conferences and communications of great interest. To fill these objectives, the conference will comprise many debates, oral presentations and panels on the key challenges of water.
PARTICIPATION FEES
The registration fees are fixed as follows :
- Student-researchers : 50 €
- Teacher-researchers : 100 €
- Industrialists : 250 €
The registration fees give the right to the following services:
- Acts and the various documents concerning the seminar
- Meals (lunch + dinner)
- Coffee breaks
The expenses of participation to the field trip are fixed at : 150 €
CORRESPONDENCE
Pr Abdessamad NAJINE, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques,
BP 523, Béni Mellal 23000, Morocco rezasafrica@gmail.com
Tel : 00212 523485112/22 Fax : 00212 523485201 GSM :00212 651057178
Web Site : http://www.fstbm.ac.ma/
The 6th International Siberian Conference: 9-23 June, 2012 - Novosibirsk, Russia
Undergraduates, Ph.D. students and early career scientists are welcome to participate in the conference.
REGISTRATION IS FREE FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
Main themes of the conference:
•Experimental mineralogy and crystal growth
•Mineralogy
•Igneous petrology and mineralogy
•Metamorphic petrology and mineralogy
•Minerals and ore deposits
•Tectonics and geodynamics
•Geomorphology and neotectonics
•Paleontology and stratigraphy
•Evolution of sedimentary basins
•Paleoecology and paleoclimatology
•Petroleum sciences
•Geophysical well logging
•Seismology
•Electromagnetic methods
•Applied geology and geophysics
•Geoinformation systems in the Earth sciences
•Environmental geosciencesThe technical sessions will be held in Novosibirsk (IGM SB RAS, IPGG SB RAS, NSU) on 11-14 June 2012.
Oral presentations are scheduled for 20 minutes, each including time for discussion (15 + 5). The conference room will be equipped with a computer and projector for Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. Poster presentations are welcomed.
IMPORTANT DATES:
1 February 2012 - registration and abstract submission deadline
1 March 2012 - information about accepted abstracts
1 April 2012 - 3rd circular
9-23 June 2012 - the 6th International Siberian Early Career GeoScientists Conference
More info can be found on the following link: http://sibconf.igm.nsc.ru/index.php?lang=english
The Second Circular is now online! Download it here.
3rd International Conference on Nanotechnology: Fundamentals and Applications (ICNFA’12) - Montreal, Canada August 7-9, 2012.
This conference will be hosted by the International ASET Inc. and McGill University.
ICNFA’12 will bring together the Canadian and International community working in the field of nanotechnology to discuss new advances in this field. This is an ideal platform to share knowledge and expertise taking advantage from the synergy developed during the previous conferences.
ICNFA’12 will cover a wide range of nanotechnology related topics
such as:
- Modeling and Simulation
- Nanobiomechanics
- Nanobiotechnologies
- Nanocatalysis
- Nanoelectronics
- Nanomaterials, Nanodevices: Fabrication, Characterization and Application
- Nanomedical Applications: Drug Delivery, and Tissue Engineering
- Nanotechnology and Agriculture
- Nanotechnology and Coating
- Nanotechnology and Education
- Nanotechnology and Energy
- Nanotechnology and Environment
- Nanotechnology and Polymer
- Nanotechnology, Products and Markets
- Societal aspects of Nanotechnology: Ethics, Risk Assessment,
Standardization
Short papers or full manuscripts are welcome for submission prior to March 1st, using the guidelines given on the conference website. All submissions will be peer reviewed and the accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings DVD. Also we would like to announce that a number of experts and leading researchers in the field of nanotechnology will be delivering keynote lectures at ICNFA’12.
For more information regarding ICNFA’12, please refer to the link below:
http://ICNFA2012.International-ASET.com
2nd International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Remediation
28 - 30 August 2012 - Montreal, Canada
ICEPR'12 will bring together the Canadian and International community working in the field of environmental pollution and remediation to discuss new advances in this field. This is an ideal platform to share knowledge and expertise taking advantage from the synergy developed during the previous conference.
ICEPR'12 will cover a wide range of environmental related topics such as:
- Air pollution and Treatment
- Biofuels
- Desalination
- Energy Management
- Environmental Education Programs
- Environmental Protection
- Environmental Risk Assessments
- Environmental Safety Regulations
- Environmental Sustainability and Development
- Green Manufacturing and Technologies, Pollution Prevention
- Greenhouse Effect, Global Warming, and Climate Change
- Groundwater Issues
- Impact of Industrialization on the Environment
- Nanotechnology Impacts on Environment
- Oil Spills
- Pollution and Health Issues
- Renewable and Non-Renewable Energies
- Soil Pollution and Treatment
- Wastewater Management and Treatment
- Water Pollution and Treatment
Short papers or full manuscripts are welcome for submission prior to March 15th, using the guidelines given on the conference website. All submissions will be peer reviewed and the accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings DVD. Also we would like to announce that a number of experts and leading researchers in the field of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics will be delivering keynote lectures.
For more information, please refer to the link below:
http://ICEPR2012.International-ASET.com
Resources, Positions & Funding:
The OneGeology Best Application Competition
OneGeology Operational Management Group announces an opportunity to innovate the OneGeology Best Application Competition'
Aim: The main aim of the OneGeology Best Application competition is to demonstrate the wide range of potential applied uses and applications that the OneGeology Portal, and geological data/services that it provides, can offer for easy discoverability, access and use.
Possible types of OneGeology Applications
Developed OneGeology applications can demonstrate:
1- A new innovative web application of geological data, to address any environmental, social etc. issues. The combination - integration of geological data with other types of environmental data is of prime interest.
2- A new innovative technical solution of the geological application e.g. on-line incorporation of OneGeology geological web services (WMS, WFS) into a client application or a new way to discover / 3- search geological data etc.
A new solution for making progress in the direction of semantic harmonization – e.g. utilizing the OneGeology web services (WMS, WFS) for on-line geometric-semantic harmonization across administrative boundaries.
Who can apply:
The competition is aimed at the young geoscientists especially those within the YES (Young Earth Scientist) Network; so the competition is open to all young geoscientists (under 35 years of age). The OneGeology development team encourages students, or any young researchers to develop an innovative application based on the geological data and services provided via OneGeology Portal.
The winning prize:
The winner of the competition will receive a free registration for the 34th International Geological Congress, Brisbane, Australia (August 2012) and will also have the opportunity to present the new innovative application during the Geoinformation Symposium/ OneGeology Session at the conference.
For more details about how to register and selection procedures, visit the following link: http://www.onegeology.org/igc34/competition.html
Deadline: 30 May 2012
PhD Studenship: Investigation of the biological mediation of fine sediment erosion by microbial polymers
This is joint project between Bangor University (Dr Jaco Baas) and the University of St Andrews (Prof. David Paterson), as part of the NERC COHBED project (NERC Ref NE/10248X/1).
Project outline:
The influence of biological processes on the erosional behaviour of natural sediments has been recognised for years, but most published work only provides information on the relative effects of specific assemblages at individual sites and times. This Ph.D. project will examine the spatial and temporal variability of one of the major drivers of biotic sediment stabilisation; the long-chain extracellular organic compounds, known collectively as EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) secreted in sediments by microalgae, cyanobacteria and bacteria. This EPS affects the erosive behaviour of a wide range of natural cohesive sediments and is also influential in fine non-cohesive and mixed sediments. However, EPS is highly variable in content and longevity. The turnover of EPS will be influenced by production and breakdown rates which are influenced by local environment and EPS composition. This Ph.D. study is part of the wider NERC-funded COHBED project (Realistic Sedimentary Bedform Prediction: Incorporating Physical and Biological Cohesion) and will enhance the main project by adding contextual information on EPS distribution and behaviour which is poorly understood and beyond the scope of the main award. All required equipment (laboratory and field flumes, CSM, MagPI) is available in St Andrews where the studentship will be based. For more info, download the complete job offer and visit the BSRG at www.bsrg.org.uk.
PhD position in Earth System Sciences
A Ph.D. position is available in the Earth System Science unit at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Brussels, Belgium) in the framework of the recently started NARNIA EU Marie Curie Network (http://narnia-itn.eu). The scope of the research project is to elucidate the provenance and distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean of Late Bronze age Cypriot pottery using isoopic tracers (Pb, Sr.) Download full job description at http://we.vub.ac.be/~essc
CFES Survey of Canadian Geoscientists under the age of 35
If you are a Canadian geoscience professional or student under the age of 35, please check out the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES) online survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/CFES_Under_35_workforce. There will also be a link to the Survey on the CFES website www.geoscience.ca CFES, in cooperation with Geoscientists Canada (www.ccpg.ca) and the Canadian Council of Chairs of Earth Science Departments (http://cccesd.acadiau.ca/) has identified the need to better understand the transition from university graduation to initial career advancement of Canadian Earth scientists.
News from YES Network Websites
Read our RSS feed from the YES Network's blog and from National Chapter websites to find out what's going on around the world in the YES Network.
YES Network - Italy
Forum about Japan's Tsunami and Earthquake
This forum is focused on the earthquake happened in Japan that has caused the terrifying tsunami. As a first point of discussion, here is the article sent by Prof. Koji Okumura,