Teaching the Earth Sciences

AAPG 2012 Teachers Program, April 23, 2012, Long Beach

2012-01-26T00:14:00.000-08:00

Check out this opportunity to sharpen your teaching skills at the AAPG Convention in Long Beach, April 23, 2012:

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists invites K-12 science teachers to join us in exploring new methods and technologies to teach the Earth Science Curriculum. The program will include:

• Presentations of the latest technologies for teaching students the basic concepts of geology and introducing students to field work using resources available on the internet

• Presenters will include: Dr. Tanya Atwater (University of California Santa Barbara; Sharon Milito (AAPG 2011 Teacher of the Year); Wendy Van Norden (Harvard-Westlake High School) and Dr. Robert Negrini (California State University)

• Classroom materials to assist you in applying these techniques

• Luncheon with guest speaker: Dr. Robert Anderson (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mars Lander Program, Pasadena, CA)

For more information, check here (PDF)

Two New Career Opportunities in Teaching Geology

2012-01-25T20:57:00.000-08:00

It's actually been awhile since I've seen any full-time teaching opportunities in the geology or earth science listings of the CCC Registry. This week there are actually two of them, for Bakersfield College and Santa Monica College. There are now a total of four positions open in the California Community College System (Info on openings at Mt. San Antonio College and Santa Barbara City College was posted earlier). Some of the application deadlines are approaching quickly.

If your institution has teaching positions at any level from elementary schools to universities, pass on the information and I will post it here.

Scholarships and Outstanding Earth Science Teachers: Upcoming Deadlines

2012-01-25T20:27:00.000-08:00

A note from the national office of NAGT:

NAGT Scholarships for Field Study

NAGT offers $500 scholarships for students to attend field-based courses at any time of the year. In addition, the Association of Women Geologists sponsors two additional scholarships specifically for women in this program. Please pass this information along to students who may be interested in doing field courses. More information and the application instructions can be found on the program website - http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/field_scholarships.html
Application Deadline: February 14
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Outstanding Earth Science Teachers (OEST) Program

OEST awards are given for "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth Sciences at the pre-college level." Any teacher or other K-12 educator who covers a significant amount of earth science content with their students is eligible. Ten national finalists are selected, one from each NAGT regional section. Some sections also recognize state winners. Individuals may apply themselves or nominate a colleague for the award. More information and the nomination instructions can be found on the program website - http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/oest.html
Application Deadlines vary by Section but begin as early as March 1
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Geoscience Teachers in the Park

The Geoscience Teachers in Parks (GTIP) program is a collaborative effort between NAGT and the National Park Service to provide professional development for K12 teachers of geoscience. Elementary, middle school, and high school teachers of geoscience, as well as recent graduates who are prospective geoscience teachers are eligible to take part in this program. The internship involves work at the Mammoth Cave National Park to learn from and collaborate with park personnel, local university staff, contracted researchers, and park partners. More information and the application instructions can be found on the program website - http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/GTIP.html
Application Deadline: March 15

Earth Science (Oceanography and Geology) Opening at Mt. San Antonio College

2012-01-23T23:31:00.000-08:00

Past-president Mark Boryta has notified us of a full-time position at Mt. San Antonio College in Earth Science (Oceanography and Geology). The application period ends on March 1, 2012. Full information can be found here, and is reproduced below the fold.

If you have any openings at your institution, please notify us and we will post it on the Far Western Section blog.

Professor, Earth Science (Oceanography/Geology)
January 23, 2012
PROFESSOR, EARTH SCIENCE (OCEANOGRAPHY/GEOLOGY)
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Teach lecture, laboratory, and field courses primarily in Oceanography, Geology, and Earth Science that include components of meteorology, astronomy and environmental science
• Participate in curriculum development, serve on College committees as necessary to maintain and improve the instructional program, and participate in appropriate professional development activities
• Perform related duties as assigned, including timely compliance with clerical and administrative responsibilities, College policies, division policies and department policies
• Maintain scheduled office and campus hours, and participate in department/division meetings and committees
• Instruct and assist in the growth and success of a diverse population of students through careful preparation of course materials, effective teaching methods and informed critical feedback on assignments and discussions
• Late afternoon and/or evening assignments may be required as part of the regular contract

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
A. One of the following awarded/conferred from an accredited institution:
1. Master’s in geology, geophysics, earth sciences, meteorology, oceanography, or paleontology OR
2. Bachelor’s in geology AND Master’s in geography, physics, or geochemistry OR
The equivalent: Master’s degree in Earth science disciplines* (see disciplines list below);
OR Master’s degree in any physical science with 15 semester units of upper division or graduate courses in an Earth science-related field* (see disciplines list below);
OR Master of Arts in teaching science with 15 semester units of upper division or graduate courses in an Earth science-related field* (see disciplines list below);
OR Proof of enrollment in Geology or Earth science discipline* (see disciplines list below) doctoral programs at an accredited institution AND Significant progress towards a doctoral degree in (discipline). “Significant progress” shall be defined as successful completion of all required coursework and of the examination for advancement to candidacy for the degree. Progress shall be documented by a written statement form and an authorized representative of the institution that will award the degree. Within a year of official hire date, the individual must complete the doctoral degree or obtain a Master’s degree in Earth science disciplines.
*Disciplines list: Earth science, marine science, environmental science (Earth and environmental science), earth science education, atmospheric physics, coastal engineering, ocean engineering, geological engineering, marine engineering, biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, geosciences, coastal geology, geography, planetary geology, astrogeology, physical geography, geomorphology, climatology, coastal geography, environmental geology, geochemistry, glaciology, hydrogeology, mineralogy, marine geology, paleoclimatology, paleontology, paleogeography, petrology, petroleum geology, petrophysics, sedimentology, seismology, soil science, speleology, stratigraphy, structural geology, volcanology, geophysics, geology planetary science
3. California Community College credential authorizing service as an instructor in the appropriate discipline
B. Commitment to the community college goals/objectives of providing quality programs and services for students with diverse abilities and interests; personal qualities to work effectively and sensitively in a multicultural environment; awareness and commitment to the special needs of non-traditional students
C. Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written English

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The Department is seeking applicants with successful experience and a keen interest in teaching Earth Sciences, preferably at the post-secondary level. Successful candidates might also have:
• Specialization in Physical Oceanography
• Successful experience and desire to lead single and multi-day undergraduate field trips for Geology and Oceanography
• Willingness to participate in preparing proposals for funding of instructional projects by external organizations
• Familiarity with the use of GPS/GIS, computer-aided and multimedia technology
• Experience in curriculum design in the Earth Sciences with the goal of attracting majors
• Familiarity with and commitment to the mission and functions of a community college

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The incumbent must have the ability to get to a variety of locations. This is usually accomplished by driving a personal vehicle to said locations. If operating a vehicle, the ability to secure and maintain a valid California driver’s license is required.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
This position is a full-time, tenure-track, 10-month contract position that begins in the regular academic year 2012-13. Placement on the salary schedule is based on formal education, full-time and/or part-time teaching, and related work experience, up to a maximum placement at step 9.
Any provisional offer of employment is dependent upon the candidate's successful completion of their fingerprint clearance prior to the start of employment. Additionally, the cost of the fingerprint clearance will be borne by the candidate.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Apply between 01/23/12 and 4 PM, 03/01/12. Paper applications are no longer accepted and incomplete packets will not be considered. Applicants must submit all of the following materials online to be considered for this position:
1. A Mt. San Antonio College online application which may be accessed at http://hrjobs.mtsac.edu
2. A cover letter indicating how qualifications and required experience are met and addressing the applicant’s philosophy of teaching
3. A detailed résumé that summarizes educational preparation and professional experience for the position
4. A minimum of three current (written within one year from date of application) letters of recommendation
5. College and/or university transcripts showing the awarded/conferred degree to meet required educational qualifications (unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application)
NOTE: If meeting qualifications with a California Community College credential, a copy of the valid lifetime credential must be submitted with the application and submitted before the filing deadline.
Foreign Transcripts: Transcripts issued outside the United States require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the filing deadline.
Special Notes: A confirmation number will be assigned when your application packet indicates the supplemental questions have been answered and a document has been attached to a required link. Assistance with the online application process is available through the Office of Human Resources at 1100 N. Grand Avenue, Walnut, CA 91789-1399. Human Resources (909) 274- 4225
E-mail: employment@mtsac.edu.
For more details about this position, direct inquiries to:
Larry Redinger, Dean, Natural Sciences Division
(909) 274-4425
E-mail: lredinger@mtsac.edu
Mark Boryta, Earth Sciences & Astronomy, Dept. Co-Chair
(909) 274- 5266
E-mail: mboryta@mtsac.edu

SELECTION PROCEDURE
A committee will evaluate applications, taking into account breadth and depth of relevant education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, and abilities. Interviews may include a writing sample, committee presentation, teaching demonstration, and/or performance test. The committee will recommend finalists to the College President for a second interview. Travel costs for over 150 miles one way will be reimbursed up to $500. The number of vacancies is dependent on student enrollment, College resources, needs, and Board of Trustees' approval. Beginning date of employment will be August 24, 2012.

*SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary: Initial placement $55,417 - $88,526.
The College contributes $10,500 toward annual premiums for medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage. Lifetime retirement benefits provided for eligible retirees.
The District participates in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and State Teachers' Retirement System (STRS) retirement programs.
*Subject to change based on Collective Bargaining Agreement.
We reserve the right to reopen, re-advertise, delay, or cancel filling this position.

Cal Paleo on April 14 at UC Riverside

2012-01-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

From Cal Paleo...

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to announce that this year’s Cal Paleo will be held at UC Riverside on Saturday, April 14^th, 2012. We encourage you to attend and take part in this California paleontological tradition!

The focus of the conference will be on student research: graduate students are invited to give oral or poster presentations and undergraduate students are encouraged to participate through poster presentations (though, subject to availability and advisor request, undergraduates may also give talks). The time allotted for each oral presentation will be 10-15 minutes, depending on the number of speakers.

The deadline for abstract submission is March 1^st, 2012. Registration will close on March 21^st, 2012. There is no registration fee. Additionally, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided on the day of the conference. We will shortly supply further details concerning registration, abstract publication, accommodation and possible Sunday, April 15^th activities.

An informational website will be up shortly. An abstract template has been attached to this email and a formal registration form will be sent out soon as well. In the meantime, in order to help us gauge numbers and plan accordingly, please reply as to your interest in attending Cal Paleo: “definitely,” “maybe” or “no.” Also let us know if you wish to be removed from the Cal Paleo mailing list to avoid receiving further emails.

Please direct all email correspondence to calpaleo1@gmail.com.

We hope very much to see you all on April 14^th!

Ryan McKenzie (neil.mckenzie at email.ucr.edu)
Lidya Tarhan (lidya.tarhan at email.ucr.edu)

Paleobiology Program

Department of Earth Sciences

University of California, Riverside

Exploring the Mojave Desert with the Far Western Section: Spring Meeting, March 2-4

2012-01-15T15:35:00.000-08:00

The spring meeting of the Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers will take place on March 2-4, 2012 at the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx, California. We appreciate the work that El Camino College is doing to organize the meeting. Field trips will explore the mining history, geologic history, and volcanism of the Mojave Desert, the Quaternary landscape and distribution of biota, and the lava tubes of Pisgah Crater. More information and registration forms can be found on the Far Western Section website at http://nagt-fws.org/conferences.html.

From the conference organizers:

Zzyzx (which is pronounced zy-zicks with emphasis on the "zy") has a colorful history of its own and once was a resort which featured mineral springs and mud baths, and was renowned as a health resort. Some of these facilities are partially preserved and make for wonderful photographic opportunities with the background of Soda Dry Lake. Today, the California State University system has established a consortium which administers the Desert Studies Center, facilitates research in a variety of disciplines, and aids the preservation of the endangered Mohave tui chub.

Baker, California is located 11 miles to the north east from the Desert Studies Center and has a variety of motels, restaurants, gas stations, and other facilities, some of which are quite unique. “Home of the World's Tallest Thermometer” is Baker's claim to fame and the height of the thermometer at 134 feet or 41 meters was selected when the community recorded the highest temperature ever recorded in the United States (in Death Valley) at 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913. However, it is also a gateway to Death Valley and other scenic areas of the the Mohave Desert. Many travelers come to know Baker as they fill their gas tanks during their excursions to and from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Baker is approximately 177 miles or 285 kilometers north east of Los Angeles. Las Vegas, Nevada is located about 88 miles or 142 kilometers to the north east of Baker.

The Desert Studies Center has a meeting room, an area for social gatherings and poster sessions, audio visual capabilities with wireless internet, dormitory facilities (advanced registration required and individuals bring their own bedding or sleeping bag), shower facilities, a chef who will prepare the hot breakfasts, dinners and packaged lunches, a store which features items related to Zzyzx, wonderful star gazing opportunities (clear skies permitting), and a wonderful view of Soda Dry Lake, the California Fan Palms and the Chub Pond. All of the field trips will leave from the Desert Studies Center.

Full-Time Tenure Track Geology Teaching Position at Santa Barbara City College

2011-12-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

It's something to think about...two retirees with about 80 years of geology experience between them. That's the story at Santa Barbara City College this year. I noted a few weeks ago that a geology technician position was available at SBCC (application deadline is December 30). Now they have announced an opening for a full-time tenure-track position for a geology instructor. The department at SBCC has a strong tradition of field instruction, excellence in teaching, and community involvement. I deeply appreciated the four years I spent with the department in the 1980's. Deadline for the teaching position is February 3. Details of the position can be found at this link, and are listed below the fold...

Please apply at https://jobs.sbcc.edu

12/14/2011

Job# 12/11-A08 Application Deadline: Friday, February 3, 2012 @ 4:30 p.m. PST

Essential Functions of Position:
Commencing Fall, 2012, a full-time, tenure-track position will be available in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

The Department seeks a broadly trained geologist with a strong commitment to teaching. Responsibility would include teaching a combination of lectures and/or labs. Depending on background, courses could include lecture a laboratory courses in Physical Geology, Environmental Geology, Oceanography, Energy and Resources, or Dinosaurs. Depending on background, consideration will be given to other potential lecture and laboratory courses including National Parks, California Geology, Geoseminar, Historical Geology, Mineralogy, or Petrology.

Additionally, job requires preparing and leading multi-day field courses, including 5-day field courses to the Eastern Sierra and Death Valley, and leading single-day local field trips. Other field courses could include Western Sierra, Colorado Plateau, or Summer Field Techniques and Mapping.

Other responsibilities include full participation in both department and student activities and initiatives, involvement in curriculum development and revision to meet transfer and accreditation standards, evaluation of Student Learning Outcomes, the maintenance of office hours, and participation in the governance of the college via committee assignments.
Minimum Qualifications: The candidate must meet one of these criteria:
1. Master’s in geology, geophysics, earth sciences, meteorology, oceanography, or paleontology; OR

2. Bachelor’s in geology AND Master’s in geography, physics, or geochemistry; OR

3. Combination of education and other accomplishments that is equivalent to the above. (If claiming equivalency, attach a separate statement that presents the basis for this claim and submit supporting evidence, e.g., transcripts, publications, and other work products.); OR

4. Possession of a lifetime California Community College Instructor Credential in Earth Sciences, including Geography, Geology, and Geophysics
Desirable Qualifications:
 Demonstrated excellence in college or high school teaching in Geology/Earth Sciences (lecture and laboratory)

 Experience leading multi-day geologic field courses and/or single-day field trips.

 Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and collegially with peers as a team.

 Experience working with students on projects, extracurricular activities, or other initiatives to promote student involvement.

 Ability and interest in advising earth sciences majors in their academic and career tracks.

 Experience using a variety of instructional strategies that promote student learning and success.

 Familiarity with the use of multimedia technologies in instruction.

 Experience in working with students from diverse cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, academic, language and disability backgrounds.

 Geologic experience working in industry.

Salary & Personnel Benefits: The current salary schedule range for a tenure-track faculty position is $53,668-$89,668, plus an earned doctoral bonus of $2,683. Starting salary is commensurate with academic preparation and full-time related, paid experience. In addition to salary each full-time employee participates in a "cafeteria style" Health & Welfare Benefits Program.
Application Deadline/Screening:Completed online applications must be submitted by
Friday, February 3, 2012 @ 4:30 p.m. PST.

Required Application Documents: (The following required documents must be submitted electronically via the online application system.)1. Online District Application form @ https://jobs.sbcc.edu

2. Cover letter addressing the applicant's experience and the desirable qualifications listed in this announcement.

3. Resume or CV.

4. If claiming equivalency, attach a separate statement which presents the basis for this claim and submit supporting evidence, e.g. transcripts, publications, other products.

5. Copy of college transcripts.**

6. Letters of reference are not required but may be optionally uploaded as part of the application process. A list of six professional references, with contact information, is required on application. These references will be contacted should you be selected as a finalist for the position. Provide a list of six references that can critically assess your work qualifications and job performance to include at least the following via your online application: the six minimum required references - current department chair, immediate past department chair, current Dean, immediate past Dean, one current faculty colleague and one current student (or appropriate equivalent references in research or industry). The application form will accept information for six references in the "Professional References" field. You may include additional names and contact information in your Cover Letter or Resume/CV. Although not required, if you have letters of reference to include, you must scan them as a single file and attach this file to the "Other Documents" field. We will not accept e-mailed, mailed, or faxed letters of reference from applicants or from third parties.

Note: If you are maintaining an application established in our online system prior to 4/19/10, there may not be a sufficient number of entry spaces for 6 references. In this case, attach a separate page with the additional references via your online application to the attachment bar entitled, "other document" or list them at the end of your resume.

HRLA for instructions. If you do not have a scanner, there are commercial facilities in your community available to assist you with this process. All required documents must be submitted via your electronic application by the application deadline or your application will be considered incomplete.

**Foreign Transcripts:

Transcripts issued outside the United States require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an official USA certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached to the online application. For a list of recognized organizations providing transcript evaluation services, visit http://www.naces.org/members.htm.
Application Procedure:To be considered for this position, a complete online application including all required application documents (listed above) must be submitted via https://jobs.sbcc.edu by the above application deadline (please see above instructions to applicants). It is important that the online District Application form (Item #1 above) be complete and specific to fully indicate education, experience and other qualifications of applicant. "See Resume" is not acceptable.

You may attach additional supporting material to the online application under the attachment option entitled, "Other Document." (If you apply for more than one position, copies of all the required documents must be attached separately for each position.) Application and all documents submitted become the property of SBCC and are retained electronically. Please Note: A confirmation number will be assigned if your application packet has been successfully submitted online.

Selection ProcedureOnline applications will be initially reviewed by the selection committee, which will recommend candidates for personal interviews at SBCC. Unless otherwise stipulated by the committee, out-of-town applicants who are selected for interviews may have the option to be interviewed via Skype. After the initial interviews have been conducted, the committee & Dean will recommend the top candidates to the Superintendent/President for a final interview. The successful candidate will then be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval. Please Note: Santa Barbara City College regrets that applicants cannot be reimbursed for expenses related to the application or interview process, including travel expenses.

Accommodation for the Disabled: If you are selected for an interview and need special services or facilities to participate in the interview, please contact Human Resources & Legal Affairs.
General Requirements to be submitted Upon Offer of Employment:
Satisfactory results from prescribed job-related medical examination, including recent evidence of freedom from active tuberculosis.

 Satisfactory fingerprint report.

 Documentation verifying identity and United States citizenship or authorization that you have the right to work in the United States permanently and do not now or in the future require sponsorship by Santa Barbara City College or other hiring institutions.

 Official transcripts conferring college degrees indicated on the employment application.

Working Conditions: Environment:Indoor and outdoor instructional laboratory and classroom work environment.

Driving a vehicle to conduct work.

Subject to variable work hours.

Constant interruptions.
Physical Demands:Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a variety of equipment.

Sitting, standing or walking for extended periods of time.

Occasional stooping and kneeling

Seeing to read a variety of materials and monitor student activities.

Hearing and speaking to exchange information and make presentations.

Bending at the waist, kneeling or crouching.

Reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally.

Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling moderately heavy objects (25-50 pounds).
HazardsSome incumbents may experience exposure to fumes and hazardous chemicals.

Working around machinery with moving parts

Working at heights.

Potential for exposure to bodily fluids and blood borne pathogens.
For all FT Faculty openings, deadlines, and link to online application, please visit our website at: https://jobs.sbcc.edu

Santa Barbara City College,

721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109-2394

(805) 965-0581 Ext. 2258

Interviews by Invitation Only
SBCC is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of ethnic group identification, National origin, religion, age, sex, race, color, ancestry, marital, parental or veteran status, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, or on the basis of these perceived characteristics or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, consistent with applicable federal and state laws. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self disclose

The Subaru Minority Student Scholarship Program for 2012

2011-12-15T22:29:00.000-08:00

From the GSA Education Division:

GSA is pleased to announce that Subaru of America, Inc., in partnership with GSA, has funded a scholarship program to encourage minority undergraduate GSA student members to continue their studies in the geosciences. The Subaru Minority Student Scholarship Program provides US $1,500 to one student at an accredited university or college in each of the seven GSA Sections as nominated by the GSA Campus Representatives. The funds are to be used to purchase text books, pay college fees, or attend GSA field trips or conferences.

In addition to the cash award, a complimentary student membership for 2013 will be granted. Meeting registration for this year’s GSA Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina will also be provided where a student awards reception will be held.

We are asking our Campus Reps to nominate one (1) minority student whom they believe will benefit and be encouraged to continue their studies in the geosciences by receiving this award.

Student Requirements for Nomination:
• Be a U.S. citizen and a member of a minority group (a ‘minority’ is described by the U.S. Census Bureau as being of Hispanic or Latino, African-American or Black, Asian, American-Indian, Alaskan Native, or Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander ethnicity/race);

• Has taken at least two (2) introductory (first year) geoscience courses;

• Be enrolled in additional geoscience courses in the upcoming academic year; and

• Be a current undergraduate student member of GSA. Students who cannot afford the cost of membership may apply for a dues waiver through the membership assistance program.

Campus Rep Responsibilities and Timeline:

• Verify with the student that he/she is a member of a minority group as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau;

• Verify that the student has completed two introductory geoscience courses and is enrolled in geosciences classes for the upcoming academic year;

• Complete and return the nomination form (from GSA Campus Representatives) via email to awards@geosociety.org no later than 9 April 2012;

• Nominations will be forwarded to the GSA Diversity in the Geosciences Committee for review; and

• All awards will be announced by 1 June 2012.

We hope you take advantage of this opportunity for your minority undergraduate students to be sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions that you may have.

Diane Lorenz-Olsen
Grants, Awards, and Recognition
The Geological Society of America
3300 Penrose Place, Boulder, CO USA 80301
awards@geosociety.org
(303) 357-1028

Paid Geoscientist Opportunities on National Parks, National Forests, and BLM Lands

2011-12-12T01:06:00.000-08:00

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah

GeoCorps America is a program of the Geological Society of America , in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. The program offers paid short-term geoscience positions in some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world. GeoCorps project areas include geology, hydrology, paleontology, mapping and GIS, minerals, soils, glaciology, geo-hazards, karst, education, interpretation, and more.

Spring/summer 2012 positions have been posted, and candidates may begin applying now! Additional positions will be posted over the next week. The 2012 positions include more Guest Scientist positions and GeoCorps Diversity Internships than in 2011, and will soon feature positions with the State of California Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Program.

For more information, click here: http://rock.geosociety.org/g_corps/index.htm

Earth and Planetary Science Lab/Field Tech Position at Santa Barbara City College

2011-12-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

There have not been many openings posted for geology/earth science positions in the California Community College system in the last few months, but an interesting one just crossed my desk, for an Earth Science Laboratory and Field Technician post at Santa Barbara City College. SBCC is a nice place to work (I was there from 1984-88), and their earth science program is excellent. If you are a jack-of-all-trades in the geological sciences, and enjoy organizing and conducting field and lab studies, this position is worth your attention. Application deadline is December 30, so act fast. Official information can be found here, while a more detailed description can be found beneath the jump...

ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSITION
PLEASE APPLY AT: https://jobs.sbcc.edu
WE NO LONGER ACCEPT PAPER APPLICATIONS
PLEASE CIRCULATE AND POST THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LAB/FIELD TECHNICIAN
Earth/Planetary Sciences – FT/12 Mo

CLASSIFIED OPEN AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Nine step salary range, initial placement customarily at first step with annual advancement to the next higher step. 40 hours per week, 12 months per year, plus fringe benefits; 12 month probation period. All work schedules and work assignments are subject to change based on the needs of the College.

SALARY RANGE: $4,117/Mo. - $5,017/Mo.

WORKING HOURS: Monday – Friday: 8 hrs day. During field courses 12 hrs day,
multiple consecutive days (compensatory time off provided)

PLEASE APPLY AT: https://jobs.sbcc.edu

ONLINE APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2011 - 4:30 p.m.
(Interviews by Invitation Only)

BASIC FUNCTION:
Under the direction of the Department Chair, plan, organize and coordinate a variety of field trips to various sites and facilities in support of Earth & Planetary Sciences; perform a variety of specialized, complex and independent activities involved in the preparation, construction, set-up and clean-up of instructional materials and equipment for field trips and laboratory demonstrations and activities in Earth & Planetary Sciences; assure adequate equipment and materials to meet Department needs.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Plan, organize and coordinate a variety of field trips to various sites and facilities; arrange transportation, supplies, equipment and reservations for field trips; maintain and oversee the operation of field equipment; direct field trip functions to assure smooth and efficient activities; issue and collect field trip materials and equipment to and from students.

Coordinate, direct and arrange support services for field trips; coordinate, oversee and participate in the purchasing, preparation and distribution of food and beverages for field trips; maintain and oversee the operation of needed equipment such as stoves, ovens, lanterns, refrigeration equipment, portable latrines and radios; plan related menus; drive a truck to support field trips as directed.
Coordinate activities, supplies and equipment to meet field, laboratory and related instructional needs in geology, geophysics, oceanography, astronomy and related subject areas; apply a variety of complex geological principles, theories and disciplines in the development, analysis and adjustment of field trips, laboratory demonstrations, exercises and instructional materials to meet student needs.
Prepare, set up, operate, calibrate, maintain and repair a variety of specialized equipment related to geology such as microscopes, stereoscopes, rock processing equipment, grinders, laps, meters, balances, shakers, splitters, generators, samplers, projectors, telescopes, graphs, tape players, cameras hand and power tools and machinery, and a variety of other geophysical, astronomical, geological, rock processing, soil testing and oceanographic equipment.

Assure adequate equipment and materials to meet Department needs; monitor inventory levels of laboratory and field trip supplies and equipment; select, order, receive, store and maintain adequate inventory of supplies and equipment; initiate, prepare and process purchase requisitions; estimate required inventory levels; estimate and account for related costs; conduct inventories.

Research, collect and maintain inventory of museum specimens used in instructional activities including mineral, petrology and paleontology reference samples; maintain map and library collection; prepare and stock student lab drawers with rocks, minerals and fossils as assigned; conduct field excursions to identify and collect specimens; take photographs as needed.

Supervise the performance of assigned student, hourly and volunteer workers; interview and select student assistants and recommend salary increases, promotions, reassignment, termination and disciplinary actions; participate in recruitment and screening activities; develop schedules, assign duties and review work for compliance with established standards and procedures.

Prepare and maintain collection of rock thin-sections and slabs, polished sections and oriented grain mounts; construct a variety of demonstration models such as geomorphologic models, stream tables, crystal structure models, turbidity tanks, fault models and wave tanks; perform related carpentry and welding tasks; maintain and prepare materials and equipment involving chemicals, soil mechanics, oceanographic cores and related apparatus.

Plan, organize and lay out lab supplies and equipment for use during field trips and laboratories; test demonstrations and exercises to assure proper functioning; provide technical assistance to faculty and students in the use of field trip and laboratory supplies and equipment; explain related instructional and laboratory principles, theories, practices, procedures and techniques as needed.

Research, compile, arrange and assemble field trip and laboratory materials and equipment; design, develop, analyze and implement field trip demonstration, exercise, preparation and set-up procedures; investigate and resolve issues related to field trips, demonstrations and other instructional activities.

Prepare and maintain various records and reports related to field trips, laboratory demonstrations, vehicles, preparation, experiments, student assistants, supplies, equipment, inventory, budgets, purchases and assigned duties; compose preparation lists as required.

Perform skilled work in the inspection, diagnosis, repair and maintenance of various vehicles; adjust, overhaul, service and rebuild automotive systems and equipment; troubleshoot, diagnose and resolve vehicle problems and malfunctions; install and replace vehicle parts and components as needed.

Develop, implement and conduct training activities to assure subordinate employee understanding of laboratory standards, requirements, supplies, equipment, principles, theories, practices and procedures.

Coordinate, monitor, develop and maintain budgets for laboratory activities in accordance with prescribed guidelines; review and evaluate financial and budgetary data; control and authorize expenditure in accordance with established limitations; assist in the development of budget requests.

Assure the health and safety of students, staff and faculty by researching, implementing and following health and safety practices and procedures; clean and disassemble supplies and equipment as needed.

Communicate with College personnel, faculty and various outside agencies to exchange information and resolve issues or concerns; request educational fee waivers as appropriate.

Operate a variety of standard office equipment including a computer and assigned software; set up and operate audio-visual equipment as assigned.

Provide and arrange for field trip medical and emergency services; respond to emergency situations and provide first aid and CPR as needed; transport student to medical facilities as needed.

Maintain current knowledge of laboratory, field trip and Earth & Planetary Sciences terminology, techniques, equipment, materials, principles, theories, practices and procedures.

OTHER DUTIES:
Perform related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE OF:
Planning, organization, coordination and support services required for a variety of Earth & Planetary Sciences field trips to various sites and facilities.
Technical practices, procedures and techniques involved in the preparation, construction set-up and clean-up of geological instructional materials and equipment used in field trips and other instructional activities.

Advanced geology and related field trip terminology, techniques, equipment, materials, principles, theories, practices and procedures.

Set up, operation, calibration, maintenance and repair of various field trip instruments, tools and equipment related to geology.

Inventory practices, procedures and techniques.

Appropriate safety precautions and procedures.

Operation of a computer and assigned software.

Principles and practices of supervision and training.
Oral and written communication skills.

Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.

Record-keeping and report preparation techniques.

Budget preparation and control.

ABILITY TO:
Plan, organize and coordinate a variety of field trips to various sites and facilities.

Coordinate, direct and arrange support services for field trips.

Perform a variety of specialized, complex and independent activities involved in the preparation, construction, set-up and clean-up of instructional materials and equipment for field trips and laboratory demonstrations and activities in Earth & Planetary Sciences.

Research, collect and maintain inventory of museum specimens used in instructional activities.

Prepare and maintain sample collections, demonstration models and a variety of other specialized instructional materials related to geology.

Calibrate, modify, maintain and repair complex equipment related to geology instruction as required.

Interpret, apply and explain laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures.
Train and supervise the performance of assigned student workers as required.
Select, order, receive and maintain adequate inventory levels of supplies and equipment.

Research, compile, arrange and assemble instructional materials and equipment.
Assist faculty, staff and students in the use of field trip and instructional supplies and equipment.

Observe health and safety regulations and procedures.

Explain geological and field trip principles, theories, practices, procedures and techniques.

Assure smooth, efficient and educationally effective laboratory activities.

Meet schedules and time lines.

Work independently with little direction.

Maintain records and prepare reports.

Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with students.

Operate a variety of standard office equipment including a computer and assigned software.

EDUCATION AND PAID EXPERIENCE:
Any combination equivalent to: bachelor’s degree in geology and two years increasingly responsible experience providing instructional support in subject areas related to geology including work with the development and implementation of field trips and preparation and set-up of instructional materials and equipment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Ability to work independently; flexible in terms of work hours; demonstrated leadership/people skills for recruitment, scheduling, training, and supervising student workers and professional volunteers; experience with budget management; competence in office software including spread sheet programs; mechanical skills in operating and maintaining a variety of equipment (specialized lab and field equipment, rock processing equipment, vehicles, carpentry, etc.); class B driver’s license with air brake certification; First Aid and/or CPR training/experience.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Incumbents must obtain a ServSafe license within a designated period of time.
Incumbents must obtain a valid first aid and CPR license including defibrillator certification within a designated period of time.
Incumbents must obtain a California Class B driver’s license within a designated period of time.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
ENVIRONMENT:
Indoor and outdoor work environment.
Subject to variable work hours.
Constant interruptions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a variety of equipment.
Sitting or standing for extended periods of time.
Seeing to read a variety of materials and monitor student activities.
Hearing and speaking to exchange information.
Bending at the waist, kneeling or crouching.
Reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally.
Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling heavy objects as assigned by the position.
Walking during field trips.

HAZARDS:
Some incumbents may experience exposure to fumes and hazardous chemicals.
Working around machinery with moving parts
Working at heights.
Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of Community College Students.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (Upon Offer of Employment):

Satisfactory results from prescribed job related medical examination, including evidence of freedom from active tuberculosis; satisfactory fingerprint reports.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that the District obtain documentation from every individual who is employed which verifies identity and authorizes his/her right to work in the United States.

Person selected for this position will be required to submit proof of any college coursework or degrees indicated on the employment application.

BENEFITS:
The District offers a cafeteria style plan in which employees are given a district allowance and may choose from a number of medical and dental plans. Life and income protection insurances are also available.

Vacation (based on assigned hours) is earned and accumulated on a monthly basis.

Sick leave is earned at the rate of one day (based on the number of assigned hours) per month, and is accumulative from year to year.

Holidays: 15 holidays per year.

Credit Union: The Santa Barbara Teachers Federal Credit Union offers a variety of services.

Retirement: Employees, who work 20 or more hours per week, are covered by the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Social Security, and Medicare.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Apply online at https://jobs.sbcc.edu. We no longer accept paper applications. Assistance with the online application process is available on campus at the Human Resources office, 721 Cliff Drive, SS-230,
Monday-Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00, Friday 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., or by phone (805) 965-0581 ext. 2258. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of SBCC online application. Online applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on the closing date.

ACCOMMODATION FOR THE DISABLED: If you are in need of special services or facilities due to a disability in order to apply or interview for this opening, please call the Human Resources Office.

Santa Barbara Community College is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, age, sex, race, color, ancestry, marital, parental or veteran status, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability , or on the basis of these perceived characteristics or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, consistent with applicable federal and state laws. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self disclose.

- EQUAL OPPORTUNITY - TITLE IX EMPLOYER -
JOB# 12/11 - C031

P:EARTHPLANETARYSCIENCELABFIELDTECH (12/01/2011

High School Honors Earth Science and the University of California

2011-11-23T23:32:00.000-08:00

Notice to California High School teachers and staff

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that a high school course, entitled Honors Earth Science, has been approved by the UC Academic Senate Board on Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS), and also by the UC Office of the President. The course was designed principally by Wendy Van Norden with help from the rest of us. It is listed on https://doorways.ucop.edu/list/, under the listings for Harvard Westlake School, North Hollywood, CA. The course outline appears on the website of Harvard Westlake School, at http://www.hwscience.com/Geology/Honors/ESS%20course%20outline.doc. There is also an Honors Geology curriculum available at Harvard-Westlake that also has "d" certification at http://www.hwscience.com/Geology/Honors/index.html.

The Honors Earth Science course is intended for high school juniors and seniors. It has received an “honors” designation by the UC, so it confers and extra point to a student’s GPA. The course has the same level of rigor as most AP science courses, and it is possible to work with a local university to turn it into a dual credit course. Honors Earth Science has prerequisites of algebra, biology, and chemistry. In principle, any high school that adopts this course should receive UC's "d" Laboratory Science credit for it. Widespread adoption of this course in CA high schools should significantly increase the awareness of Earth Science by CA high school graduates, UC's entering students, and the public at large.

This course does not conflict with existing 9^th grade Earth science classes. It is intended as a third-year science class for college-bound students. BOARS has made clear that 9^th grade Earth science classes will not receive "d" certification.

There are, of course, several advantages for students to take a third science course in high school, for several reasons:

UC's "d" laboratory science requirements states "two and preferably three years" of high laboratory science are required"; Three years are better than two; nearly all (more than 90%) entering first-year UC students have 3 or even 4 years of science in high school
In this increasingly technically oriented world, students will benefit from as much science as they can get;'
Earth science underlies any understanding of the landscape, agricultural patterns , the location and character of towns cities, and resource and economic issues, and earth hazards. Especially in California, all people need a background in Earth science in order to become informed citizens because of California's Earth hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, floods, and tsunamis.
In this increasingly crowded world, resource and hazard issues are at the forefront of many events and conditions on Earth, e.g. the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the Thailand and Pakistan floods, the East African droughts, the climate crisis. A knowledge of Earth science is essential for every citizen, including those that attend UC!

We hope that this new development will encourage high schools throughout California to offer this course, and thus better prepare their students to function as informed citizens in the 21^st century.

We encourage you to look at this course outline carefully, and we encourage you to consider adopting the course in your own school. Widespread adoption of this course would go far towards the spread of Earth Science courses eligible for "d" Laboratory Science credit at UC throughout California. It would benefit all present and future Californians.

Cordially,

Wendy Van Norden, Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood, CA

Ray Ingersoll, Earth and Space Sciences, UCLA,

Bruce Luyendyk, Geological Sciences, UCSB,

Tom Traeger, La Canada High School, La Canada High School

Eldridge Moores, Geology, UCD

More Scenes from the Joshua Tree Conference

2011-11-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

Some more scenes from the recently concluded fall meeting of the Far Western Section. Thanks to Randy Adsit for these great photos (comments are his)! And thanks again to Bruce Bridenbecker and Copper Mountain College for sponsoring...

My new ride! An abandoned car near the Wall Street Mine.

There are 3 plutons visible in this scene from near the Wall Street Mill. The White Tank "monzogranite" is the easiest to pick out -- it's the light colored unit making boulders in the middle ground on the left.

The interior of the Wall Street Mill. A two stamp mill is in the back. The tray in the middle originally had a copper sheet covered with mercury, for separating gold from the crushed rock. In the foreground is a shaker table, which separates ore minerals from non-ores based on specific gravity.

A "green" water pump, powered by renewable wind energy.

Past issues of "California Geology" Available for Free Download!

2011-11-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

(From a post on Geotripper)
How many of you remember or know of a publication by the California Geological survey called California Geology? It was a marvelous magazine written mostly for lay people, and it always had great articles on all aspects of the wonderful geology of our fair state. It was an early victim of our state budget troubles, and ceased publication in 2001 after a 53 year run (originally as the Mineral Information Service).

I especially appreciated the field guides they occasionally published including an excellent series on the geology of the Sierra Nevada Mother Lode in 1997. They also had plenty of articles about the teaching of the earth sciences that were handy for classroom exercises.

Cynthia Pridmore of the California Geological Survey has notified me that the entire 53 year inventory of California Geology issues is now available for free download as PDF files from the CGS site (click here for the search page). If you are at all interested in the geology of our state, check it out. There is some good stuff here!

Many thanks to the California Geological Survey for making the database available!

A Soggy Day in Joshua Tree National Park: On the road with the NAGT

2011-11-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

(Cross posted from Geotripper)

I spent the last weekend geotripping in Joshua Tree National Park with fellow members of the Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. We hold these meetings twice a year at locations throughout California, Nevada and Hawaii. They are a great way to share teaching ideas and to collect samples and photos of some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.

Part of our trip was an exploration of the Geology Road Tour in the middle of the park. The road is an unpaved track that is recommended for four-wheel drive vehicles. We would try to see if that was true on a rainy day!

It was only sprinkling at first, as we crossed the Queen Valley pediment. Here and there inselbergs rose from the flat valley floor. These 'islands' of rocks that are remnants of mountain ridges that eroded away long ago.

The process of erosion continues into the present day. Can you see the horizontal scars across the boulders in the pictures above and below? These are areas of intense chemical weathering that formed when the soil levels were about 6-7 feet higher than today. The soils have eroded away within the last 20,000 years or so.

Another interesting form of erosion on these granite boulders is the development of tafoni, the hollows and honeycomb pits that occur on some boulders. The origin of the pits is somewhat unclear, but is no doubt a phenomenon of chemical weathering, possibly when the rock was still buried in the soil.

The hollow above was big enough to sit in. Others have had the idea of using the hole for shelter, as there was a grinding hole in the floor of the shallow cave. I also noticed a lot of charcoal in the soil at the site, meaning that the site was also utilized as a campsite by the local Native Americans.

We passed Malapai Hill, a 400 foot high basaltic intrusion. The volcanism resulted from decompression and partial melting of mantle material during a "reorganization" of the crust of southern California as the San Andreas fault system was taking shape. We didn't have time to check it out, but a climb of the hill reveals some nice examples of columnar jointing and fragments of mantle materials in the basalt.

Malapai Hill, photo by Mrs. Geotripper

We dropped down into Pleasant Valley, although with the building storm it was looking less and less pleasant by the moment. The abrupt valley wall marks the trace of the Blue Cut fault, a left lateral strike-slip fault that trends eastward through the park.

We stopped for a look at the Gold Coin Mine (not much equipment left), and searched for a few petroglyphs on the dark metamorphic rocks at the mine site.

At the contact with the granite, I saw a very nice example of a xenolith ('alien stone'), a piece of older rock that was incorporated into the granite when it was still molten. The xenolith was more resistant to erosion, and now stands out.

The weather was getting nastier by the second. The road crossed a playa surface in the center of Pleasant Valley. After the first eight cars passed through, the surface had become 'unstable', for lack of a better term. For the first time in five years of driving my Subaru, I went fishtailing on a road. My car has been stable on all manner of icy and snowy surfaces, but this was...fun. When we left two hours later, other cars were driving down the one way road. I wonder how they fared.

At the other end of the valley we found some of the most interesting rocks, a series of aplite dikes cutting across the Proterozoic Pinto Gneiss. These rocks are part of a complex that includes the oldest rocks in California (and part of an extensive belt of mountains that once extended across the southern United States).

The rocks have been intricately folded and intruded by small granite veins. The complex chemical interactions have resulted in mineralization, leading many miners to seek out valuable ores in these rocks, mostly without success.

We continued around the one-way loop, on not too unreasonable roads while the rain continued to pour down on us. Luckily the playa surface did not extend to the other end of the loop, and we had no problems crossing the valley.

The view across the valley was interesting...our road out could be seen meandering up the alluvial slope. The inselbergs from the first part of the road tour can be seen on the skyline through the falling rain.

We made it back to the paved highway without incident, but the trip was cut a bit short because our last destination was Key's View. On a normal desert day, the view is incredible, looking across the Coachella Valley to Salton Sea, the San Andreas fault, and the San Jacinto Mountains. But not on this particular afternoon. The 30% chance of showers had turned into a full-fledged storm, so we headed back to town.

A trip spoiled by rain? Absolutely not. There is nothing quite like the sights and smells of a rainstorm in the desert. It was a great day!

If you would like to join us on another exploration of the Mojave Desert, you have an opportunity on March 2-4 when El Camino College sponsors a meeting at Zzyzx near the Mojave National Scenic Area. Information on the meeting can be found here.

Scenes from the Far Western Section meeting at Joshua Tree National Park

2011-11-15T23:53:00.000-08:00

We will be happy to post pictures from attendees at the fall meeting at Joshua Tree National Park. Thanks to Randall Adsit for the first of the pictures below! If you want to learn more about the geology of Joshua Tree National Park, watch for an announcement about the availability of the meeting guidebook in a few days.

White Tank granodiorite and yucca. Photo by Randy Adsit

Yucca blooms by Randy Adsit

Pyrolusite dendrites in the mineralized zone of the Desert Queen Mine. Photo by Randy Adsit

"Polka dots" from the Desert Queen Mine. Photo by Randy Adsit

Rattlesnake Canyon area in Indian Cove, Joshua Tree. Photo by Garry Hayes

Exploring Rattlesnake Canyon near Indian Cove, photo by Garry Hayes

Porphyritic granitic rock at Indian Cove in Joshua Tree National Park, photo by Garry Hayes

Exploring Rattlesnake Canyon. Photo by Garry Hayes

Exploring the Skull Rock area at Joshua Tree. Photo by Garry Hayes

Trip leader Bruce Bridenbecker discusses Skull Rock weathering. Photo by Garry Hayes

Bizzaro Rocks Day and a Roadrunner: an update from the Fall Meeting of the Far Western Section

2011-11-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

(Cross-posted from Geotripper)

We were on the road this weekend, attending the fall meeting of the Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. When geologist-teachers get together, we may talk about teaching, but we make sure our activities revolve around geology. We explore.

The sponsor of our meeting was Copper Mountain College, which serves the towns of Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms. The towns are right next to Joshua Tree National Park which sits astride the boundary between the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in Southern California. One group explored the scarps produced by the 1992 Landers Earthquake, a 7.6 temblor that produced a prominent scarp that is still visible today. The other trip was a tour of a park named for an odd tree, but whose other distinction is the bizarro rocks it has. Joshua Tree is a showcase for plutonic processes, with thousands of acres of weirdly weathered granitic boulders.

This is a brief post before I hit the long road home, but here are a smattering of photos of my favorite outcrops. They include the very colorful lichens I found in sheltered spots. Lichens are an entire ecosystem of lifeforms in miniature, a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi.

And then there was the Triassic megacrystic Twentynine Palms quartz monzonite. I've seen plenty of porphyritic granitic rocks before, but a canyon filled with giant boulders of this stuff was just extraordinary.

I could swear I heard a little "beep-beep", and there it was, a little roadrunner wondering what we were up to. More pics later!

Don't Take Joshua Tree for Granite: The Fall Meeting of the Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers

2011-11-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

There is still time to see one of California's most unique national parks!

(Reposted from October 1: Registration forms and more information available at the Far Western Section website)

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most unique desert environments to be found anywhere in North America (See a representative journey with Geotripper here). Sitting astride the boundary zone between the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, the park displays a startling variety of plant and animal species, and stunning displays of a Proterozoic metamorphic complex and Mesozoic plutonic rocks. It is a great place to learn about geology.

Copper Mountain College will be the host for the Fall 2011 meeting, which will include explorations of the park, and a journey to the interior of the Mojave to see the scarps from the 1992 Landers earthquake, still starkly obvious after two decades. The magnitude 7.3 quake killed two and produced a fracture that crossed fifty miles of desert.

The Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers invites anyone interested in the geological sciences to join them, including students (especially students!). Membership in NAGT is not required. This is a wonderful opportunity to see a fascinating corner of California's geology, and a chance to meet earth science teachers from all over California and Nevada (Hawaii is in our section too). It is an exciting and economic way to see some of southern California's most incredible geology.

Friday November 11, 2011

6:00 PM Meet at Copper Mountain College Bell Center Community Room for Registration

(On-site registration cost estimate is $50.)

7:00 PM NAGT Far Western Section Board Meeting

8:00 - 9:00 PM Registration

Saturday November 12, 2011

8:00 - 10:00 AM Meet at the Bell Center Community Room for Registration

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Field Trips (Choose One)

Field Trip Number 1

Landers Earthquake: Scarps still visible after 20 years plus Pioneer Town: Dating of a Miocene(?) erosional surface – Bob Reynolds

Field Trip Number 2

Geology of Joshua Tree National Park – Bruce Bridenbecker

Presentation: 6:00 – 9:00 PM Evening Social with Lecture on Mines and Mining in Joshua Tree National Park - Dee Trent

Sunday November 13, 2011

8:00 AM Meet at Bell Center Parking Lot for Field Trip to Desert Queen Mine – Dee Trent

Field Trip should conclude by 2:00 or 3:00 PM.

Logistics:

Joshua Tree Area Services

For a directory of area motels and restaurants visit the Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce Web Site at http://www.joshuatreechamber.org/.

Joshua Tree Area Camping

Indian Cove is located 13 miles east of Joshua Tree Village and 10 miles west of Twentynine Palms on the north side of the Wonderland of Rocks. Indian Cove Road dead-ends at this secluded area. Campers register at the ranger station located at the entrance to the Indian Cove area. Water is also available there.

Contact Bruce Bridenbecker for additional information.

Some Earth Science/Geology Teaching Positions Announced

2011-10-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Several notes crossed my desk concerning openings. See below for details...

First, from Dirk Baron at Bakersfield State:

The Department of Geological Sciences at California State University Bakersfield has two tenure-track faculty openings to be filled by fall 2012. We would appreciate it if you could forward the announcements to postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and other qualified individuals in your department who may be interested in applying.

The positions are

1. Structural Geology/Neotectonics http://www.geosociety.org/classiads/ads/web18.htm

2. Petroleum Geology http://www.geosociety.org/classiads/ads/web17.htm

We will be conducting preliminary interviews at the upcoming GSA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis.

We appreciate your help in this matter.

Best regards,

Dr. Dirk Baron
Professor of Geology
California State University, Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311
Tel.: 661-654-3044; Fax: 661-654-2040
--------------------------------------------------

From Peter McDonald at the University of Toronto....

I am writing to ask for your assistance in identifying candidates for a faculty position opening at the Assistant Professor level in the field of Geology at the University of Toronto. A copy of the advertisement is shown below. If I could trouble you to bring this opportunity to the attention of any postdoctoral fellows, or research associates, or other qualified individuals in your department who might be interested, I would be most grateful. Thank you in advance and I hope that one day I might repay the favour !

Regards

Peter M. Macdonald, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Chemistry
Chair, Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences
University of Toronto Mississauga
3359 Mississauga Road North
Mississauga ON Canada L5L 1C6
tel: 905 828 3805
fax: 905 828 5425
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GEOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES

The Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga is seeking applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level from scholars with research interests in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Sedimentology or related fields. The successful applicant will complement an Earth Sciences research cluster at UTM specializing in paleoclimatology, climatetectonic interactions, and petrology. Candidates for this position should have received their Ph.D. by the starting date, and should demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching and research. The successful applicant will be expected to develop and maintain an active, externally funded program of research and to contribute to the education and training of undergraduates at UTM and graduate students in the Department of Geology, University of Toronto. The position will commence July 1, 2012 at a salary commensurate with qualification and experience.

We encourage you to submit your application online by visiting us at www.jobs.utoronto.ca/faculty.htm, and refer to job number 1100767. Please ensure that you include a current CV, statement of research and teaching interests, materials relevant to teaching experience, and copies of representative publications. Individuals lacking computer access may submit application materials to Chair of Earth Sciences Search Committee, Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 1C6. Three letters of recommendation should also be sent under separate cover. Materials must be received by November 1, 2011.

For more information about the Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences at the University of

Toronto Mississauga, please visit our home page at www.utm.utoronto.ca/cps.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

---------------------------------------------------------------

The CCC Registry lists two part-time teaching positions under "geology", and one full-time tenure-track position at Canada College in the San Mateo District under the "earth science" search.

Announcement: Fall Meeting of the Far Western Section, Nov. 11-13, Joshua Tree National Park

2011-10-01T22:12:00.000-07:00

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most unique desert environments to be found anywhere in North America. Sitting astride the boundary zone between the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, the park displays a startling variety of plant and animal species, and stunning displays of a Proterozoic metamorphic complex and Mesozoic plutonic rocks.

Copper Mountain College will be our host for the Fall 2011 meeting, which will include explorations of the park, and a journey to the interior of the Mojave to see the scarps from the 1992 Landers earthquake, still starkly obvious after two decades.

We invite anyone interested in the geological sciences to join us, including students (especially students!). This is a wonderful opportunity to see a fascinating corner of California's geology.

Friday November 11, 2011

6:00 PM Meet at Copper Mountain College Bell Center Community Room for Registration

(On-site registration cost estimate is $50.)

7:00 PM NAGT Far Western Section Board Meeting

8:00 - 9:00 PM Registration

Saturday November 12, 2011

8:00 - 10:00 AM Meet at the Bell Center Community Room for Registration

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Field Trips (Choose One)

Field Trip Number 1

Landers Earthquake: Scarps still visible after 20 years plus Pioneer Town: Dating of a Miocene(?) erosional surface – Bob Reynolds

Field Trip Number 2

Geology of Joshua Tree National Park – Bruce Bridenbecker

6:00 – 9:00 PM Evening Social with Lecture on Mines and Mining in Joshua Tree National Park - Dee Trent

Sunday November 13, 2011

8:00 AM Meet at Bell Center Parking Lot for Field Trip to Desert Queen Mine – Dee Trent

Field Trip should conclude by 2:00 or 3:00 PM.

Logistics:

Joshua Tree Area Services

For a directory of area motels and restaurants visit the Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce Web Site at http://www.joshuatreechamber.org/.

Joshua Tree Area Camping

Indian Cove is located 13 miles east of Joshua Tree Village and 10 miles west of Twentynine Palms on the north side of the Wonderland of Rocks. Indian Cove Road dead-ends at this secluded area. Campers register at the ranger station located at the entrace to the Indian Cove area. Water is also available there.

Contact Bruce Bridenbecker for additional information.

New NAGT Division: Geoscience at Two-Year Colleges

2011-09-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

The Geo2YC Organizational Committee is pleased to announce that the Geoscience at Two-Year Colleges (Geo2YC) Division has become the first professional interest division of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT). The Geo2YC Division has received start-up funding from the NAGT Executive Committee to launch its mission to:

1) serve as a forum for exchanging information about 2YC geoscience programs
2) create a professional network for geoscience education at two-year colleges and other institutions with shared interests
3) sponsor NAGT 2YC activities and make recommendations to the NAGT Council
4) support and coordinate research on 2YC geoscience education
5) advocate for 2YC geoscience education within NAGT and other organizations

We welcome all NAGT members, including four-year college and university faculty with similar interests and concerns, to join the Geo2YC Division.

For Geo2YC to become a success we need your ideas and participation. One way to participate is to nominate yourself or a colleague to become an officer. Below are the primary duties and requirements for Geo2YC officers:

President - current or former 2YC professor serves 1-year term followed by 5 years on the Nominating and Election Committee
a. Convenes and chairs Executive Board meetings
b. Attends NAGT Council meetings or designates an alternate
c. Writes Division newsletter column and annual report for NAGT
Vice-President - current or former 2YC professor serves 1 year-term before becoming President
a. Participates in Executive Board meetings
b. Coordinates with liaisons to NAGT sections
Secretary/treasurer - serves 3-year term
a. Takes Executive Board meeting minutes
b. Tracks budget and maintains financial records and bank account
Newsletter Editor - serves 3-year term
a. Participates in Executive Board meetings
b. Edits quarterly electronic newsletter and sends news to other media
Webmaster - serves 3-year term
a. Participates in Executive Board meetings
b. Maintains and updates Division website on NAGT server
Archivist - serves 3-year term
a. Participates in Executive Board meetings
b. Archives documents, records, and images, and maintains membership roster

Please send the names and contact information for officer nominations to me at this address by Thursday, September 15. Membership sign-up, election of Geo2YC officers, and adoption of Division bylaws will occur later this month on the NAGT website.

We'd love to have you join Geo2YC!

Regards,

Bob Blodgett

UPDATE: Here is the URL for Geo2YC: http://nagt.org/nagt/divisions/2yc/ . The actual page is http://nagt.org/nagt/divisions/2yc/index.html but you can access it within out adding index.html.

Celebrate National Earth Science Week 2011!

2011-08-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

From Missy Holzer at NESTA...

National Earth Science Week is around the corner! The celebration will take place October 9-15, 2011 and this year’s theme is “Our Ever Changing Earth.” Not sure what to do for that week? Go to National Earth Science Week Homepage http://www.earthsciweek.org and you will find numerous ideas related to this year’s theme. You may also purchase an Earth Science Week kit for $6.95 which is filled with posters and resources to use during the celebration and the rest of the year.

The first day of the school year can set the tone for the entire year, and we as Earth Science teachers have the best resources to ensure a terrific opening to the new school year. We have access to images and animations of exciting events, fascinating phenomenon, and perplexing puzzles in the Earth Sciences. We can stop our students in their tracks as they ask “why do we have to learn Earth Science?” by using video clips like "Why Earth Science" from AGI and available on the AGI website http://www.agiweb.org/education/resource/index.html and on YouTube. This free 7 minute video will give your students a taste of what’s in store for them for the school year, and will entice them to choose a career in one of the many fields of Earth Science. They will be captivated by the footage and the message it has that Earth Science includes everything everywhere! Best Wishes for a new school year!

Geoscience Teaching Opportunities in the California Community Colleges

2011-08-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

Canada College in the San Mateo Community College District is seeking applicants for a full-time Earth Science Instructor. The position is open until filled, but the first screening date is 8/15/2011. There are four other part-time positions being advertised on the CCC Registry: https://www.cccregistry.org/jobs/searchForm.aspx, with the search terms "earth science" or "geology".

NSF Announces $10 Million grant to Improve Geoscience Education and Integrate with other Disciplines

2011-08-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

"The National Science Foundation (NSF) today announced a $10 million grant for a new center to improve geoscience education and integrate the geosciences across other academic disciplines.With the support from the five-year grant, "Interdisciplinary Teaching of Geoscience for a Sustainable Future," or InTeGrate, will develop teaching materials and model programs for use in undergraduate education.

InTeGrate activities specifically target the large majority of undergraduates who do not elect to take geoscience courses, with the goal of improving overall geoscience literacy and increasing the number and diversity of graduates who will utilize this literacy to address societal issues ranging from water resource management to hazardous waste disposal."

For more information, see the announcement here

AGU Abstract Deadline - August 4

2011-08-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

NAGT is pleased to outline a variety of geoscience education sessions planned for the Fall 2010 AGU Meeting held in San Francisco, CA, from 5-9 December, 2011. There are more than 50 education sessions at this year's meeting and you can easily see all the session names, abstracts, and conveners by going to the NAGT website - http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/meetings/AGU2011.html .
Please submit abstracts (http://agu-fm11.abstractcentral.com/) and take part in the sessions highlighting key issues of importance to geoscience educators

The deadline for submitting an abstract to the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco is 11:59PM EDT Thursday, August 4.

(from John McDaris)

News from National NAGT (From John McDaris)

2011-06-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

Eastern Mojave Desert (see announcement below about Far Western Section Spring Meeting, 2012)

1. NAGT Outstanding TA Award Deadline: June 1
The deadline for nominations for NAGT's Outstanding TA Award is June 15. NAGT recognizes outstanding teaching assistants in geoscience education with up to 30 awards annually. Both undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants are eligible for the award which consists of a one year membership in NAGT, a one year subscription to the Journal of Geoscience Education, and a certificate. If there is a TA in your department that you think deserves recognition for their efforts in the classroom, nominate them using the form on the program's webpage (http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/ta.html ).
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2. NAGT Activities at GSA: Meetings, Receptions, Sessions, Workshops, and Field Trips

http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/meetings/GSA11.html

NAGT Meetings and Receptions have been added to the Activities page for the 2011 GSA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, MN. Dates and times for these meetings still need to be confirmed but are available now so that members can begin making their plans to attend. Location information for the events will be added to the page as soon as it becomes available. In addition, the Activities page lists lists topical sessions, workshops, and field trips being sponsored by NAGT or it's sponsored projects.

Abstract submission for topical sessions is ongoing with a deadline of July 26 and registration for the meeting and workshops is now open as well with an Early Registration deadline of September 6. So check out the great offerings and join your fellow educators by taking part in several of these wonderful opportunities.
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3. New NAGT Officers for 2011-12

Please join us in congratulating the new officers that were elected in this year's election.

Aida Awad (Maine East High School) - 2nd Vice President

Tamara Shapiro Ledley, PhD (Center for Science Teaching and Learning, TERC) - Councilor

Karl Wirth (Macalester College) - Councilor

You can read more about each of the new officers on the new officers biography page (http://nagt.org/nagt/news/54555.html). Their terms in the NAGT leadership will begin with the Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the GSA meeting this October in Minneapolis.
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4. Draft Position Statement on High School Earth Science Instruction

In keeping with NAGT's core mission "to foster improvement in the teaching of the earth sciences at all levels of formal and informal instruction, to emphasize the cultural significance of the earth sciences and to disseminate knowledge in this field to the general public," a new draft position statement on High School Earth Science Instruction has been developed to establish NAGT's perspective on this important issue.

The Executive Committee invites all NAGT members to comment on the draft statement during the open comment period running from June 6 - September 6, 2011. The draft statement, along with all submitted feedback, will be presented to NAGT Council and voted upon at the Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the GSA meeting in October, 2011, in Minneapolis.

You can read and download the text of the draft position statement by going to http://nagt.org/nagt/policy/high-school.html. Comments can be left in discussion threads at the bottom of the page or emailed directly to the Executive Director.
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5. 2011 Award Announcements
Some of the NAGT awards programs have announced their winners for 2011. Be sure to check out the program pages on the website for more information about the awards and recipients.

Neil Miner Award (http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/miner.html)

Dr. Marjorie J. McKinney and the late Dr. F. Kenneth McKinney

James H Shea Award (http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/shea.html)

Dr. Naomi Oreskes, University of California San Diego

Bob Christman Distinguished Service Award (http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/christman.html)

Dr. Bob Ridky, US Geological Survey

USGS/NAGT Cooperative Field Training Program (http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/usgs_field.html)

44 students have been selected as the 2011 class of USGS interns. These individuals will be hired by USGS for a period of up to 5 months and work on projects and be mentored by USGS scientists. Check out the program page for a full listing of the 2011 interns and the projects they will be working on this year.

Dottie LaLonde Stout Professional Development Grants (http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/stout.html)

Pete Berquist, Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, VA

Shelley Jaye, North Virginia Community College, Fairfax, VA

Kimberly Thompson, Annistown Elementary School, Snellville, GA

Christine Witkowski, Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT

Scholarships for Field Study (http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/field_scholarships.html)

For 2011, scholarships were granted to 18 undergraduate students studying geoscience to help offset the cost of attending a field camp or other field-based course. Included in the total are two scholarships awarded in conjunction with the Association of Women Geoscientists. See the Field Scholarship page for a listing of the students and their institutions.
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6. North Central Section Meeting and Field Trip: Sinks Canyon Area, Lander, Wyoming, July 20-22

Share curriculum ideas with other geoscience educators in the peaceful setting of Sinks Canyon. Followed by an optional, two-day field trip. Information and registration materials are available on the North Central Section website (http://nagt.org/nagt/organization/north-central/11meeting.html). Contact Suki Smaglik with any questions or comments.
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7. Far West Section Spring 2012 Meeting: El Camino College, Torrance, California, March 2-4, 2012

El Camino College will be hosting the spring 2012 National Association of Geoscience Teachers Conference at the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx, California on March 2 - 4, 2012. Field trips will focus on various aspects of the Mojave Desert and are currently being planned. Zzyzx (which is pronounced zy - zicks with emphasis on the "zy"), California has a colorful history of its own and once was a resort which featured mineral springs and mud baths, and was renowned as a health resort. Some of these facilities are partially preserved and make for wonderful photographic opportunities with the background of Soda Dry Lake. Today, the California State University system has established a consortium which administers the Desert Studies Center, facilitates research in a variety of disciplines, and aids the preservation of the endangered Mohave tui chub.

Baker, California is located 11 miles to the north east from the Desert Studies Center and has a variety of motels, restaurants, gas stations, and other facilities, some of which are quite unique. "Home of the World's Tallest Thermometer" is Baker's claim to fame and the height of the thermometer at 134 feet or 41 meters was selected when the community recorded the highest temperature ever recorded in the United States (in Death Valley) at 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913. However, it is also a gateway to Death Valley and other scenic areas of the Mohave Desert. Many travelers come to know Baker as they fill their gas tanks during their excursions to and from Las Vegas, Nevada to Los Angeles, California. Baker, California is approximately 177 miles or 285 kilometers north east of Los Angeles, California. Las Vegas, Nevada is located about 88 miles or 142 kilometers to the north east of Baker, California.

The Desert Studies Center has a meeting room, an area for social gatherings and poster sessions, audio visual capabilities with wireless internet, dormitory facilities (advanced registration required and individuals bring their own bedding or sleeping bag), shower facilities, a chef who will prepare the hot breakfasts, dinners and packaged lunches, a store which features items related to Zzyzx, wonderful star gazing opportunities (clear skies permitting), and a wonderful view of Soda Dry Lake, the California Fan Palms and the Chub Pond. All of the field trips will leave from the Desert Studies Center.

In addition to the field trips, workshops, the banquet, and the NAGT Far Western Section business meeting, student posters are strongly encouraged. It is hoped that each school with faculty in attendance will have at least one student poster. The best posters will receive special recognition. Please plan to attend!

Please contact Lynn Fielding with any questions about the spring 2012 NAGT Meeting.
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8. Field Experience for Earth Science Teachers - Learn About Groundwater and Wells - Flagstaff, AZ

NGWA, Arizona Project WET (part of the University of Arizona), and Northern Arizona University, as well as practicing groundwater professionals are collaborating to provide this nontraditional, insightful, and memorable educational opportunity taking place in the shadow of the Grand Canyon.

During the course, participants will:

Conduct an aquifer (pumping) test

Observe the influence of surface water/groundwater interaction in actual field conditions

Identify geologic formations and recognize their capacity for groundwater production

Experience the drilling, construction, and development of a water supply well

Interact and confer with practicing groundwater professionals in real-world circumstances

Learn how to infuse 21st century learning, communication, and collaborative learning skills into classroom instruction

Deepen your content knowledge about the groundwater resource

Discover how to model the inquiry process using problem-solving and critical-thinking skills with local, regional, and national content

More detail on the course is available at http://info.ngwa.org/events/137jul11.cfm.
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9. NESTA Survey of Earth and Space Science Teachers
In order to better serve Earth and space science teachers, the National Earth Science Teachers Association has prepared an anonymous survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NK7ZDGX) to gather information about your Earth and space science education needs and concerns, your satisfaction with NESTA services (if you are a member), and your ideas about how NESTA can serve you better. Please take a moment to complete this survey at your earliest convenience. You may receive notice about this survey from a variety of sources, but please be sure to only complete the survey once! Thanks so much for your time and effort!
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10. Community Advertisements

Freelance Writer Editor/Science

Words & Numbers (http://wordsandnumnbers.com/ ), a leading developer of educational content, is seeking contract or freelance writers and editors to work on a variety of projects.

http://nagt.org/nagt/news/ads/51260.html

Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Associate, Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center) at the University of Maine

The Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center) at the University of Maine seeks applicants for postdoctoral positions in physical sciences education research (chemistry, physics, Earth sciences). Candidates must have a Ph.D. in science, science education, or a closely related field; have a strong research record in discipline-based education research; and have demonstrated excellence in teaching.

http://nagt.org/nagt/news/ads/52381.html

Historic Narrow-gauge Railroad Geology Train Trip

Geology Train Excursion on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad along the Colorado-New Mexico border with stops to examine geologically interesting sites. The day-long trip will be on June 26th, 2011.

http://nagt.org/nagt/news/ads/53032.html

Save the Date: March 2-4, 2012, Meeting at Zzyzx!

2011-04-09T00:04:00.001-07:00

Save the Date!

El Camino College will be hosting the spring 2012 National Association of Geoscience Teachers Conference at the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx, California on March 2 – 4, 2012. Field trips will focus on various aspects of the Mojave Desert and are currently being planned. In addition to the field trips, workshops, the banquet, and the NAGT Far Western Section business meeting, student posters are strongly encouraged. It is hoped that each school with faculty in attendance will have at least one student poster. The best posters will receive special recognition. Please plan to attend!

Please contact Lynn Fielding at lfielding@elcamino.edu with any questions about the spring 2012 NAGT Meeting.

NAGT Awards Deadlines Approaching!

2011-03-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

(from the NAGT Newsletter)

Several awards programs run by NAGT have impending deadlines for application or nomination. Be sure to check out the program webpages for full information and the online application.

Neil Miner Award: Nomination Deadline - April 1
Each year, the NAGT presents the Neil Miner Award to an individual for exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the earth sciences. The Award, presented each year since 1953, commemorates Neil Miner's concern for personal excellence and effective teaching. His ideals, his notably unselfish outlook on life, and his personal philosophy inspired his fellow teachers as well as his students.
http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/miner.html

Jim Shae Award: Nomination Deadline - April 1
Each year, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers presents the James H. Shea Award to an individual for exceptional contributions in the form of writing and/or editing of Earth Science materials (broadly construed) that are of interest to the general public and/or teachers of Earth Science.
http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/shea.html

Dorothy Stout Professional Development Grants: Application Deadline - April 15
In honor of Dorothy "Dottie" Stout's outstanding work and lifelong dedication to Earth Science Education, NAGT awards grants to faculty and students at 2 year colleges and K-12 teachers in support of participation in Earth science classes or workshops, attendance at professional scientific or science education meetings, participation in Earth science field trips, and purchase of Earth science materials for classroom use.
http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/stout.html

Why Geology is Important; Why Education is Important...The Sendai Earthquake in perspective

2011-03-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

(Reposted from Geotripper.blogspot.com)
We learn about geology for many reasons. If you have ever visited this blog before, you know we learn geology because it is just plain fascinating. But sometimes we learn geology because lives are at stake...

It has been a week that will long seared into our collective memories as we watched a tragedy unfold in real time in Sendai, Japan. An earthquake of magnitude 8.9-9.0 struck about 80 miles offshore, with a horrific tsunami that did incalculable damage along the coast of the island. It then spread throughout the Pacific Basin, and the effects of the quake became worldwide in scope. Whether one realizes it or not, every human being on the planet was touched by the shaking. Not in some metaphysical new-age sense, but literally. The waves were detectable for hours on seismometers worldwide, meaning we were all rising and falling whether we were aware of it or not. We were all part of this story.

Many will watch an event like this unfold and try to find some meaning. In one sense, there was no meaning; this was something the Earth does. Subduction zones have been active on this planet for billions of years, and will continue to be active for billions more. The oceanic lithosphere shifted a few tens of feet deeper into the mantle, where it will eventually be melted or distorted beyond recognition. The materials disappearing from the surface today will eventually reappear, as part of a volcanic eruption, or as a fault sliver along some plate boundary in some future era. Events like this are common beyond measure; the Earth has experienced millions upon millions of huge earthquakes like this one, and though life is extinguished in some areas, life in general goes on. This quake meant nothing in the long run.

On the other hand, there was much about this tragedy that has meaning. With our brief life spans measured in decades, we will rarely experience such events in our personal lives. I could never wish such tragedy on anyone, but we also learn that living on this planet means that we are sometimes exposed to extreme deadly events. If not an earthquake, then a volcanic eruption. If not an eruption, a deadly flood. If not a flood, then a searing heat wave, or freezing blizzard. No one is totally safe or immune from these events, and most of the time we are not really aware that they can happen to us at all. They come as a total surprise.

In earlier centuries, such events elicited cosmic and supernatural explanations. It was the capricious nature of the gods that caused these terrible punishments. These people must have done something wrong to deserve such horrific retribution. If we couldn't think of an explanation, we made one up. I would love to say we have somehow moved on from this kind of thinking, but charlatans like Pat Robertson and others remind us constantly that ignorance and hate are alive and well in our society and across the world.

Why is geology important? Geology provides us with a new mythology of the world, one that based on a better understanding of the processes of our planet. We don't just see an earthquake happen on the surface and jump to the conclusion that the giant turtle that underlies our bit of land has taken a few steps. Instead we explored new pathways to knowledge that revealed that the earth itself is releasing energy to space, and that one of the ways that this happens is through the movement of lithospheric plates. Do we know the absolute truth? No, we don't. That's why we seek to learn more. We can now predict where earthquakes are likely to happen, but we cannot tell when, at least not well enough to save lives and property. If we are to live at the limits of sustainability on this planet, we need to know all we can about it.

Why is education important? Everyone has a right to know what geologic hazards may affect their lives. It should be a fundamental human right. It's not, but we can make the effort to make sure that people know what can happen, and help them to prepare for it. I live on a plate boundary, and a major earthquake is likely to strike close to my home. But I know from personal observation that people in California are shockingly unprepared for a major seismic event. Few have an emergency kit in their home, or a plan for what to do in the event of a major quake. Few people know the location of the legendary San Andreas fault, and even fewer can name any of the dozens of other active faults that exist in our state. We see the unfolding disaster of self-destructing nuclear power stations in Japan, and are mostly unaware that we have nuclear power plants along the California coast (there were even plans to build a nuclear plant directly on the San Andreas fault at Bodega Bay in the 1960s). We can't make people learn these things, but we've got to try, and we have to give our teachers and educators and media specialists adequate tools to do so. Recession or not, cutting back on education at all levels is a foolish idea.

Seers and psychics have always sought to see the future. They have used tea leaves or chicken entrails, and consumed hallucinatory drugs to achieve visions. Earth scientists use seismometers and supercomputers to model future activity along fault zones (and consume lots of coffee). They also make predictions in many other fields, including climatology, hydrology, and volcanology. Our society is living, as I said before, at the very limits of sustainability. We need to know when the quakes will happen. But even more importantly, we need to use the tools at our disposal to understand the changes that are happening in our climate. We need to fully understand the behaviour of ocean currents and cycles. We need to have a clear understanding of how much coal, gas and oil is left, and how the continued use of these fuel sources affects the climate. Recession or not, cutting back on basic research is a foolish idea.

Why the flower at the beginning of this post? I wasn't sure at first. I was in the field yesterday with my students, looking at California's Mother Lode. It's early for wildflowers, but a few were visible here and there. This was a beautiful Indian Paintbrush that seemed to be glowing in the sunlight. It occurred to me that the best flower displays in the Sierra foothills actually take place in the aftermath of forest fires. A disaster wipes out the old trees and tangled underbrush, but life springs back, and sometimes there is beauty. I guess I am hoping that some good can come of this disaster; that we might make some smart choices about where to go from here...

"I'm a Geologist": Why That's Important

2011-03-05T18:50:00.000-08:00

(From Geotripper) The following words are not mine, but I wish I had said them. Allen Glazner is a professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and a former classmate at Pomona College (in another century). He has written a number of excellent books on the geology of California, including a beautiful book on Yosemite National Park (with Greg Stock). Geology is not about rock collecting, it's about the sustainability of living on planet Earth. This is part of a column from NewsObserver.com. Please give the whole editorial a look.

"If I were to ask average people where gasoline comes from, most wouldn't really know. They might have a mental image, from a children's book, of a black pool of oil underground with a pipe sticking into it, but this is far from the truth. Many think drinking water comes "from the faucet," with little idea of what the source is. The average American home has more than 400 pounds of copper in it. Where does that come from? Even the sources of the sand and gravel vital to construction are a mystery to most people.

Well over 90 percent of the power used in the U.S. comes from fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Thank a geologist - we're the ones who find oil, natural gas, coal and uranium. Even if you think that these energy sources are loathsome, we're stuck with them for some years to come. Geothermal energy? That's an easy one - thank a geologist.

We all take clean, fresh water for granted. Thank a geologist - we find that fresh water and monitor its quality and inventory. Many "green power" devices, such as high-capacity batteries, LEDs and superstrong magnets, depend upon rare, obscure elements such as dysprosium, neodymium and indium. Thank a geologist - we're the ones who know how those elements are cycled in the Earth and where to find them.

The prices of many of these metals, including all that copper in your house, have doubled or tripled in recent years, and the price of oil has quadrupled in the past decade. Business people would benefit from learning a little geology so that they could understand this better.

Geologists are the go-to people for natural hazards. We monitor earthquakes and map faults so that buildings and bridges can be sited as safely as possible. We advise on where to put roads and houses to avoid landslides, and where to put tunnels for roads, pipelines and other infrastructure. We monitor volcanoes for risks to the local populace and aviation. We map areas susceptible to flooding. When the gasoline storage tank at the corner gas station starts to leak, we figure out where that underground gasoline plume is going and how to fix the problem."

A Great Opportunity: CalPaleo, May 14 at Sierra College

2011-03-04T19:56:00.000-08:00

This came across my desk this week. It looks like a great opportunity to learn about California's unique paleo-past! (cross-posted from Geotripper)

"Sierra College and Sierra College Natural History Museum are pleased to host the 2011 meeting of CalPaleo on Saturday May 14 – only two and a half months from now. PaleoResource Consultants – a company providing paleontological mitigation services -- is co-sponsoring the meeting.

Don't miss this great opportunity to present your own research and learn about the latest research of others. CalPaleo meetings have typically emphasized the research of students from California colleges and universities, with a sprinkle of research papers by professors and other researchers. The cohesive factor that makes us CalPaleo is that we are California Paleontologists -- either we live here and do research here, we live here and do research elsewhere, or we live elsewhere and do research here. Regardless, we are all California Paleontologists. CalPaleo meetings bring us all together in a way that GSA, BSA, AAPG, AASP, or even SVP meetings cannot.

In this 2nd announcement of the 2011 CalPaleo meeting, we provide an update on the CalPaleo 2011 website, fieldtrip plans, registration fees, local lodging, and the first Call for Papers (both oral and poster). With the next/3rd announcement, we hope that you will be able to download an attractive, colorful Call for Papers to give to all your friends. In the meantime, please forward this simple and rather plain 2nd announcement to everyone that you think needs to know about the 2011 CalPaleo meeting and encourage them to be here. You may even want to offer to let them ride along with you!

You will love the Rocklin area, located in the foothills of the Sierra just 20 minutes east of Sacramento right off I-80. Unlike much of California, we have trees, lakes, and permanent streams! In other words, our environment is much more like the late Tertiary. Plan ahead. You may just want to spend an extra day or two here in the Pliocene!

CalPaleo.org Website – It’s up; it’s working. It’s just still under construction. CalPaleo.org that is. Check it out and give us feedback on what needs to be added to make it more “user friendly”. Thanks to Kristin McCallister who has been doing most of the work. Kristin is a former Sierra College student, a recent graduate from University of Nevada at Reno, and now employed with PaleoResource Consultants in Auburn.

Fieldtrip Plans – On Sunday, following the CalPaleo presentations on Saturday, Dick Hilton will be leading an informal fieldtrip from Sierra College up to Donner Pass. Some of us are calling it – “From the Pliocene, back to the Pleistocene”. During this trip we will examine outcrops that have in the past produced Jurassic invertebrates, Eocene wood and leaves, and Miocene leaves. Plus we will see classic Sierra Nevada geology, Mesozoic low-grade metamorphics, Cretaceous granites with xenoliths, Paleozoic roof pendants, Tertiary auriferous gravels and volcaniclastic sediments, and Quaternary alluvial deposits. Both the Tertiary and Quaternary deposits have produced vertebrates elsewhere, but not so far in the outcrops we plan to examine.

Registration Fees – After considerable gnashing of teeth, the CalPaleo 2011 Organizing Committee has decided that, in order to pay for both a continental breakfast and lunch, we will need to charge a nominal $20.00 registration fee. There will be an extra charge of $25.00 for the Sunday fieldtrip, including lunch, bus transportation, and a copy of the fieldtrip guidebook.

Housing Ideas – In the next/3rd announcement, we will provide a list of motels available near the Sierra College campus. There are both inexpensive and four-star hotels within walking distance of the campus.

Call for Papers -- Abstract deadline is Friday 01 April. April Fool! Actually the deadline is Saturday 02 April. Expect another reminder in late March, but why not put the date on your calendar now? Follow the Boy Scout motto -- “Be Prepared”. Help us capture the diversity of paleontological research underway in California. Remember that not all fossils have bones and teeth! Be present to ensure that your area of expertise is represented -- be it ichnofossils, microfossils, invertebrates, plants, fish, birds, other dinosaurs, or those lovable, warm, fuzzy guys!

Save the Date! -- As we stated in the 1st announcement, what's most important right now is that you Save the Date! Saturday 14 May 2011. We hope to see you at CalPaleo in 2011 at Sierra College in Rocklin.

CalPaleo 2011 Organizing Committee

Confronting Creation Science in the Classroom

2011-03-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

From Larry Collins, FWS member, who has excellent resources on his website concerning creation-science in the earth science classroom:

"I am retired geology faculty member of California State University Northridge (retired since 1993) and used to be quite active in the NAGT FWS, but old age has caught up with me, and I am no longer able to participate. So, I will not be at the up-coming conference in mid-March. However, I am sure that you are probably aware of the fact that science teachers in elementary and secondary schools in many parts of country, including California, are being confronted by young-earth creationists who want to put their religious beliefs into science class rooms. This is an on-going problem. If you know of any such geology science teachers who are members of the NAGT FWS who are facing this issue, I call your attention to two pdf articles that they can down-load which give geologic reasons (1) why a supposed Noah’s ark in eastern Turkey cannot be either its fossilized remnant or a supposed cast (see attached image) and (2) why a worldwide Flood cannot have happened because of the presence of thick evaporite mineral deposits of rock salt and gypsum that occur interlayered with the fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks of many different geologic ages on all continents. In the first article, magnetite derived from weathered basalt is what produces the iron signals for supposed washers, rivets, and brackets instead of pure iron metal for Noah to use to hold the walls of the Ark together. In the second article, desert drying conditions cannot occur in the midst of a worldwide flood. See: http://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/Sutton%20Hoo%2014.pdf and http://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/Collins2.pdf . I hope that you will pass this information on to possible interested teachers. I have other articles on my website on opposition to creationism that they also might find helpful. http://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/creation.html ."

Lorence (Larry) Collins

Registration Deadline Extended: Far Western Section Meeting

2011-02-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

The registration deadline for the Spring 2011 NAGT conference (see previous post), to be held at Caltech in Pasadena, CA, on March 25 - 27, has been extended to March 11. The registration fee is $95 for all payment postmarked by March 11. For payment postmarked after March 11, the fee will be $125. Go to the conference web site at

http://www.tectonics.caltech.edu/meetings/nagt/index.html

Students of the geological sciences are invited and encouraged to attend Far Western Section events at greatly reduced rates. See the conference website for details. Hope to see you there!

Far Western Section, National Association of Geoscience Teachers Spring Meeting: Caltech Tectonics Observatory, March 25-27, 2011

2011-02-23T15:05:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to know more about the geology of southern California, the San Andreas fault, and some of the incredibly strange rocks that crop out around the San Gabriel Mountains, like Vasquez Rocks or Devil's Punchbowl? The Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers invites you to join us on March 25-27, 2011 for our spring meeting, hosted by the Caltech Tectonics Observatory in Pasadena, California. These meetings are a great way to learn some fascinating geology, meet some fascinating people, and as much as I would like to say "have a scholarly time", I'm going to instead say "have a fun time".

Complete details of the meeting can be found on the Caltech Tectonics Observatory website at http://www.tectonics.caltech.edu/meetings/nagt/. You do not need to be a member of NAGT to attend (but we will gladly welcome you into membership if you wish to!), and the cost of the event is modest (less than $100 if you register before Feb. 25, plus a bit more for the Saturday banquet).

Check out the wonderful slate of activities and field trips below!

Field trips:
•Erosion and Sediment Transport in steep Mountain Terrain, San Gabriel Mountains - Mike Lamb (Caltech)

•San Gabriel Anorthosite and the San Andreas Fault - Bruce Carter (Pasadena Community College)

•Vasquez Rocks - Elisabeth Nadin (UA, Fairbanks) and Rebecca Walker (Mt San Antonio College)

•Devil's Punchbowl and Red Rock Canyon - Donald Prothero (Caltech/Occidental College)

Evening Speakers:
•Good Vibrations Inside the Earth - Jennifer Jackson (Caltech)

•TBD -Jess Adkins (Caltech)

Exhibits and tours:
•Tour of Seismo Lab - Margaret Vinci (Caltech)

•Southern CA Earthquake Center (SCEC) display

Workshops:
•Low-T Thermometry and Thermochronometry and Applications (including dating the formation of the Grand Canyon) - Ken Farley, John Eiler, and Brian Wernicke (Caltech)

•Earthquake Magnitude, Energy, and Focal Mechanisms (beach balls) - Joann Stock (Caltech)

•Plate Tectonic Rotation of the Transverse Ranges: what happened, how we know it happened, and how it created Southern California’s unique geography, climate, ocean currents and biological richness - Tanya Atwater (UCSB)

•Historical Earthquakes and Uplift/Subsidence of Sumatra from Coral Growth Rings - Elizabeth Nadin (UA, Fairbanks) and Belle Philibosian (Caltech)

•Operations of Community Seismometer Network (How your laptop can help scientists better understand earthquakes) - Tom Heaton and Ming-Hei Cheng (Caltech)

The registration form is here: http://www.tectonics.caltech.edu/meetings/nagt/register.pdf

NAGT Annual Awards and Deadlines: Nominate Someone Special!

2011-02-11T23:48:00.000-08:00

NAGT offers a variety of awards and grants to educators, and scholarships to students. Consider nominating a deserving colleague or student to recognize exceptional service or work. For more information on nomination procedures go to the NAGT Awards website at

http://www.nagt.org/nagt/programs/awards.html

Awards, Grants, Scholarships, and Deadlines:

OEST Award: for outstanding K/12 teachers, deadline June 1st.

Neil Miner Award: for exceptional contributions in stimulating interest in the earth sciences, deadline April 1st.

James Shea Award: for exceptional contributions to geoscience writing or editing, deadline April 1st.

Bob Christman Distinguished Service Award: for outstanding service to NAGT, deadline open.

Dorothy Stout Professional Development Grant: financial grants up to $750.00 to community college faculty or students, and K-12 teachers, deadline April 15th.

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award: for exceptional undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants, deadline June 15th.

Scholarships for Field Study: for undergraduates ($500.00) attending any field-based class as part of their degree requirements, deadline February 16th.

NAGT Two-Year College Section to be Proposed

2011-02-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

From Jackie Hams of the Far Western Section....

The Executive Committee of NAGT unanimously passed a resolution in support of establishing a two-year college (2YC) section within NAGT at their October 30, 2010 meeting in Denver. Formation of a 2YC group within NAGT was a recommendation of a June 2010 NAGT/NSF sponsored workshop titled, “The Role of Two-Year Colleges in Geoscience Education and in Broadening Participation in the Geosciences: A Planning Workshop.” The workshop brought together 31 2YC geoscience instructors and representatives of agencies and funding organizations.

http://serc.carleton.edu/geo2yc/workshop2010/index.html

An organizational committee of 13 2YC faculty is developing a mission statement and structure for a 2YC section to submit to the NAGT Executive Committee in April. The 2YC committee is studying similar groups in other science professional associations and discussing how a 2YC section can work closely with regional NAGT sections. Recognition of the 2YC community by NAGT will provide a national voice for institutions which are estimated to enroll approximately 45% of the undergraduates and minority students in the country, and play an important role in the science education of pre-service and K-12 teachers as well as life-long learners. NAGT members will be asked to vote on changes to the NAGT Constitution to establish a 2YC section.

From the Far Western Section of NESTA (National Association of Earth Science Teachers)

2011-01-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

From Wendy Van Norden, NESTA Far West Regional Director:

I have some news and some questions for California NESTA members

Question: The 2012 American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) national convention will held in Long Beach. They are trying to a meaningful session for K-12 teachers. The theme for this convention is “Creative Ideas + New Technology = The Future. Do you have any suggestions?

News: Many of you signed a petition to the Academic Council of the University of California, asking them to include Earth Science as a “d” laboratory course. The petition was rejected. However, they are open to discussion about the topic, and I have organized a task force to put together recommendations for Earth Science curricula that should be considered.

Question: I am teaching a dual credit course with UCLA (my high school students receive credit on a UCLA transcript). My course is for Juniors and Seniors and it receives “d” lab credit

Do you know of any similar courses in California?

Do you know of anyone teaching an honors level Geology or Earth Science course in CA?

Do you know of Geology/Earth Science courses that do receive “d” lab credit?

Wendy Van Norden
Harvard-Westlake School
3700 Coldwater Canyon
No. Hollywood, CA 91604
818 487-6665
wvannorden@hw.com

Earth Science Full Time Tenure Track: Yuba Community College District

2011-01-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

There have been not a great many full time Earth Science/Geology openings in California of late, but one has been announced in the Yuba Community College district:

Earth Science/Physical Science Instructor
Closing Date: April 8, 2011 Yuba Community College District ,
Marysville Faculty $52,592 - $100,879/YR.

Check out the CCC Registry here (search words Earth Science or Geology) for more details, and part-time opportunities in Marin, Monterey, Cerritos, Anaheim, San Francisco, and Bakersfield.

Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone Maps Now Online

2011-01-23T23:07:00.000-08:00

A note from Cindy Pridmore at the California Geological Survey:

Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone Maps

CGS now offers online access to AP Fault Zone Maps: www.quake.ca.gov/gmaps/ap/ap_maps.htm

Individual maps can be viewed on screen; PDF images and GIS files can be downloaded by selecting a specific quadrangle map. Other CGS online map updates: both the geology and fault activity maps for the state are viewable online as well as the regional 1:250K and 1:100K geologic map series. The older Geologic Atlas series of maps will soon be made available as well. See http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/information/geologic_mapping/Pages/googlemaps.aspx

On a different note, March 20-26, 2011 is National Tsunami Awareness and Preparedness Week. CGS has lots of downloadable educational/outreach materials available at http://www.tsunami.ca.gov/ . Scroll down the main page to see links to both the inundation maps (CGS) as well as the CalEMA MyHazards website. We provide numerous links to K12+ tsunami curriculum and activities. For more information on availability of printed educational materials contact:

Cindy Pridmore

cpridmore@consrv.ca.gov

916 324-5572

Note from the GSA Geoscience Education Division

2011-01-06T15:21:00.000-08:00

From our colleagues at the GSA Geoscience Education Division:

Hi Folks!

Happy New Year to you all. Just a friendly note from the Geoscience Education Chair with reminders about a couple of upcoming deadlines:

1) Tuesday January 11, 2011. Deadline for proposals for the Technical Program, GSA national meeting in Minneapolis. We had a great turnout at the last meeting, with nearly a record number of posters and oral sessions. Make sure that your teaching and research interests are represented at the 2011 meeting. Be sure to contact me if you would like the division to sponsor your proposal. Submit your session proposals here.

2) February 1, 2011. Deadline for nominations for the Biggs Earth Science Teaching Award. The Biggs award is the only named award in our division, and therefore merits special consideration of our membership. In the past three years, the number of nominations has been 3 or 4 per year. And keep in mind that you can self-nominate. Click to find more information about the award, past recipients, and nomination procedures.

This year, the contact for the nominations is:

Sadredin (Dean) C. Moosavi
STEM Department
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
smoosavi@charter.net

That’s all for now. I’ll send another note when we’ve had a chance to check out all of the session proposals.

Paul Baldauf
Chair, Geoscience Education Division
Nova Southeastern University
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

CalPaleo Conference at Sierra College in Rocklin, May 14, 2011

2011-01-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

A Note from CalPaleo:

Sierra College and Sierra College Natural History Museum are pleased to host the 2011 meeting of CalPaleo on Saturday May 14.

Don't miss this great opportunity to present your own research and learn about the latest research of others. CalPaleo meetings have typically emphasized the research of students from California colleges and universities, with a sprinkle of research papers by professors and other researchers. The cohesive factor that makes us CalPaleo is that we are California Paleontologists -- either we live here and do research here, we live here and do research elsewhere, or we live elsewhere and do research here. Regardless, we are all California Paleontologists. CalPaleo meetings bring us all together in a way that GSA, BSA, AAPG, AASP, or even SVP meetings cannot.

The 2nd CalPaleo meeting announcement, planned for January, will include info on the CalPaleo 2011 website, registration fees (if any), local housing ideas, publication of abstracts, and the first Call for Papers (both oral and poster). We hope by then that you will be able to download an attractive, colorful Call for Papers to give to your friends. In the meantime, please forward this simple and plain 1st announcement to everyone that you think needs to know about the 2011 CalPaleo meeting and encourage them to be here. Offer to let them ride along with you!

You will love the Rocklin area, located in the foothills of the Sierras just 20 minutes east of Sacramento right off I-80. Unlike much of California, we have trees, lakes, and permanent streams! In other words, our environment is much more like the late Tertiary. Plan ahead. You may just want to spend an extra day or two here in the Pliocene!

Expect a reminder with Call for Papers in March. Abstract deadline is 01 April. April Fool! Actually the deadline is 02 April 2011. Put the date on your calendar now. Be prepared. Help us capture the diversity of paleontological research underway in California. Remember that not all fossils have bones and teeth! Be present to ensure that your area of expertise is represented -- be it ichnofossils, microfossils, invertebrates, plants, fish, birds, other dinosaurs, or those warm fuzzy guys!

What's most important right now is that you Save the Date! Saturday 14 May 2011. We hope to see you at CalPaleo in 2011 at Sierra College in Rocklin, .

CalPaleo 2011 Organizing Committee

Dick Hilton Lanny Fisk
Sierra College PaleoResource Consultants

Charles Dailey Dave Haasl
Sierra College PaleoResource Consultants

Holly Dodson Susan Bowman
Sierra College PaleoResource Consultants

George Bromm Tina Campbell
Sierra College PaleoResource Consultants

Chantal Decavel Donna Lowenthal
Sierra College PaleoResource Consultants

Geology Job Openings in California

2010-11-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

A few notes on some opportunities in California:

The California Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources currently has two classifications of jobs posted for numerous vacancies – they are looking to recruit through universities for both recent graduates as well as those who have years of experience in the petroleum industry for a senior classification. Geology or petroleum engineering and related fields are where they are looking to recruit from.

Here is a link to their web page announcements. http://www.conservation.ca.gov/

The California Community Colleges Registry is listing part-time teaching opportunities in geology at Cerritos College, North Orange County, Marin, and San Francisco. Check for updated listings here.

Pictures posted from Fall 2002 Meeting at CSU Sacramento

2010-11-11T00:40:00.000-08:00

Pictures have been added to our Facebook page archives, showing scenes from the Fall 2002 meeting, sponsored by CSU Sacramento. The field trip photos are from the tour of hydraulic mine pits in the Sierra Nevada Mother Lode. Although the wreckage from the mining is terrible, time has softened some of the edges, and places like Malakoff Diggings State Park have a strange kind of beauty. Check out the pictures here.

The guidebook for the meeting, including geological road guides, is called "Hydraulic Mining, Delta Land Use, and Water Resources of the Sacramento and American Rivers", and was prepared by Walter Swain and Henry Miyashita. It is available on the Far Western Section Website.

The Far Western Section Outstanding Earth Science Teacher of the Year: Nick Crooker

2010-10-20T23:06:00.001-07:00

Nick Crooker, an earth science teacher at Modesto High School in Modesto, California, is the Far Western Section OEST award winner for 2010. Nick came out of a background in biology and returned to school for an education in earth science so he could develop a well-rounded program at his school.

Nick has been a member of the NAGT for a number of years, attending conferences and field trips in the Far Western Section. He helped prepare the guidebook for the FWS Lava Beds National Monument conference in 2007.

Nick describes several important traits in a good teacher: Steadfastness helps in the teaching profession when the political environment tends to erode quality support in the classroom. Patience with each student helps him make them the best they can be. Flexibility enables him to handle unexpected problems and teaching situations in the classroom. Humor helps keep the instructor sane and the students interested in the subject matter. All of this is under the umbrella of a broad science background in the physical, environmental, and biological sciences. He is able to draw upon years of experience and incorporate this in classroom instruction.

Nick's classroom has rock displays and pictures coordinating with the State Standards. With tight budgets, field trips are an impossibility. With document cameras and LCD projectors, he shares with his students exciting places of geological interest via the internet and from his own personal travels.

Currently, he participates with the A.V.I.D. program at Modesto High School. This program takes selected students who will be the first to go on to a college education in their family, and engage them in a rigorous academic program throughout their four years in high school. He has also taught the natural and physical sciences for the local Adult School for the past 23 years.

Nick receives the Far Western Section OEST Award at the Fresno Meeting

Congratulations, Nick!

Reflections on an Accretionary Wedge: Why I am a Proud Member of the NAGT

2010-10-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

(cross-posted at Geotripper.blogspot.com)

I recently contributed to the latest Accretionary Wedge by talking about my first geology field trip, a 5 day backpack in the depths of the Grand Canyon way back in 1976. Part of the subsequent fallout was the unearthing of pictures of that trip, courtesy of Joy, who was one of my fellow travelers at the time (Facebook has some positive aspects, actually). I am a visually oriented learner, and my memories are most strongly reinforced by photographs, so this was a real pleasure to be able to relive part of my past with these grainy reminders (weren't Kodak Instamatics a wonderful form of photography?). For instance, I don't remember his name, but the bearded gentleman on the left was a very vocal vegetarian, but during the trip he seemed to get hungrier and hungrier, and when we reached the rim at the end of the five days, he looked at the menu in the Grand Canyon Lodge, and ordered a huge steak...

The professor who led that trip into the canyon was my inspiration to become a teacher of geology. That's him in the picture above, explaining to us how the basaltic sills were able to intrude the sediments of the Grand Canyon Supergroup, and how they helped us to place a date on the formation of those sediments. I still remember the shock of realizing that I really could almost literally travel through time by holding and understanding the origin of rocks that were hundreds of millions years old (imagine seeing the imprint of a raindrop that hit the ground 800 million years ago!). Looking at a picture of Marlin at work, I realize that I can trace many of the ideas I use in teaching to the things that he did all those years ago. Innovative ideas in teaching appear all the time, and they can be very effective, but I am reminded that the geological sciences are among the most historical of the academic disciplines as well. I mean this in the sense that there is an academic lineage that gives us a direct link to the founders of the science of geology, and that those brilliant and perceptive minds continue on with a different form of immortality (I wrote about this for a different Accretionary Wedge two years ago). I think what I am really saying is that people often become geologists and teachers not so much because they planned on it the way kids plan on being firefighters or police officers, but because they were inspired to pursue it because of the dedication of their teachers. I know I am over-generalizing about this, but I just don't see someone pursuing an MBA because he or she was inspired by a particularly good economics teacher, though I am willing to listen to counter-arguments! People have many different motivations for choosing their academic goals, after all.

I am thinking about this because I am preparing to drove down to Fresno to attend the fall meeting of the Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers at CSU Fresno (there is still room if you want to drop everything you are doing and drive on into the center of California and see some excellent Sierra Nevada and Coast Range geology- details are here). I joined NAGT nearly fifteen years ago, and have found in my involvement with the organization a sense of history and tradition of excellent teachers, and a myriad of innovative ideas and approaches to the teaching of the geological sciences. It has been a real privilege to work and share ideas with my colleagues from California, Nevada and Hawaii, as well as from all over the country. It's one thing to be inspired to follow an academic discipline because of the work of one or two excellent teachers, and quite another to travel with a large group of talented and innovative teachers who are collectively inspiring hundreds of students. And for that matter, because we encourage students to attend these meetings, it is great to see how they are laying the groundwork for the future of the earth sciences.
1976...that was 34 years ago. Wow. I still have that orange Alpenlite backpack with the innovative wrap-around aluminum frame (I actually worked in their factory for a few months all those years ago). I tried it on the other day, the way someone might try on the tux they wore to the high school prom. And just like the tux, the aluminum frame must have shrunk. Aluminum can shrink, right? I know I haven't changed and gotten...bigger. The frame obviously has shrunk!

Fossil Discovery Center in Madera County is Opening!

2010-10-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

Painting by David Douglas for the Fossil Discovery Center

(Cross-posted at Geotripper.blogspot.com) If you live anywhere near the geographical center of California, there is some exciting paleontology news! Since the early 1990's Fairmead Landfill has been the source of thousands of specimens of a diverse Pleistocene fauna, including horses, camels, mammoths, sabertooth cats, giant ground sloths and many other fascinating inhabitants of the Central Valley thousands of years ago (I've posted several items about the excavations here and here). For years the San Joaquin Valley Paleontology Foundation has been planning to develop a center where students and visitors can learn about the intriguing history of our valley. And their plans are coming to fruition.

The San Joaquin Valley Paleontology Foundation is sponsoring the Grand Opening Celebration of the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County. The journey began in 1993 with the discovery of a seven-foot mammoth tusk. Today their expedition into a pre-historic era continues, opening the past to students, scientists and community. Come and be a part of this historical event.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Ribbon Cutting -10:00 a.m.

Reception—5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County
19450 Avenue 21 ½
Chowchilla, CA 93610
Take the Hwy 99 Exit 164, SW corner of Road 19 ½ & Avenue 21 ½

Refreshments will be served & tours provided.
--
San Joaquin Valley Paleontology Foundation
Board of Directors
sjvpaleo@gmail.com
http://www.maderamammoths.org/

Come and check it out!

Reminder! Exploring the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges:An Invitation to the Fall Meeting of the Far West Section Meeting

2010-09-27T18:57:00.001-07:00

If you ever wanted to get out and see some of the great geological sites in California, and wished you had a knowledgeable guide and mentor to explain what you are seeing, check out this wonderful opportunity coming up on October 8-10, 2010: The Field Conference of the Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, sponsored by California State University, Fresno. You don't have to be a teacher or a member to attend, and students of the earth sciences are especially encouraged to join us. Here are some of the field trips that are lined up:

Saturday Field Trips:

Topographic Evolution of the Kings River Canyon: Fluvial, glacial and Hillslope Erosion in Response to Late Cenozoic Uplift and Climate Change (Greg Stock, Park Geologist, Yosemite National Park)

Coeval mafic-felsic magmatism in the intrusive suite of Yosemite Valley (Kent Ratajeski, University of Kentucky)

Emplacement of oceanic lithosphere into the western Sierra Nevada and its welding into continental basement by batholithic emplacement (Jason and Zorka Saleeby, Cal Tech)

Growth and internal evolution of Jurassic and Cretaceous magmatic plumbing systems: an examination of the tilted Jurassic Guadalupe Igneous Complex and comparison to the Cretaceous Tuolumne Batholith (Scott Patterson, USC, and Keith Putirka, CSU Fresno)

Southern Diablo Range geology: Recorder of past subduction and current active tectonics (John Wakabayashi, CSU Fresno)

Sunday Field Trips:

Anomalous subsidence and uplift along the southwestern Sierra Nevada in relation to underlying mantle dynamics (Jason and Zorka Saleeby, Cal Tech)

Ice Age (Middle Pleistocene) Fossils at the Fairmead Landfill, a Visit to the Madera County Fossil Discovery Center (Bob Dundas, CSU Fresno)

Geology and Natural History of the McKenzie Table Mountain Preserve (Craig Poole, Fresno City College, and Chris Pluhar, CSU Fresno)

Friday and Saturday Trip:

The San Andreas fault in Central California (Ramon Arrowsmith, Arizona State University)

Presenters:

Friday Evening:

Chris Pluhar (CSU Fresno), Table Mountains and Tectonics, What Canyon-Filling Lavas of the sierra Nevada Reveal About Miocene California

Saturday Evening:

Jason Saleeby (Cal Tech), Sierra Nevada Geology from the 225 km Mantle Seismic Discontinuity to Mt. Whitney Summit Elevations

Our invitation extends to anyone who is interested in learning more about California geology. These conferences are wonderful ways to get familiar with the geology of a fascinating region, the western coast of the United States. Special discounts are offered to students, and costs are low for this kind of opportunity. We will also have a vast array of California and Nevada geology field guides and other resources available for sale. You do not need to be a member of the NAGT to participate. Information and registration forms can be accessed on the Far Western Section website. For questions and more information, please contact conference coordinator Paul Troop.

(cross-posted at Geotripper.blogspot.com)

Job Opportunities for Recent Geology Graduates

2010-08-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

The California Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources currently has two classifications of jobs posted for numerous vacancies – they are looking to recruit through universities for both recent graduates as well as ones who have years of experience in the petroleum industry for a senior classification. Geology or petroleum engineering and related fields are where they are looking to recruit from.

Here is a link to their web page, under the first header “News” they’ve placed the announcements for these two separate job announcements. Today or tomorrow they will be extending the August 31st final filing date to September 30th for the Senior Oil & Gas Engineer position. http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dog/Pages/index.aspx

Questions? Contact: Sonja Williams

Fall Meeting of the Far West Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers: Sierra Nevada to the Coast Ranges - Oct. 8-10

2010-08-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Far Western Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers would like to extend an invitation to all geologists, teachers, and students who are interested in the geology of California. We are having our Fall Conference at CSU Fresno on October 8-10, and will be offering a wide ranging roster of field trips to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, the Sierra Nevada foothills, Carrizo Plains National Monument, the Diablo Range of the Coast Ranges, and a look at the brand new Madera Fossil Discovery Center and the excavations of Ice Age faunas at the Fairmead Landfill. We will also have a vast array of California and Nevada geology field guides and other resources available for sale. You do not need to be a member of the NAGT to participate.

Special discounts are offered to students, and costs are low for this kind of opportunity. Information and registration forms can be accessed on the Far Western Section website. For questions and more information, please contact conference coordinator Paul Troop.

Losing Serpentine as the State Symbol of California? Why not educate instead?

2010-06-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

Crossposted from Geotripper...

Serpentine is not asbestos, exactly. Well, it is, but only sometimes. Serpentine is one of several minerals that includes an asbestiform crystal form, the finely spaced fibrous threads that turned out to be a great fire retardant. The thing is, of course, certain forms of asbestos cause mesothelioma and other diseases. But the most dangerous forms do not necessarily include chrysotile asbestos, the form derived from serpentine. The most dangerous stuff comes from the amphibole crocidolite. It is dangerous, but serpentine as a learning tool is something all together different.

I note this because there is a movement afoot to remove serpentine as the official state rock of California. While I understand the reasons certain organizations support this plan, I think a better approach is to use the state rock as a teaching and awareness tool. If you remove the state designation, you have a story about mesothelioma for a day. Keep the designation, you have an education tool more or less forever. Serpentine is a fascinating rock that is uniquely Californian. There are some really good reasons to maintain serpentine (actually serpentinite) as our state rock, enough that I have written a number of posts about it. If you agree, please consider writing to the principal people involved with this movement (see note at end of post):

From my earlier post in the Other California series:

At the same time that gold was selected as the state mineral, serpentine was designated the state rock. Serpentine (more properly called serpentinite) is a metamorphic rock derived primarily by the alteration of peridotite (a rock from deep in the earth's mantle composed of the gemstone peridot, also known as olivine). Chemically it is a magnesium silicate. It is a relatively common rock in California and relatively rare in most other places, and was picked for an ironic reason: it is a source of asbestos, which at the time was considered a valuable resource. The dangers of asbestos in building construction was not generally realized at the time.

For different reasons, I think serpentine was an excellent choice for our state rock. The fact that the source of the rock is deep in the earth's mantle, beneath the 15-25 mile thick crust, is a revelation and acknowledgement of the incredible forces that have shaped the state. Imagine what it takes to bring masses of rock from such great depths! California has the incredible scenery that it does because of forces of movements along plate boundaries, whether the lateral movements along the San Andreas fault, the vertical churning that occurs along convergent boundaries, where ocean crust is driven underneath the edge of the continent, or the splitting that occurs at the divergent boundary in the far south of the state.

The rock is also quite pretty, to this geologist's eye. It ranges in color from black to intense jade-green. The journey from deep in the crust to the surface along fault zones usually leaves beautiful polished surfaces on the rock.

There is a second consideration: Serpentine based soils are a uniquely Californian biological environment. Again, from the Other California series:

Oh, that's right, it's epidemics we're supposed to worry about. An endemic refers to plant species found in specific limited locations. There are a number of these in the Red Hills "Area of Critical Environmental Concern", a rather high-falutin' name for an area that less than two decades ago was barely more than an open garbage dump scarred by numerous off-road vehicle trails. The rare and endemic species are there for a very geologic reason, the subject of this post.

...I've been following a regional theme, traveling through the northernmost provinces, but the Other California has a temporal pattern as well, and late March is the perfect time to talk about the Red Hills, located in the Sierra Nevada Mother Lode near the Gold Rush town of Chinese Camp (I talked about the area around La Grange a few days ago for the same reason).

Much of lowland California is currently covered with a green carpet of grass (mostly of exotic and invasive origin) along with the occasional oak tree, but as you can see in the pictures above, there are a few places where the grass and oak trees are missing, and a profusion of flowers and scattered pines thrive instead. Why are the oaks and grass missing?

The Mother Lode is famous as the source of the ores during the Gold Rush in 1848-53, and many people know of the association of quartz veins with the gold. What is perhaps less known is that the Mother Lode consists mostly of metamorphic rocks like slate, greenstone, and marble, not the granite that is found in the higher parts of the Sierra Nevada. These metamorphic rocks are the twisted and baked remains of sea floor muds and silts, lime from tropical reefs and shelves, and volcanic rock from the oceanic crust. These collections of crustal rocks (called "exotic terranes") were transported across the Pacific Ocean and slammed (in the geologic sense; they moved at maybe 2 inches a year) into the western edge of the North American continent, mostly in the late Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras (the Mesozoic, from around 251 to 65 million years ago, is best known as the "age of the dinosaurs"). The different terranes are separated from one another by major fault systems.

At times the crustal terranes also include rocks from beneath the crust. This rock hails from the underworld of the earth's mantle, and includes dunite and peridotite, composed primarily of the mineral olivine (known to most people as the gemstone peridot). The rock readily alters to serpentine, California's state rock. These rocks are also collectively called ultramafic rocks, for their high content of magnesium and iron (fe, the 'fi' part). They also contain small, but significant amounts of nickel and chrome.

When ultramafic rocks are brought to the surface, they are far out of chemical equilibrium with the ambient conditions, which means they are easily attacked by oxygen, water and organic acids. Clay is a common product of this process, as well as red or yellow iron oxides (from which the Red Hills take their name). The surface layer resulting from this weathering process is of course soil. We tend to think of soil as a rich surface layer that supports plant life, but some soils lack the necessary nutrients for most kinds of plant growth. This is definitely the case for soils developed on ultramafic rocks, which lack nitrates, phosphorus, and potassium. To make things worse, chrome and nickel are actually toxins. Hence, only specialized species can thrive on these rocks.

The shrubby Ceanothus, or Buckbrush (above) and Gray Pine (below) are two plants that are more or less indifferent to the odd soil conditions. They grow elsewhere, but compete very well in ultramafic soils. A large number of flower species are also indifferent to the soils, but the only grasses found in the region are native species. The European and Asian grass species that have overwhelmed most of the prairies in the Central Valley, Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills cannot grow on the serpentine soils.

There are a number of endemic species that grow on these soils, and at least one is found nowhere else in the world (California verbena, Verbena californica). Other rare endemics include Rawhide Hill onion (Allium tuolumnense), Layne's butterweed (Senecio layneae), Congdon's lomatium (Lomatium congdonii) and the Red Hills soaproot (Chlorogalum grandiflorum). A fairly common serpentine endemic is the Milkwort Jewelflower (Streptanthus polygaloides). Alas, I arrived very late in the afternoon and had no time to search them out (and to be truthful, I am better at identifying rocks and minerals).

Though closely associated with the rocks of the Mother Lode, the serpentine and dunite were remarkably free of gold, and so the Red Hills were mostly ignored by the miners. Farmers couldn't grow much in the soils, and grazing conditions were not favorable, so the when the federal government came into possession of these lands in 1848, they couldn't even give them away! So this swath of land, about 7,000 acres worth, was administered, somewhat indifferently, by the Bureau of Land Management. The landscape suffered the abuses of modern civilization, with trash heaps, motorcycle trails, and unrestrained target shooting. The recognition that the area was a unique geologic and biologic treasure led to the restriction of shooting and off-road vehicle use in 1991. Private groups assisted in cleaning up the trash heaps and a trail network was established, so today the Red Hills are a delightful place to visit, especially in the spring when the wildflowers are at their stunning best. And I could be wrong, but I don't think I've seen any postcards with pictures of the area.

If you want to learn more, or pay a visit, information about the Red Hills can be found on this BLM website , and the nature trail brochure PDF can be found here

Serpentine in California is part of a journey of the mind that can take us towards the deepest interior places of our planet. Again, from the Other California:

How many of you tried to dig a tunnel to China in the backyard when you were a kid? Given the soil conditions in the yard I grew up in, I'm probably lucky to be alive. I dug tunnels looking for buried treasures, gemstones, fossils and sometimes I was just curious what was down there. Geologists, I've found, are the kids who tried to find all those things, and never really grew up.

So how far do these overgrown kids get? It turns out that the deepest tunnels that humans have ever been able to dig reach depths of about 12,800 feet, a little over 2-1/2 miles. That might seem like a lot from our point of view, but the depth to the center of the Earth is around 4,000 miles. We've barely scratched the surface, yet the temperatures of the rock at these depths is well over 100 degrees, and the rocks are under so much pressure that explosions of rocks from the walls are a constant danger to the miners. Kids, there's got to be a better way to see what lies deep below. And there is, in the Other California, one of those places not found on the postcards. The adventure lies in the Klamath Mountains, and the most dangerous thing you have to face is slipping on a slick river rock, because geological processes have brought the rocks many miles up from the depths. You need only explore the rivers flowing off the mountains to see what the deep interior of the earth looks like.

The Klamath Mountains are a collection of bits and pieces of the earth's crust that have been carried great distances from their point of origin and slammed (at geologic speeds of inches per year) into the western edge of the North American continent. A huge variety of igneous and metamorphic rocks are found around the province, and some of the most interesting are those that once resided deep in the Earth's mantle, a layer that extends from just below the crust, from maybe 15 or 20 miles beneath our feet, to a depth of about 1,800 miles. Here are a couple of bits of the Earth's deep hidden places that I found on a short trip to the Eastern Klamath Terrane in the vicinity of Gazelle.

The oceanic crust is usually described as being made of basalt, but a few miles down in the crust the basaltic magma cools slowly to form a coarse-grained basaltic rock called gabbro. Sometimes, as can be seen above, the crystals that form are huge, with black hornblende and white feldspar crystals several inches long. Igneous rocks with such large crystals are called pegmatites.

Going even "deeper" into the interior, we pass the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, the dividing line between the crust and mantle. The upper part of the mantle is composed of olivine-rich rocks like dunite or peridotite. Olivine is best known to most people as the green gemstone peridot. That's right, much of the Earth's interior is made up of gems! The rock in the picture above is dunite, in part slightly altered to serpentine.

In many parts of the Klamath Mountains, the mantle rocks are completely altered to serpentine, the state rock of California. These ultramafic rocks are fairly rich in a number of unusual metal ores, including platinum, nickel, magnesium and mercury. One of the most important ores is chromite, which is the only significant source we have for chromium, the metal that puts the "stainless" in stainless steel. We import most of the chromium that we need from foreign sources, but in wartime (especially the two World Wars), the ores were mined domestically, and a number of operations were present in the Klamaths. The black semi-metallic crystals in the picture above are chromite, with green serpentine across the top.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Gloria Romero, a Los Angeles Democrat, and the California Assembly Natural Resources Committee approved the legislation, stripping serpentine of its official designation, and sent the bill to the Assembly floor for consideration. An earlier version of Romero’s bill previously passed the California Senate.

Field Trips at the October 8-10 Fresno Conference of the Far West Section Announced

2010-06-04T13:33:00.001-07:00

Presenters:

Friday Evening:

Chris Pluhar (CSU Fresno), Table Mountains and Tectonics, What Canyon-Filling Lavas of the sierra Nevada Reveal About Miocene California

Saturday Evening:

Jason Saleeby (Cal Tech), Sierra Nevada Geology from the 225 km Mantle Seismic Discontinuity to Mt. Whitney Summit Elevations

Check out the Far West Section NAGT Website, or contact Paul Troop for more details (registration information will be posted soon). Meetings of the Far West Section are economical ways to see a lot of California, Nevada and Hawai, usually less than $150, and lodging in the Fresno area is economical. Our invitation extends to anyone who is interested in learning more about California geology. These conferences are wonderful ways to get familiar with the geology of a fascinating region, the western coast of the United States.

(cross-posted at Geotripper.blogspot.com)

Just Curious: Specialized Vehicles for Teaching in the Field?

2010-05-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

Cross-posted from Geotripper...

I'm thinking of shooting the moon and applying for a grant to purchase a rolling laboratory for field trips, and I'm having a hard time choosing which way to go with this. It's pie-in-the-sky in all likelihood, but what would you do if you could design a vehicle to enhance teaching of earth science in the field?

I'm thinking of a utility vehicle or even a small van-sized RV that could handle fairly tough road conditions (gravel roads at least) that is outfitted with a satellite link and wi-fi router that could provide internet access in isolated campsites, as well as a printer and scanner. We've thought of the most rudimentary RV type of vehicle because a toilet and inside or outside shower can be a godsend in some circumstances (like when someone gets sick). Fridge and small stove maybe.

One very expensive option is a Jeep-based unit from a Colorado company that is an absolutely stripped RV (fridge, bath, shower and queen-sized bed...really!) that can go on literally any road. I like that the electricity is provided by the engine and a roof-mounted solar array. It gets reasonably good mileage, too. Made by special order. And very expensive. Did I say that already?

On the other hand, Roadtrek offers a complete (and very comfy, but you didn't read that) RV that is packed into a van chassis that is no longer or wider than an 8 passenger van. It has all the stuff already listed plus a lot more storage space. But I look at it and think, "wow, six students could work at once on projects on their computers and desk surfaces!" but I have this uncomfortable feeling that a grant evaluator would think "this professor wants a nice place to sleep" (not true, I like sleeping under the stars). This option is actually about $30,000 cheaper than the Jeep.
These might be over the top, so perhaps a truck with utility cabinets, camper shell and an electronic array under the seats in the cab? No place to work, no printers, etc., but a lot cheaper.

Does anyone have anything like this? Have you ever thought about it and what you could do with such a resource? I would love some feedback about the teaching possibilities of something like this. For those who are new to Geotripper, I teach geology at a community college, and usually deal with introductory-level geology students.

Far Western Section NAGT-CalESTA Joint Conference, Bishop California

2010-05-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from our recent field conference in Bishop, California:
Convict Lake is dammed by a recessional moraine of the Tioga glaciation in the eastern Sierra Nevada. The mountain in the distance is composed of marble and slate of Paleozoic age; they are the rocks that existed prior to the intrusion of the Sierra Nevada batholith in Mesozoic time.

Mono Lake is a remnant of the ice age pluvial lakes that once extended across much of the Basin and Range Province. It was once a freshwater lake hundreds of feet deep, but today is saltier than seawater. It hosts only two life forms, fairy shrimp and brine flies, but these two species support several million migratory birds which pass through the region every year.

Violet-green Swallows live and nest in the tufa towers that are found around the lake. The tufa towers (below) are composed of calcium carbonate (calcite), and form where freshwater springs flowed into the lake. They were exposed as the lake level dropped 50 feet when Los Angeles started diverting streams that once replenished the lake in 1941. The diversions threatened to destroy the complex ecosystem, which is international in scope (some of the migratory birds travel 15,000 miles). Efforts are now ongoing to raise lake level to about where it was in 1963, roughly midway between the 1941 level and the low point in the 1980's.

More pictures can be accessed here. Do you have pictures of the trip? Send them along, and I'll post them!

Thanks to Wendy Van Nordon, Mark Boryta, and everyone who helped organize a great trip!

Dispatches from the Road: Far Western Section Conference in Bishop, California

2010-05-01T23:42:00.000-07:00

A few preliminary views from the road at the joint NAGT/CalESTA field conference at Bishop California. One of our stops: the Mono Lake Tufa Towers. The tufa is made of calcium carbonate, and forms near freshwater springs in the intensely salty and alkaline lake.

The lake supports brine shrimp and brine flies which in turn provide sustenance for millions of migrating birds. The lake has been threatened by water diversions that caused to shrink to a shadow of its former size, but lawsuits and legal agreements are stabilizing lake levels.

The lake formed in a volcanic-tectonic depression, and active volcanoes are found in and near the lakeshore. The white island in the distance is formed by uplift of the lake sediments by volcanic intrusions.

Subaru/GSA Minority Scholarships Announced

2010-04-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

From the Geological Society of America:

We are pleased to announce that Subaru of America, Inc., in partnership with GSA, has funded a scholarship program to encourage minority undergraduate students to continue their studies in the geosciences.

The Subaru Minority Student Scholarship Program provides $1,000 to one student at an accredited university or college in each of the six North-American GSA regional Sections as nominated by the GSA Campus Representatives. The funds are to be used to purchase text books, pay college fees, or attend GSA field trips or conferences.

In addition to the cash award, a complimentary registration for this year’s GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado will be provided. The awardees will be acknowledged at a student awards reception on Monday, 1 November.

We are asking our Campus Reps to nominate one (1) minority student whom they believe will benefit and be encouraged to continue their studies in the geosciences by receiving this award.

Student Requirements for Nomination:

Be a U.S. citizen and a member of a minority group (a ‘minority’ is described by the U.S. Census Bureau as being of Hispanic or Latino, African-American or Black, Asian, American-Indian, Alaskan Native, or Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander ethnicity/race);

Has taken at least two (2) introductory (first year) geoscience courses;

Be enrolled in additional geoscience courses in the upcoming academic year; and

Be a GSA student member in good standing.

Campus Rep Responsibilities and Timeline

Verify with the student that he/she is a member of a minority group as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Verify that the student has completed two introductory geoscience courses and is enrolled in geosciences classes for the upcoming academic year.

Complete and return the nomination form via email to awards@geosociety.org no later than 17 May 2010.

Nominations will be forwarded to the GSA Diversity in the Geosciences Committee for review by 1 June 2010.

All awards with be announced by 1 August 2010.

We hope you take advantage of this opportunity for your minority students, sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions that you may have.

Diane Lorenz-Olsen
Grants, Awards, and Recognition
The Geological Society of America
3300 Penrose Place, Boulder, CO 80301
awards@geosociety.org
(303) 357-1028

Spring Conference, Far Western Section NAGT

2010-04-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

NAGT-Far Western Section
In association with California Earth Science Teachers Association and NESTA
Spring Field Conference 2010

When: Friday, April 30- Sunday, May 2

Where: Bishop, CA

Join us for a rustic reprise of our 1998 in this beautiful and geologically inspiring locale, the Owens Valley and eastern Sierra Nevada.

Friday night, April 30th: Join us at Pleasant Valley Campground for an informal get-together! We will have a pot-luck dinner followed by the Business meeting.

Location: Via U.S. 395, 6 miles NW of Bishop. Turn north on Pleasant Valley Road. Less than 1 mile to campground. http://www.inyocountycamping.com/pleasant_valley_campground.html

PLEASE NOTE that the campground does NOT have grills or potable water available!! Pit Campground site is $2/vehicle per night; floodplain camping is $10/vehicle per night.
(For those of you who prefer soft beds and hot showers, there are plenty of lodging options in Bishop)

Saturday, May 1- Continental Breakfast and Make-Your-Own-Lunch will be provided. Full day field trips to be announced. We will carpool to decrease the size of the caravan.

Saturday night: choice of another pot-luck at the campsite or dinner in town. Speaker or stargazing after dinner!

Sunday, May 2: Continental Breakfast will be provided. Guided stops heading South.

Cost: $50 to include field guide, 2 Continental Breakfasts and 1 Lunch.

To apply, send the following with a check written to NAGT-FWS and mail to

Mark Boryta
2642 Saint Albans Drive
Los Alamitos, CA. 90720

For more information email: mboryta at mtsac.edu or call (562) 221-7246

Joint CalESTA and NAGT-FWS Field Trip: NSF Support Available

2010-03-31T12:52:00.000-07:00

CalESTA and NAGT-FWS Field Trip
California Earth Science Teachers Association
In association with NAGT-FWS and NESTA

High School Teacher Geology Field Trip: Geology of the Owens Valley

When: Friday, April 30- Sunday, May 2

Where: Bishop, CA

Friday night, April 30th : Join us at Pleasant Valley Campground for an informal get-together. We will be part of the NAGT-FWS conference.

Location: Via U.S. 395, 6 miles NW of Bishop. Turn north on Pleasant Valley Road. 1 mile to campground. http://www.inyocountycamping.com/pleasant_valley_campground.html

(For those of you who prefer soft beds and hot showers, there are plenty of lodging options in Bishop)

Saturday, May 1- Full day field trip. We will carpool to decrease the size of the caravan. We will visit geologic sites from Bishop to Mono Lake, including glacial moraines, faults, gorges, volcanic features, hot springs and tufa towers. There will be opportunities for collecting and photography. Lunch will be provided.

Saturday night: choice of dinner in town or pot luck at campsite. Possible NAGT-FWS speaker at campsite

Sunday, May 2: Field trip travels South, stopping at Lone Pine Earthquake scarp, Alabama Hills, Owens Lake overview, Charcoal Kilns, Fossil Falls, and Red Rock Canyon. Lunch included. Field trip will conclude approximately 2:00 pm.

Cost: $50 to include field guide and 2 Lunches.

IMPORTANT: $100 stipend to Earth Science teachers of grades 9-12, courtesy of National Science Foundation. Limit: 25 teachers on a first come-first serve basis.

To apply, send the following with a check written to Harvard-Westlake School and mail to

Wendy Van Norden
Harvard-Westlake School
3700 Coldwater Canyon
No. Hollywood, CA. 91604

Please include your name, email address, phone number, school, and grades taught.

For more information email: wvannorden at hw.com or call (818) 487-6665 or 818 378-6048 (cell)

Geology Professor Opening at Northern Virginia Community College

2010-03-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

It's out of the Far Western Section, but a full-time position for a community college geology professor is available at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus. Information is available here.

Two part-time positions are available at community colleges in California, in the North Orange County and San Francisco Community College Districts. Check the CCC Registry for details.

GSA/ExxonMobil Bighorn Basin Field Award

2010-03-01T01:14:00.000-08:00

GSA/ExxonMobil Bighorn Basin Field Award

A FREE professional development opportunity for undergraduate geology students and professors

August 1-6, 2010

GSA and ExxonMobil are excited to announce their 2nd Annual Field Seminar in the Bighorn Basin of north-central Wyoming, which emphasizes multi-disciplinary integrated basin analysis. Expenses including hotel, airfare, and meals will be covered. This year, undergraduate students and faculty are eligible.

To apply, please submit the following items by 1 April, 2010, to rock.geosociety.org/ExxonMobilAward/2010/index.asp:
• A resume or curriculum vitae,
• Academic transcripts,
• Two letters of recommendation, and a
• Cover letter indicating your background, your plans for the future and how you feel this trip will help you accomplish these plans.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Nocerino, jnocerino at geosociety.org.

New Blog on Northwest U.S. Geology: Road Trips!

2010-02-20T16:40:00.001-08:00

From Geotripper...

Are you interested in geology field guides for the northwestern United States? You might want to check out a new blog by Dave Tucker at Western Washington University: Northwest Geology Field Trips. It has a wealth of information and some fun looking trips; check it out!

Dave is also the director of the Mount Baker Volcano Research Center, which has a website here. For those who are less familiar with the volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest, Mt. Baker seemed to be on the verge of erupting in 1975-76, and has had a fair amount of activity in late Pleistocene and Holocene time. That's Mt. Baker in the photo above, as seen from Whidbey Island.

Evolving Earth Foundation Student Research Grants

2010-01-27T18:23:00.000-08:00

From the Evolving Earth Foundation...

The Evolving Earth Foundation has launched its 2010 student research grant program in the earth sciences. A total of ten grants are available annually, for amounts of up to $3000 per grant. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers at accredited U.S. colleges and universities or research institutions are eligible and encouraged to apply for grants. The deadline for application is March 1st, 2010.

The Evolving Earth Foundation is dedicated to research, education, and understanding in the earth sciences. Award emphasis will be on research topics that relate to the mission and priorities of the foundation. Please visit the Evolving Earth Foundation web site at http://www.evolvingearth.org/ for full grant program details.

On the Cutting Edge Opportunities!

2010-01-22T15:32:00.000-08:00

From Cathryn Manduca, Executive Director of NAGT:

A full list of this years offerings is given below and on the Cutting Edge website: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/workshops.html

WORKSHOPS

Developing Student Understanding of Complex Systems in the Geosciences
Application deadline: February 1, 2010
Carleton College, Northfield, MN April 18-20, 2010
Conveners: Cathy Manduca, Dave Mogk, Jim Slotta, David Bice, Eric Pyle
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/complexsystems/workshop2010/index.html

Workshop for Early Career Faculty: Teaching, Research, and Managing Your Career
Application deadline: March 3, 2010
College of William and Mary June 6-10, 2010 (NSF visit June 11)
Conveners: Heather Macdonald and Richelle Allen-King
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/earlycareer2010/index.html

Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences (a workshop for graduate students and post-docs)
Application deadline: March 10, 2010
Stanford University July 29-August 1, 2010
Conveners: Heather Macdonald and Robyn Wright Dunbar
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/careerprep2010/index.html

Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Teach Geoscience in the 21st Century
Application deadline: March 20, 2010
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT August 8-11, 2010 (Optional day, GIS in the Field, August 12, 2010)
Conveners: Barbara Tewksbury, Mohamed Abdelsalam, Brian Hynek, Mark Manone, David Mogk
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/gis10/index.html

Teaching Geoscience in the Field in the 21st Century
Application deadline: March 20, 2010
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT August 13-16, 2010 (Optional day, GIS in the Field August 12; Optional Regional Field Trip: August 17-19, 2010) Conveners: David Mogk, Steve Whitmeyer, Sarah Kruse, Bob Bauer
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/field/workshop10/index.html

VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS
Teaching Geoscience with Service Learning
* First session: February 3-5, 2010
* Second session: February 8-9, 2010
Convenvers: Dave Mogk, Ed Laine, Suzanne O'Connell, and Cathy Manduca
Application deadline extended; new applications are still being accepted
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/servicelearning/workshop10/index.html

Designing Effective and Innovative Courses in the Geosciences
Application deadline: April 1, 2010
* First Session: May 26-27, 2010
* Second Session: June 3-4, 2010
Conveners: Barb Tewksbury, Charlotte Mehrtens

Teaching Geoscience Online
Application deadline: May 7, 2010
* First session: June 23-25, 2010
* Second session: June 27-28, 2010
Conveners: Cathy Manduca, Bill Hirt, and Karin Kirk

PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOPS - Associated with other meetings or organizations

Teaching Geodesy in the 21st Century (part of the Cutting Edge - Follow-on Workshop Program)
UNAVCO Science Workshop, Boulder, Colorado, March 8, 2010
Leaders: Susan Eriksson and Shimon Wdowinski

Pursuing an Academic Career: A Workshop for Graduate Students and Post-Dcos (part of the Cutting Edge Follow-on Workshop Program)
In association with the GSA Northeastern/Southeastern Section Meeting, Baltimore, MD, March 13, 2010
Leaders: Rachel Beane and Jon Lewis
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/careerdev/AcademicCareer2010/index.html

Geology and Human Health (part of the Cutting Edge Follow-on Workshop Program)
In association with the North Central and South Central sectional GSA, Branson, MO, April 11, 2010 8:00 -12:00
Leader: Syed Hasan
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health10/index.html

Teaching Geochemistry
In association with the Goldschmidt 2010 Conference, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, June 11-12, 2010
Convener: David Mogk

Teaching Climate Change from the Geologic Record
In association with the AMQUA Biennial Meeting
University of Wyoming - Laramie
August 10-11, 2010 (with optional field trip on August 12)
Conveners: Cathy Manduca, Cathy Whitlock, Alison Smith, Greg Wiles, Rolfe D. Mandel, Karin Kirk

Cathryn A Manduca
Director, Science Education Resource Center
Executive Director, National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Carleton College
1 N College Street
Northfield, MN 55057
507 222 7096
cmanduca@carleton.edu
serc.carleton.edu

From CSTA: Deadline looming for Sacramento Conference

2010-01-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

From CSTA:

Only 10 days remain to submit a proposal to present a workshop at the 2010 California Science Education Conference.

CSTA is actively seeking science teachers to present one-hour workshops at the 2010 California Science Education Conference, October 22-24 in Sacramento, CA.

Visit http://www.cascience.org/csta/conf_wsprop.asp for more information about workshop proposals. There you will find submission guidelines, links to the standards, and a downloadable proposal form. Presenting at the conference can be fun and earn you a complimentary registration to the conference (please see the website for details regarding complimentary registration).

Deadline for Workshop Proposals: February 1, 2010.

Sincerely,

California Science Teachers Association
3800 Watt Ave., Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95821
(916) 979-7004
Fax: (916) 979-7023
www.cascience.org

Student Opportunity in Redwoods National Park

2010-01-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

Students currently enrolled in college degree programs have an opportunity to work in Redwood National Park in Northern California this summer as full-time interpretive rangers, earning $13-$15/hour. Information can be found here on the USAJobs site. The application deadline for applications is February 1.

Deadline Approaching: Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award

2010-01-17T23:47:00.000-08:00

The Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award, the only Geological Society of America (GSA) award specifically for women at the post-doc level, recognizes the accomplishments of successful female geoscientists early in their careers.

The Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award will be awarded to a female whose Ph.D. research has had a significant impact on the geosciences. Women are eligible for the first three years following receipt of their degree. The US $2500 cash award will be presented at the GSA Annual Meeting in Denver in October 2010.

We ask that you take advantage of this opportunity to recognize a stellar female colleague by submitting a nomination.

Nominations are due by 1 February 2010. Materials required are a nomination form, nominating letter, short summary of the research, brief resume with a list of publications, and a copy of the dissertation abstract, published abstracts and/or reprints, as available.

For complete nomination guidelines and nomination forms, please visit:
http://www.geosociety.org/awards/index.htm#sowisa

Geological Society of America
Grants, Awards, and Recognition

Meet the Far Western Section Outstanding Earth Science Teacher of the Year!

2010-01-14T23:39:00.000-08:00

Laura Hollister teaches the earth sciences at Pitman High School in Turlock, California. She attended Modesto Junior College and California State University, Stanislaus, where she earned a BS in Geology. She worked several years in the geological consulting business before deciding to pursue a teaching career.

Laura is a very engaging teacher and strives to bring her philosophies to fruition by designing lessons with applicable, real-world experiences. She has created many multimedia presentations that include personal trip photos that demonstrate concepts in a vivid, virtual-type setting. She assures that the information presented within them is understood by all students with the creation of scaffolded notes. The notes allow students to fill-in important information to the pre-made lecture outline so that the kids can spend more time concentrating on the visuals, while at the same time teaching the students how to outline useful notes when they get into college. Laura also incorporates labs that encourage a hands-on approach to exploring and discovering the intricacies of the geosciences. At the completion of the day's exercises, students are required to write a song or poem, draw a picture, or create some other form of art to help them process and thoroughly remember what they learned in class.

Laura participates in Wildlink, which is run through the Yosemite Institute, whose goal is to provide access to and education about the greater Yosemite National Park Region. Students who are chosen for the program spend a week in Yosemite learning about wilderness ethics and the ecology and geology of the park. Laura is a co-advisor for the Pitman High Science Bowl and Science Olympiad teams. She also volunteers in the geology field studies program at the local community college, and has led trips for conferences of the Far West Section of NAGT.

See other current information in the NAGT Newsletter

Dr. Richard A. Smith Passes Away

2009-12-31T09:11:00.000-08:00

Dr. Richard Smith, retired San Jose State University geology professor and longtime member of the Far Western Section of the NAGT has passed away:

From the Redlands Tribune:

Richard A. Smith, 85, died December 13, 2009, at his home in Oakland. He was the son of Howard and Marcella Smith, original owners of Smith's Jewelers.

Richard was raised in Redlands, graduating from Redlands High School in 1942. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps for two years during World War II, then returned to Stanford, graduating in 1948. He received his master's degree from Stanford in 1950 and his doctorate in education from Colorado State University in 1956.

Dr. Smith joined the faculty at San Jose State University in 1955, served as a coordinator for the Peace Corps from 1964 to 1966 and retired from SJSU in 1987 as associate dean of the geology and natural sciences department.

Dr. Smith was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Jane. He is survived by his present wife, Delcye, of Oakland, his sister, Patti, four children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

For those who might be interested, Dick's memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 16 at 1:00 pm at:

First Lutheran Church
600 Homer Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301

There is a map and directions on their web site at http://www.flcpa.org/directions.shtml.

More on Dick's life can be found here.

Secondary Level Earth Science Classes and the University of California

2009-12-29T22:32:00.000-08:00

From Wendy Van Norden, co-founder of CalESTA, California Earth Science Teachers Association (http://cestanet.org/)

California Earth Science educators:

Below you will find a petition to the Academic Council of the University of California. At this time, the "d" requirements for a lab science specifies only biology, chemistry and physics. If you are in favor of petitioning the UC Academic council to include Earth, Environmental, and Space Sciences as a choice for a "d" lab science, please "sign" the following petition by sending the following to Wendy Van Norden at wvannorden@hw.com.

I support the petition from the California Association of Earth Science Teachers to the Academic Council to include Earth, Environmental and Space Sciences as a choice for the "d" lab requirement for admission to the UC system.

Name:

email:

affiliation:

Please forward this petition to any interested educators. Thank you.

TO THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL, BOARS, AND UCEP

FROM THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF EARTH SCIENCE TEACHERS

We, the undersigned request that the UC High School “d” requirements for laboratory science be amended to include “Earth, Environmental, and Space Sciences” as a choice for admission to the UC system:

I. Currently the UC High School area “d” requirement states that students shall take “two and preferably three courses from the following sciences: biology, chemistry, and physics.”

II. We, the undersigned, request that the “area d” requirements for laboratory science be amended to include “Earth, environmental, and space sciences” as an additional choice for admissions to the UC system. Earth, environmental, and space sciences broadly defined include content in astronomy, ecology, geology, meteorology, oceanography, Earth systems science, environmental science, planetary science, and other topics within the integrative study of all or parts of the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere; of the solar system, and of the cosmos. The text of the UC Area-d requirement is proposed to then read:

“two and preferably three courses from the following sciences: biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth, environmental, and space sciences.”

III. To be considered for certification in the “d” subject area courses (in Earth, environmental, and space sciences) must meet the same requirements as biology, chemistry and physics, which is described in http://ucop.edu/a-gGuide/ag/content/Guidetoa-gReqs_2008.pdf

• specify, at a minimum, elementary algebra as a prerequisite or co-requisite;

• take an approach consistent with the scientific method in relation to observing, forming hypotheses, testing hypotheses through experimentation and/or further observation, and forming objective conclusions; and

• include hands-on scientific activities that are directly related to and support the other classwork, and that involve inquiry, observation, analysis, and write-up. These hands-on activities should account for at least 20% of class time, and should be itemized and described in the course description.

IV. We make this request in consideration of the following points

a. We California educators want to teach rigorous Earth , Environmental, and Space Science content to college-bound students. However, because the UC system does not accept Earth Science as a “d” laboratory course, administrators are actively discouraging us from doing so. The removal of Earth science courses from the “d” laboratory status has encouraged schools to drop Earth science courses, or to drop the laboratory component of Earth science courses. Even if we are able to teach a rigorous Earth Science course, college-bound students are discouraged from enrolling. The addition of Earth, Environmental, and Space Science in the “d” requirements can reverse this process.

b. Earth, Environmental, and Space Science classes can be taught as rigorous, problem-solving curricula that can easily fit into the “d” requirement. There are many courses already available. The Earth sciences have benefited enormously from the explosion of online data that are available for analysis in demanding problem-solving exercises, and providing students with important 21st century skills.

c. Earth, environmental and space sciences are included in several national standards recommended by several prestigious agencies (e.g., National Academy of Science/National Research Council, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Council of Scientific Society Presidents, the College Board), and those of California. UC’s science admission requirements are not in compliance with either the national or the California state secondary school standards.

d. Topics in the Earth, environmental, and space sciences comprise 30% of the questions on the 12th grade National Assessment of Educational Progress test (Nation’s Report Card). The National Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Council of Scientific Society Presidents all recommend that Earth and space science classes be included a part of standard high school curricula.

e. It would be difficult to find a state more in need of Earth science literacy than California. The topics of earthquakes, landslides, water supply, water quality, climate change, flood control, resource use (and depletion), air/water pollution, and plate tectonics, are extremely relevant to California residents. Unfortunately, these topics are rarely found in the curricula of biology, chemistry or physics.

f. The Earth, environmental and space sciences are intrinsically interesting, and are likely to entice more students into the sciences

Wendy Van Norden

Harvard-Westlake School

3700 Coldwater Canyon

No. Hollywood, CA 91604

818 487-6665

wvannorden@hw.com

Present a Short Course at CSTA: Deadline Looming!

2009-12-16T15:09:00.000-08:00

Only 2 days remain to submit a proposal to present a Short Course at the 2010 California Science Education Conference.

CSTA is actively seeking classroom science teachers to present one-hour workshops and three- or six-hour Short Courses at the 2010 California Science Education Conference, October 22-24 in Sacramento, CA.

Visit http://www.cascience.org/csta/conf_home.asp for more information about proposals. There you will find submission guidelines, links to the standards, and links to the on-line proposal system. Presenting at the conference can be fun and earn you a complimentary registration (please see the website for details regarding complimentary registration).

Deadlines for Proposals:
Short Courses: December 18, 2009 (submission must be completed by 11:59 pm)
Workshops: February 1, 2009

Sincerely,

California Science Teachers Association
3800 Watt Ave., Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95821
(916) 979-7004
Fax: (916) 979-7023
www.cascience.org

K-12 Tsunami Education from the California Geological Survey

2009-12-15T19:52:00.000-08:00

California's northern coast, endangered during the 1964 Alaska tsunami

From the California Geological Survey:

With the fifth anniversary of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami coming up on Dec. 26th, 2009, most of you recall the story of Tilly Smith, the 10-year-old credited with saving over 100 people on a beach in Thailand based on what she learned about tsunamis in school during a geography lesson.

The California Geological Survey (CGS) is looking for ways to best to educate and prepare California students about tsunamis, tsunami hazards, and what they should do if they are in an area at risk. Newly released statewide tsunami inundation maps produced by CGS, the California Emergency Management Agency, and the Tsunami Research Center at USC are now available (link below). The maps show the potential flooding hazard for all vulnerable populated areas based on some of the worst-case tsunami scenarios for California. In addition to the maps, the state is making available new tsunami education videos, a new CGS Tsunami Note, and other information that could be useful when teaching students about tsunamis and tsunami hazards in California. This information is posted at: http://www.conservation.ca.gov/CGS/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Pages/education.aspx

Several state agencies are working together to initiate a statewide tsunami education plan for March, during the proposed “National Tsunami Preparedness Week.” Your feedback on any aspect of using these new tsunami maps in the classroom over the next few weeks will be a great value to help us prepare for this new education campaign.

Rick Wilson

California Geological Survey

Student Opportunity in Yellowstone National Park

2009-12-06T19:39:00.000-08:00

From the National NAGT Newsletter:

Dear Colleagues,

Greetings from Montana! We would appreciate your help in advertising to your students an NSF/GEO site project we will be running this summer on Evolution of the Precambrian Rocks of Yellowstone National Park (Dave Mogk, Paul Mueller, Darrell Henry, and Dave Foster PIs). Please visit the project website for further details: http://serc.carleton.edu/36703 . This project will be a comprehensive research experience that will include:.

• Field mapping and sampling in Yellowstone National Park to contribute to a new geologic map of the basement rocks of YNP; students will work in small groups in the context of the larger project to define and address specific research topics in their area of interest; Dates: June 27-July 25, 2010;

• Direct experience in modern analytical studies including sample preparation, training on modern instrumentation petrologic, geochemical and geochronological; visits to analytical labs will be scheduled for fall semester 2010, and

• Presentation of research results, by submitting an abstract for a poster presentation at the Rocky Mountain Section meeting of the Geological Society of America, and participating in a group reunion meeting to contribute to a peer-reviewed journal article. Dates: Spring 2011, to be determined; Logan, Utah.

We are looking for a group of students (12) with diverse interests in geology to contribute to the research group. To unravel the geologic history of these Archean rocks, our research team will need students with interests in igneous and metamorphic petrology, sedimentology, geochemistry, geochronology and structural geology and tectonics. Students who have taken most of their geology “core” courses and have had a field camp (or other field experience) will be preferred. This experience will provide a great foundation for follow-on senior thesis/research projects at their home institutions. Please note that this will be a true back country experience in Yellowstone National Park, so students need to know that the daily routine will be physically challenging in this rugged terrain.

How to Apply:

Please send: a) Your letter of interest, stating what you hope to learn, what you can offer to this project, b) two letters of support from faculty or work supervisors, and c) your academic transcript . These materials can be submitted to (e-mail or mail):

David Mogk mogk@montana.edu

Dept of Earth Sciences (406) 994 6916

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT 59717

The deadline for applications is: January 30, 2010

Thanks in advance, and please, encourage your best, field-oriented students to apply!

Best to all,

Dave Mogk

On the Cutting Edge Opportunities

2009-11-13T22:54:00.000-08:00

From Cathy Manduca, Executive Director of NAGT

We would like to draw your attention to two upcoming opportunities for Virtual Workshops offered by On the Cutting Edge:

--Teaching Geoscience with Service Learning will take place Feb 3-9 and has an application deadline of December 1. Conveners: Dave Mogk, Ed Laine, Suzanne O'Connell, and Cathy Manduca. For more info and application forms visit:

--Understanding the Deep Earth will take place Feb 17-24 and has an application deadline of Dec 20. Conveners: Dave Mogk, Cathy Manduca, and Mike Williams. For more info and application forms visit:

In both cases the workshops are planned to require 2.5 days of effort spread across the scheduled time. This will include synchronous and asynchronous sessions, with presentations and discussions, supporting development of new materials for your teaching.

Application deadlines are fast approaching, so please visit the workshop websites and submit your application on-line. The full schedule of On the Cutting Edge workshops can be viewed at: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/workshops.html

Thanks in advance for your consideration, and we'll hope to "see" you at these events.

Dave Mogk and Cathy Manduca, on behalf of the co-conveners

Building Strong Geoscience Departments Visiting Workshop Program

2009-11-06T17:59:00.000-08:00

From our executive director, Cathryn Manduca:

Building Strong Geoscience Departments Visiting Workshop Program
Application Deadline, November 16

Greetings colleagues--

It is not too late to bring the Building Strong Geoscience Departments program to your campus. Would you like to know more about how other departments are facing today's challenges by building a stronger profile for their department, addressing assessment, redesigning curricula, or recruiting students? The Building Strong Geoscience Department visiting workshop program can bring this information to you. Visiting workshops involve one or two days of programming led by a team of two geoscientists drawn from our national program . The workshop program will feature concrete examples drawn from the leaders' experience and from the collective experiences of the geoscience community, and will provide online resources for further information.

Funds are available for five institutions to take advantage of this program -- the application deadline is November 16. The project pays for leader travel and stipends, the local host is responsible for local accommodations.

For more information about the workshops, see
http://serc.carleton.edu/departments/visitingworkshops/index.html

To have a Visiting Workshop come to your department, apply online by Monday, November 16:
http://serc.carleton.edu/departments/visitingworkshops/application.html

We hope this looks like an exciting opportunity to you!

Cathy Manduca, Heather Macdonald, Geoff Feiss, Randy Richardson, Carol Ormand

Cathryn A Manduca
Director, Science Education Resource Center
Executive Director, National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Carleton College
1 N College Street
Northfield, MN 55057
507 222 7096
cmanduca@carleton.edu
serc.carleton.edu

Note from NESTA (National Earth Science Teachers Association)

2009-10-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

A note from Roberta Johnson at our sister organization NESTA (National Earth Science Teachers Association):

As you know, there is a crisis in Earth and Space Science education today in the US. NESTA is working hard to provide support for Earth and Space Science teachers across the country through our programs, communications, resources, and website, as well as through advocacy for Earth and Space Science education at the national level collaboration with partner organizations. Through these activities, we reach thousands of teachers across the country annually, and through them, hundreds of thousands of students.

As we approach the end of the year, we would like to encourage you to consider a donation to NESTA to help support our programs. As a non-profit and volunteer run 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, we work hard to keep our costs down, and avoid increases in membership fees - particularly in these difficult economic times. Please visit our donation campaign web page at http://www.nestanet.org/cms/content/support/donate, where we offer information about our need for financial support, and specific activities you might be interesting in supporting. Alternatively, you can go straight to our online donations form at http://www.nestanet.org/cms/content/support/donate/form to make your donation. If you would rather do this using a form that you can fill out and mail, you can find that form (and the mailing address for the form) at http://www.nestanet.org/cms/sites/default/files/documents/donation_form.pdf.

NESTA is excited to announce that the American Geophysical Union has agreed to match up to the first $10,000 of donations raised in this fund-raising campaign. This is a great way to double the impact of your donation! Your donation will go straight to NESTA, and will be used as you designate with your donation.

Thank you for your consideration!

Roberta

Light a Candle in the Darkness: Volunteering for Science in Your Community

2009-10-24T22:25:00.000-07:00

Photo Source: Modesto Bee

(Posted originally at Geotripper)
Here in California, K-12 education is in pretty much a chaotic mess, and our children are being shortchanged in the worst way. Class size is growing, budgets are getting slashed, and some of our best teachers are being fired. These are bleak times, and our community college system is no better off. But I am proud of what my colleagues at Modesto Junior College are doing. You can read the story here, but in short we are bringing fifth graders onto our campus every other Friday to give them an experience in science and to introduce them to our college campus. Most of our division (biology, chemistry, physics and earth sciences) is volunteering to make the program a success. From the article:

About 60 students watched and performed experiments as part of MJC's Science Educational Encounters for Kids. Every second and fourth Friday of the month, fifth-graders converge on campus for a science lecture and then two 45-minute labs.

"We are drawing members of the community into the college. Some of these students maybe don't think college is a possibility, and we want to show them this is their community college," said Brian Sanders, dean of MJC's science, math and engineering division."Activities are a blend of fun and interest with real science," Sanders said.

"We're not just playing with bubbles. We're matching the labs with the state's fifth-grade science standards."

And...these kids are a lot of fun, too. Full of energy and enthusiasm! Contact me if you would like more info on how we set up the program (hayesg at mjc dot edu).

Far Western Section Spring Meeting: Tentative Announcement

2009-10-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

Plans are afoot for the spring conference of the Far Western Section of the NAGT. The tentative plans call for a May meeting centered in Bishop, California, on the east side of the Sierra Nevada. More information will be posted as it becomes available....

NAGT e-Newsletter out...

2009-10-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of the e-Newsletter of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers is available here. This issue is loaded with great links to new teaching resources on the web. Check it out! The photo, from the newsletter, is by Ron Wirgart.

No Child Left Inside! Our National Parks (from Geotripper)

2009-09-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

First published at Geotripper...

Long complex ramble today with four seemingly unrelated random thoughts. But they are...

Devilstower, over at Dailykos.com, has a great post today about Little Giants , wondering what would happen if the estimated 5,000 to 7,000 tigers in the United States were all released at once.

I had a great meeting with 60 fifth-graders in my lab this week, introducing them to the world of the geologist.

I led a field studies class last week to the Cascades, studying the role of volcanism in three different national parks and monuments: Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake and Lava Beds.

Ken Burns and PBS are offering a six part documentary on "America's Best Idea", the story of the National Parks of America.

America's national parks are indeed one of the greatest ideas ever conceived by a society. The choice of overrunning a landscape and stripping it of resources to the point of ruination is a story that has been repeated over and over in human history. The idea that we might actually preserve a portion of our land in some condition approaching the primeval, for the benefit of all of its citizens, was an extraordinary leap that advanced civilization. If nothing else, the parks give us a focus point to understand how much we truly have changed our lands, and how far removed from our heritage we truly are. I am eagerly awaiting the Ken Burns documentary; the bits and pieces I've seen already are encouraging. Be sure to check it out.

My journey over the last week drove home the point of just how geological our national parks are. While acknowledging the historical nature of many parks in the system, such as Civil War battlefields and the like, most people think of places like Yosemite, Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon when they think of national parks. Although many people think of the national park experience as seeing wildlife, the bears, the moose, the buffalo, the deer and chipmunks, it is the rock that makes a place like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite Valley, it is the volcanism that has built the Hawaii Volcanoes, Haleakala, Rainier, Crater Lake, and Yellowstone, it is the movement of ice that sculpted the Grand Tetons, Glacier or the North Cascades. To truly understand a national park is to have an education, a true hands-on education, in geology. And yet: as Lee Alison of Arizona Geology points out, there are only 20 geologists employed in the Geologic Resources in the national park system, compared to 800 biologists.

The power of the national parks to move us is rooted in the common experience that many Americans have had while visiting our national parks, sometimes as adults, but especially as children. How many of us have that memory of playing in a river, camping out in the dark listening for the snuffling of bears, hiking a steep trail, or even conquering our first mountain? I remember as a young child climbing to the top of some small hill in Sequoia National Park on the Heather Lake trail, and giving it a name; I also remember the terror of being lost in a campground, having tried to find my own way to the bathroom in the dark as a five-year old. Terror at the time, and yet one of my most cherished memories, along with my first face to face meeting with a bear at Seqouia.

My visit with the fifth-graders this week was a startling reminder of something I already knew. Too many, way too many kids are not getting even a chance to experience their heritage as Americans. I live less than a two hour drive from one of the crown jewels of the national park system, Yosemite National Park, and almost none of these kids have been there! There are many reasons, of course, perfectly logical reasons. Even a twenty dollar entrance fee is too much for many struggling families, not to mention the cost of gasoline (we have 17% unemployment in our county right now). There is less and less of a cultural appreciation for simple forms of recreation: electronic games are very alluring to the short-term attention span of so many of our kids. And our kids, fed on a steady diet of junk food, and lacking any kind of exercise in their schools, just aren't healthy enough to appreciate hiking a trail or running away from a bear or snake.

And yet: these kids were excited just to see images of their national heritage. And I swear their eyes lit up when they came to the realization that these experiences were out there, and they could take part in them if they chose to. They could see an erupting volcano if they chose to. They could find a dinosaur bone in the ground. They want to see and experience these places, if we found a way to get them there.

It is we as a society who are robbing the youth of our country of their heritage. Every time we cut the budgets of our schools to the bare minimum of math and English classes, we take away the most valuable part of education. English is probably important, but what use is it if these kids have nothing to write about? An education is all about experience, not just knowledge.

And what about the Devilstower blog entry on little giants? In the last twelve thousand years, our continent has lost a huge part of our ecosystem: the megafauna. The North American continent once played host to mammoths, mastodons, giant elk, bison, camels, horses, sloths, and many other huge creatures. Most of them are gone, although, as Devilstower points out, some survived much longer by evolving into smaller forms (dwarf mammoths survived on the Channel Islands off California thousands of years longer than their bigger mainland relatives). What's left? The bison and elk and grizzly bears of places like Yellowstone National Park. For now, these creatures are managed as if they were in a zoo rather than part of an ecosystem, but there is a growing recognition that if we are going to choose to have these grand animals in our care, we have to see our land not as a few isolated protected havens like Yellowstone, but as a continuous habitat extending beyond park boundaries where these large animals and humans can coexist. It is a contentious topic to be sure: look at the controversy over the de-listing of the wolf from the Endangered Species Act.

One more note on the topic: this month's Accretionary Wedge, hosted by Tuff Cookie at Magma Cum Laude, is based on the following question: What kind of Earth Science outreach have you participated in? Have you hosted a geology day at your department, given a field trip, gone to your child's/niece's/nephew's/cousin's school to do a demonstration, or sponsored an event for Earth Science Week? To this I would add: You don't sponsor outreach? What do you plan on doing to change that?

Our pictures today? An Oak Tree in Yosemite Valley, and a black bear in Sequoia National Park. Something that every child should have a chance to see.

National Association of Geoscience Teachers: Fall Resources and Workshops

2009-09-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

From Cathy Manduca, Executive Director, NAGT:

Greetings,

As the academic year gets underway, I am writing to call your attention to new online resources, workshops (for faculty and departments), and other upcoming opportunities. Happy Fall!

New Resources:

- The On the Cutting Edge website includes several new topical modules, about topics including Teaching about Energy, the Hurricane-Climate Connection, the Role of Metacognition in Teaching Geoscience (how an awareness of the learning process can dramatically improve learning), and Teaching Paleontology: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/index.html

- Our large collection of pedagogic resources on the Pedagogy in Action website includes six new modules, on ConcepTests, Jigsaws, Lecture Tutorials, Structured Academic Controversy, Teaching the Process of Science, and Teaching Urban Students. Each module includes an introduction to the pedagogic method, information on why it is effective, how to use it in your classroom, and examples of teaching activities using the method: http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/pedagogies.html

- The Building Strong Geoscience Departments website includes new and expanded resources, particularly related to Curriculum Development and Program Assessment: http://serc.carleton.edu/departments/index.html

Workshops for Individuals and Departments:

- The 2010 On the Cutting Edge Workshop series includes 5 face-to-face workshops, 4 virtual workshops, and 10 partnership workshops (offered in association with other meetings or organizations -- this includes the Follow-on Workshop on Teaching About Energy, to be held in conjunction with the GSA meeting in Portland, application deadline Sept 25): http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/workshops.html

- The Building Strong Geoscience Departments project is initiating a Visiting Workshop Program. Two of our leaders will come to your campus to deliver a workshop for your department, on topics we offer that are of high interest to you. There are two application deadlines Sept 16 and Nov 16: http://serc.carleton.edu/departments/visitingworkshops/index.html

Other Opportunities:

- Lead a Follow-On Workshop: Cutting Edge seeks proposals for one-half or one-day follow-on workshops on topics that have been offered through the "On the Cutting Edge" program in the past. If you would like to bring one of these workshops to a new audience, submit a request for proposal before the Sept 22 deadline: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/leadership/workshopRFP.html

- Propose a Cutting Edge workshop topic: Cutting Edge is seeking recommendations for workshop topics, submit your ideas before Oct 30 : http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/topic.html

Cathryn A Manduca
Director, Science Education Resource Center
Executive Director, National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Carleton College
1 N College Street
Northfield, MN 55057
507 222 7096
E-mail
serc.carleton.edu

A Survey Request from the Smithsonian

2009-09-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

Via Julie Genyuk at NESTA

Greetings!

The Smithsonian Museum of National History's Sant Ocean Hall has been working with the design production company Funny Garbage in the development of an online resource dedicated to scientific information about the ocean. A portion of The Ocean Portal site will serve as a resource where K-12 educators can visit for assistance in developing curricula about ocean related topics.To ensure we develop a useful tool, we are recruiting educators who teach life and earth sciences to take an online survey on how they use teachers' resources on the Internet.

ONLINE SURVEY:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QuXv0pLFikPze8IgmSx8jQ_3d_3d
We hope to reach as many teachers as possible in as many geographic locations as possible. The survey should take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete and is available now through September 4th. Feedback from your community would be the very group that we hope to serve with rich and useful resources. Please help circulate this email to educators who would be interested in using this type of resource.

Elizabeth J. Ban
COSEE/Ocean Science Education Specialist
Smithsonian Institution
BanE@si.edu

Arctic Circle 2009 Education and Outreach Opportunity

2009-08-27T02:45:00.000-07:00

From Roberta Johnston at NESTA (National Earth Science Teachers Association):

The Arctic Circle program, a series of artist and scientist-led expeditions to remote and fascinating destinations, seeks expressions of interest from educators, at the high school level, to participate in the Educational & Outreach component of The Arctic Circle 2009 (expedition Oct 5th- 22nd, 2009). Science and art educators may join this pilot project where their classrooms will correspond with the expedition crew comprising 18 international artists, architects, and scientists. The program procedure will involve email/ blog correspondence (questions and comments from classrooms) to be published on The Arctic Circle Blog, leading up to and during the expedition, and responded to by our crew so we may explore, together, many topics of interest. Ideally, The Arctic Circle program will look to communicate with collaborating art and science classrooms from the same school. Correspondence will be accomplished during the expedition via satellite communication. The Arctic Circle Edu-Blog will be updated daily for classroom interaction.

Educators interested to become involved are asked to email a brief letter of interest and introduction (~150-300 words) to edu@thearcticcircle.org before Sept 10, 2009. Selection will be made Sept. 15, 2009. Those selected to participate in this pilot project will be given a full set of participation guidelines. There will be a network of ~30 educators selected for this project from North America, the EU, and Asia.

Questions may be directed to edu@thearcticcircle.org. Program details may be seen at www.thearcticcircle.org.

The Arctic Circle 2009 Education & Outreach program aims to encourage a discourse between the student--the educator--the artist--and the scientist.

Spotlight on California Geology: Geology of Sequoia and Kings Canyon

2009-08-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

The southern Sierra Nevada is somewhat less familiar to most travelers than the heavily visited Yosemite/Lake Tahoe region, but contains some incredible scenery and fascinating geology. The Far West Section conducted a series of field trips there in the fall of 2005.

Two national parks grace the region: Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Sequoia is the oldest of the two, having been established in 1890, with Kings Canyon following in 1940. They are administered as a single unit by the park service.

Sequoia preserves the Giant Forest and other groves of the Giant Sequoia trees, the largest living things in the world. Within the park boundaries one finds the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mt. Whitney and the other alpine peaks of the Whitney Crest, the deep trough of the upper Kern River, and the high peaks of the Great Western Divide. Exposures of the granitic rocks of the Sierra Nevada Batholith dominate the park, but numerous roof pendants are scattered across the park providing evidence of events in the early Mesozoic and Paleozoic time. Some of the pendants contain marble, which has weathered to form numerous caverns in the Sierra Foothills. One of these, Crystal Cave, is open for conducted tours.

Kings Canyon preserves the upper reaches of, well, Kings Canyon, which has the distinction of being considerably deeper than the Grand Canyon. At one point just outside the park, the gorge is over 8,000 feet deep (see the top photo). The eastern boundary of the park includes the Palisades Crest, with several peaks exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation. As with Sequoia, much of the park is dominated by batholithic intrusions, but a huge metamorphic roof pendant is traversed by highway 180 on the way to Cedar Grove in the heart of the park (see the second picture). Boyden Cave lies just west of the park entrance, and offers guided tours. Lilburn cave, in the Grant Grove/Redwood Canyon area, has more than 20 miles of mapped passageways, making it one of the longer cavern systems in the country. Several unique ice caves can be found in the Mineral King region.

Both parks provide plentiful evidence of Pleistocene ice age glaciations. The southern limit of Sierra glaciations is just south of the Sequoia boundary. Numerous exfoliation domes lie scattered throughout both parks. The summit of Moro Rock is a popular short hike in the Giant Forest area of Sequoia.

The Far West Section guidebook from the 2005 meeting has five field trips that tour the two national parks and surrounding countryside, and also includes a unique fossil-hunting expedition in the Kettleman Hills on the west side of the Central Valley (bottom photo). The Kettleman Hills are an actively growing anticline composed of Plio-Pleistocene marine sediments, and are an important oil drilling region. The specific chapters include:

A Teacher's Guide to the Kaweah River Canyon, Sierra Roof Pendants, and Crystal Cave by Mike Martin and Richard Goode
A Teacher's Guide to the Tule River Basin, Dome Rock, and California Hot Springs, by Mike Martin and Richard Goode
A Teacher's Guide to the Roadside Geology of Kings Canyon National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument by Garry Hayes
A Teacher's Guide to the Fusegates at Terminus Dam and Kaweah Reservoir by Mike Martin and Richard Goode
A Teacher's Guide to Fossil Collecting along Interstate 5 in the Kettleman Hills Area, by Mike Martin and Richard Goode

Sales of the guidebook "A Teacher's Guidebook to the Southern Sierra: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, the Great Western Divide, and the Sierra Nevada Foothills" support the Far West Section scholarships for earth science students,