Subaru/GSA Minority Scholarships Announced

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.