AWGnews
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AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2003-18
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CONTENTS
1) AGI
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM ALERT: 8-20-03
2) AGI GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW: AUGUST 2003
3) ÒWHERE ARE
THE WOMEN GEOSCIENCE PROFESSORS?Ó WORKSHOP, SEPTEMBER
26 AND 27, 2003
4) ANNOUNCEMENT
OF THE 2003 ANNUAL GREAT LAKES SECTION-SEPM FIELD
CONFERENCE
5) 13TH
CCWEST CONFERENCE: CALL FOR PAPERS
6) PRETEND
MOVES AND THE DYNAMIC EARTH
7) POSITION
OPENINGS
* Northern
Illinois University - Earth Science Education
* QueenÕs University - Canada Research
Chair
* California
State University, Fullerton - Tenure Track Hydrogeochemist/Hydrologist
* Rice University,
Department of Earth Science - Faculty Position
Biogeochemistry/Aqueous
Geochemistry Faculty Position
8) CONTACT
INFORMATION
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Thanks to everyone who
contributed to this issue of E-mail News
We have been experiencing
problems with our webserver. The
worst is over but there are still a few minor glitches that need to be taken
care of. Thanks to the AWG
webmaster for all her hard work and to all of you for your patience.
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1) AGI
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM ALERT: 8-20-03
*** Representatives Needed to Support Math and Science
Education Program ***
IN A NUTSHELL: A trio of House members is asking their
colleagues to sign a letter supporting increased funding for the Math/Science
Partnership program at the Department of Education. They will send the letter
during the first week of September to the members of the House Appropriations subcommittee
that funds the Department of Education. AGI urges geoscientists to contact
their representatives between now and Labor Day to recommend that they sign on
to the Ehlers-Holt-Biggert letter. The text of the "Dear Colleague"
letter is included in this message. Additional signatures for the letter must
be received by Labor Day (September 1, 2003), so please call or e-mail in the
next two weeks.
********************
As part of the No Child Left Behind Act, Congress created a
new program in the Department of Education designed to improve math and science
education -- the Math/Science Partnership (MSP). The program consists of partnerships
between local school districts, colleges, and other groups including businesses
and business organizations. These partnerships can address a variety of
education issues, including teacher training and professional development,
curriculum development, distance learning, and exchange programs. The program
must have clear valuations and accountability measurements, which include
increasing the number of math and science teachers participating in
professional development and increasing student performance on math and science
assessments.
The need for these partnerships is recognized not just by
the scientific and educational communities, but also by business leaders. Craig
Barrett of Intel, Tom Engibous of Texas Instruments, and Henry McKinnell of
Pfizer are just a few of the chief executives who strongly (and vocally)
support increased funding for the Math/Science Partnership, recognizing that
math and science education improvements are critical to the future competitiveness
of their companies.
While Congress authorized $450 million for this program,
actual spending for the program this year was $100 million. The
administration only requested $12.5 million to be spent in Fiscal Year (FY)
2004.
On July 10, 2003, the House approved the FY 2004 budget for
the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (H.R. 2660).
Included in this budget is a $50 million boost for the MSP program over the FY
2003 level. Given the tough economy and budgetary constraints facing
members of the Appropriations Committee, this represents a significant increase
for the program, a 50% ramp-up in spending to $150 million for FY 2004.
The Senate, however, will most likely approve level funding
for this program in the coming year -- $100 million. When the House and
Senate form a Conference Committee to work out the differences in their
spending priorities for the Department of Education, the House negotiators will
need support from their colleagues in order to retain the $150 million funding level
for MSP.
On August 14, 2003, Reps. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Rush Holt
(D-NJ) and Judy Biggert (R-IL) sent a letter asking their colleagues to join
them in supporting the $150 million funding level for MSP when the House and
Senate convene a conference committee. They plan to send the letter to
the House conferees during the first week in September.
Please call your representative and ask him or her to sign
on to the Ehlers-Holt-Biggert letter by Labor Day. The U.S. Capitol
Switchboard (202-224-3121) will connect you to your representative's
office. E-mail messages can be sent to your representative via the Write
Your Representative website at http://www.house.gov/writerep/.
When you talk to your representative's staff, let them know
who they should contact to add their Member to the list: If Republican, then
Rachel Post in Rep. Vernon Ehlers office (202-225-3831); if Democrat, then
Chris Hartmann in Rep. Holt's office (202-225-5801). Just to reiterate,
these are the people whom staff should call to add their Member to the list,
not the individuals whom we are asking geoscientists to contact.
Thank you for acting on this request for action.
Please let us know if you make a contact or if you have any questions:
govt@agiweb.org, 703-379-7563 x.212, fax 703-379-7563.
*** Text of Ehlers-Holt-Biggert Dear Colleague Letter ***
September 2, 2003
Hon. Ralph Regula, Chairman
House Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education
2358 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-6023
Hon. David Obey, Ranking Member
House Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education
2358 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-6023
Dear Chairman Regula and Ranking Member Obey:
As the Conference Committee considers its priorities for the
fiscal year 2004 appropriations bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education,
we encourage you to increase funding for the Math and Science Partnership
program at the Department of Education to $150 million, as set in the House
version of this bill.
Mandatory science testing will be required of all students
by the 2007-2008 school year. It is crucial that we fully fund the
authorized amount of $450 million for this program by that year. We are
very grateful for your support of $100 million in the fiscal year 2003 budget,
and appropriations of $150 million in fiscal year 2004 will help ensure we
reach this goal.
Sustaining America's technological, economic, and military
leadership demands improvements in science, math, and engineering education at
all levels. In 2001, the Commission on National Security for the 21st
Century wrote: "the inadequacies of our systems of research and math and
science education pose a great threat to U.S. national security."
Today's high school students are not performing well in math and science, and a
decreasing of American students are pursuing degrees in technical fields. America's K-12 students score far below
the best in the world on domestic and international tests.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched a
complementary Math and Science Partnerships program designed to develop model
partnerships and best practices to improve science and math education.
However, because it awards grants through a competitive procedure, the NSF will
not provide every state with targeted funds for math and science professional
development. In contrast, Education Department partnerships that focus on
implementing and scaling up the models and best practices identified by the NSF
would provide much-needed funding to every state through formula grants.
By creating the Math and Science Partnership program as part
of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Congress affirmed the critical
importance of improving math and science at all grade levels. The
partnerships link school districts with university science, math and
engineering departments to provide high quality, sustained professional
development activities for K-12 math and science teachers.
We urge you to continue to improve our nation's K-12 math
and science education by increasing funding for the Department of Education's
Math and Science Partnership program to the $150 million appropriated by the
House of Representatives.
Sincerely,
Vernon Ehlers
Member of Congress
Rush Holt
Member of Congress
Judy Biggert
Member of Congress
____________
Alert prepared by Emily M. Lehr, AGI Government Affairs
Program
Sources: Math/Science Partnership Working Group Website
11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
2) AGI
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW: AUGUST 2003
* After Blackout, All Bets Off For Energy Conference
* Scientific Literacy for Today's Students, Tomorrow's
Workforce
* National Academies Panel Briefed on Climate Change
Science Plan
* Bush Appoints Utah Governor To Lead EPA
* New Clean Air Regulations Affect Older Industrial
Facilities
* OMB Issues Draft Guidelines for Regulatory Peer
Review
* Bush Administration's Science Priorities for FY 2005
Budget
* New Mexico Approves Strong Science Education
Standards
* Denver Mayor is Former Exploration Geologist
* District Visits: Building a Trusting Bond with Your
Lawmakers
* New and Improved Coverage of Geoscience
Appropriations
* The Almighty Spin - How Science Is Figuring Into
Politics
* List of Key Federal Register Notices
* New Material on Web Site
*** After Blackout, All Bets Off For Energy Conference ***
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin
(R-LA) will hold oversight hearings September 3rd and 4th to determine the
cause of the massive blackout that shut down more than 100 power plants,
including 22 nuclear reactors, in the United States and Canada and knocked out
power to 50 million people over a 9,300-square-mile area stretching from New
England to Michigan. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Federal Energy
Regulatory
Commission Chairman Pat Wood, North American Electric
Reliability Council President Michehl Gent, New York Governor George Pataki and
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg have all been invited to testify. This
will kick-start a frenzied month of wrangling over energy issues.
Prior to leaving town for its August recess, the Senate
passed last year's version of the energy bill, setting the stage for a
House/Senate conference this fall. In the wake of the blackout, President Bush
called on Congress to iron out the differences between the very different House
and Senate bills and file the conference report within 20 days of returning
from the summer break, complete with revamped transmission provisions to ensure
reliability of the electricity grid. Political posturing is at its height
as northern and eastern lawmakers are pitted against southern and western
lawmakers over whether to nationalize the power grid through a network of
regional transmission organizations. The House and Senate are operating off of
bills from two different years and political climates, and Democrats will no
doubt seek to make political hay because the blackout occurred on the
Republican watch.
To understand the differences between the House and Senate
energy bills, please see AGI's special web update http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/energy_senatefinal.html
and take a look at the comparison chart at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/energy_bill_comparison.html
. For the most up-to-date information on the oversight hearings to determine
the cause of the blackout, see http://energycommerce.house.gov/
.
*** Scientific Literacy for Today's Students, Tomorrow's
Workforce ***
The Department of Education Math/Science Partnership (MSP)
program is the sole source of dedicated funding for each state to improve K-12
math and science education. As a member of the K-12 Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics Education Coalition, AGI co-signed letters this
month urging the chairmen of the committees that will fund the DoEd to maintain
the 50% increase that MSP received in the House version of the legislation. The
program received level funding in the Senate bill. AGI also sent out an action
alert asking geoscientists to get in touch with their Representatives urging
them to sign on to a "Dear Colleague" letter being circulated by a trio
of House members supporting increased funding for the MSP program. The letter
will be sent during the first week of September to the members of the House
Appropriations subcommittee that funds the DoEd. Geoscientists were asked to
contact their representative by Labor Day to recommend that they join the
Ehlers-Holt-Biggert letter. Additional information and the text of the
"Dear Colleague" letter can be found at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/education_alert0803.html
.
Continuing the push for science education dollars, AGI has
partnered with several other groups to send a letter to Senator Bond, Chairman
of the committee that funds the National Science Foundation (NSF). This
committee will begin their work on the VA/HUD appropriations bill in
September. A Math/Science Partnership (MSP) program also exists within
NSF. The funds are doled out on a competitive grant basis to bring
together teachers and administrators in K-12 schools with mathematics, science
and engineering faculty in colleges and universities and other K-12 education
stakeholders to improve student achievement in math and science. Over 20
partnerships were created in the first year of the program, yet many are
waiting in the wings for funding. The letter asks Senator Bond to support
the budget request of $200 million for the NSF MSP, the authorized amounts of
$20 million for the Noyce Scholarship Program which provides incentives for science
majors to pursue a teaching career, and $30 million for the Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion
Program (STEP) for innovative higher education programs. Information on how
these programs are faring in the appropriations process can be found at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/appropsfy2004_vahud.html
and
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/appropsfy2004_labor.html
.
*** National Academies Panel Briefed on Climate Change
Science Plan ***
As reported last month, the Bush administration released a
strategic plan for its Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) in late July. The
plan outlines research objectives for the next decade in a reorganized program that
brings together thirteen federal agencies. The central vision outlined in
the strategic plan calls for research to reduce uncertainties in decision-making.
On August 25th, a National Academy of Science committee held an open meeting in
Washington to discuss revisions to the CCSP strategic plan. Richard Moss,
Director of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and Ghassem Asrar, head of
the Office of Earth Science at NASA, explained the administration's approach to
revising the document in response to the committee's February evaluation of the
initial draft plan. They asserted that the revised strategic plan
incorporates major changes to its vision, information needs, decision-making
support, and program management sections, and adds a new chapter on modeling
science. Committee members questioned the speakers on matters including agency
cooperation, research time-frame, human capital, and disconnects between
Administration policy and supporting science. Moss called the strategic plan a
"living document" that will continue to be revised. The committee is
expected to release an additional set of recommendations following the
meeting. For more details, see AGI's climate change policy page at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/climate.html.
AGI's summary of the CCSP strategic
plan is available at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/climate_ccsp.html
, and the executive summary of the plan is available at http://www.commerce.gov/opa/press/2003_Releases/July/24_ccsp_exec_summary.pdf.
*** Bush Appoints Utah Governor To Lead EPA ***
On August 11th, President Bush nominated Utah Governor
Michael O. Leavitt to be the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
administrator. The selection of the three-term Republican is widely
viewed as a demonstration of the administration's preference for a
decentralized approach to environmental issues characteristic of Western
states. Leavitt claims his success at improving air quality in the Grand
Canyon demonstrates his record as a moderate consensus-builder.
Detractors describe his policies of opening public lands in Utah to
road-building and industry as a pattern of undermining environmental
protections. A major clash over the future of environmental policy under
the EPA appears likely when Senate confirmation hearings are scheduled in the
fall. More details are available in AGI's write-up of the Leavitt
selection at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/epa_admin.html
.
*** New Clean Air Regulations Affect Older Industrial
Facilities ***
On August 26th, the Bush Administration announced final
changes to the definition of "equipment replacement" under the New
Source Review portion of the Clean Air Act. Under the new definition, thousands
of power plants, refineries, pulp and paper mills, chemical plants and other
industrial facilities will be able to make upgrades without having to install
new antipollution devices as long as the upgrade costs less than 20% of the replacement
value of the entire unit.
Utilities, which have pushed for this revision for several
years, said the change would allow them to keep their plants in good working
order. That, they say, will benefit consumers because the supply of electricity
will be more reliable. Companies also say rate hikes will be less likely as production
becomes more energy-efficient. Environmentalists contend that there will be
greater pollution as pre-1970 facilities will be able to make use of this
"routine maintenance" for years and years, extending the life of facilities
that should be shut down in favor of bringing newer, safer, more technologically
advanced plants on-line.
Opponents want the new rule thrown out, but according to a
recent report by the General Accounting Office (the investigative arm of
Congress), most of the evidence either way is anecdotal. The report is
available as an Acrobat (PDF) document at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03947.pdf
. As with many other things in our modern world, this issue too will
likely be settled in court.
*** OMB Issues Draft Guidelines for Regulatory Peer Review
***
Just before the Labor Day weekend, the White House Office of
Management and Budget released draft standards that would subject the
scientific basis for new regulations to peer review by scientists outside the
federal government. The guidelines
are part of OMB's efforts to emphasize the management side of its mission and
are the brainchild of John Graham, who heads the OMB Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs. In a press release, Graham stated:
"Peer review is an effective way to further engage the
scientific community in the regulatory process. The goal is fewer lawsuits and
a more consistent regulatory environment, which is good for consumers and
business." Although the guidelines are intended to establish
government-wide standards for peer review, Graham has stated that the
agencies likely to be most heavily affected by the new guidelines are the
Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to
the Washington Post, the guidelines include a trigger: "If a regulation
costs private firms more than $100 million a year and companies challenge the
quality of the science behind it, regulators must convene a panel of experts
from outside the agency to reevaluate the science." Critics of the
proposal argue that the mandated peer review represents an effort by the administration
to slow down the regulatory process. The guidelines and press release are
available as an Acrobat document from OMB at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/pubpress/2003-34.pdf
. Comments are due by October 28th, and the final guidelines are expected to go
into effect in February 2004.
*** Bush Administration's Science Priorities for FY 2005
Budget ***
A spokesperson for the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (OSTP) recently described the broad perspective the Administration is
seeking on federal science initiatives. In addition to assessing priority
areas, OSTP aims to improve efficiency and "optimize scientific
discovery" by considering how different programs are related and through
improved coordination between agencies. A June 5th OSTP/Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) memo on FY 2005 science funding priorities issued to heads of federal
agencies suggests five priority areas of R&D. These include: combating
terrorism, nanotechnology, networking and information technology, molecular
biology, and environment and energy. Geoscientists may be interested to
learn that "securing critical infrastructure" is one of seven research
priorities highlighted within anti-terror R&D. Within environment and
energy research, the Administration prioritizes climate change, environmental
observations, and hydrogen fuels. According to the memo, the
Administration's investments into climate change R&D
"will increase our understanding of climate change science to provide sound
climate policy decision-making." The Administration's goal for
environmental observations R&D is "to enhance capabilities to assess
and predict key environmental systems." The full text of the memo is
available as an Acrobat document at
http://www.ostp.gov/html/OSTP-OMB%20Memo.pdf
. Additional coverage at
http://www.aip.org/enews/fyi/2003/107.html
.
*** New Mexico Approves Strong Science Education Standards
***
On August 28th, the New Mexico State Board of Education
unanimously adopted science education standards that were strongly endorsed by
scientific and educational organizations. The 13-0 vote ended a campaign by
proponents of Intelligent Design creationism to insert alternate language into
the standards, weakening the treatment of evolution. The previous day, the board's
Instructional Services Committee passed the standards by a 4-2 vote. Numerous organizations sent letters to the
board urging support of the draft standards, including the American Institute
of Physics, the National Science Teachers Association and the American
Geological Institute. Scientists in New Mexico played an active role in
developing and then defending the new standards. The final draft, which went
out for public comment in July, endorses biological evolution as a pillar of
scientific knowledge. Once instituted, the standards will guide science
teachers in public schools statewide by creating annual performance
requirements for students as they graduate from kindergarten all the way
through high school.
For commentary on the spate of anti-evolution flare-ups
around the country this summer, please see "Opposition to Evolution Takes
Many Forms" in the September issue of Geotimes, online at
http://www.geotimes.org/sept03/scene.html
. Additional information sources include http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/evolution.html
and http://www.ncseweb.org .
*** Denver Mayor is Former Exploration Geologist ***
The new mayor of Denver is not your typical politician. The
former exploration geologist turned brew-pub entrepreneur was sworn into office
on July 21st, two months after winning his first attempt at elected office. When he was laid off from his
oil-company job in the mid-1980s, John
Hickenlooper used his severance pay to renovate a historic
building in the downtown warehouse district, opening the Wynkoop Brewing
Company and sparking revitalization of the area now known as Lower Downtown. In
the August issue of Geotimes, AGI congressional science fellow Larry Kennedy writes
about the path his old friend (they met as geology students at Wesleyan
University in the 1970s) took to City Hall. See Larry's article at http://www.geotimes.org/aug03/scene.html
.
*** District Visits: Building a Trusting Bond with Your
Lawmakers ***
With the tough economy and war on terrorism at home and
abroad, federal science agencies are fighting proposals for tight funding next
year. In August, the geoscience community was encouraged to make a strong
case to Congress on the value of these programs. Building on the success
of this spring's 8th Annual Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits
Day
(CVD), which brought scientists and engineers to Capitol
Hill to visit Members of Congress and their staff right at the start of the
congressional budget cycle, an AGI alert asked geoscientists to schedule an
appointment with their Representative or Senator in the local office to voice
support
for increased federal investment in science and technology.
Participants in the August District Visit Days carried forward a core message
that broad federal funding for research promotes the nation's security,
prosperity, and the innovation of new ideas. In addition, participants could
advance their own messages about programs that they see as valuable examples of
the federal science and technology enterprise emphasizing, for example, the value
of the geosciences to society. More information about CVD is available at http://www.aas.org/cvd/. The site
contains a downloadable packet of briefing materials updated to demonstrate the
need for sustained federal investment in scientific research.
*** New and Improved Coverage of Geoscience Appropriations ***
While Congress was taking its ease in August, here at AGI we
took the opportunity to enhance our coverage of the fiscal year (FY) 2004 appropriations
process, which will resume with a vengeance in September. Information on all the
geoscience-related appropriations bills can be accessed through the overview
page at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/appropsfy2004.html
. Updates for each bill include details on funding levels set by House and
Senate appropriators for key geoscience programs. We even threw in easy-to-read
budget tables and a new color version of the budget process timeline (suitable
for framing) at no additional cost! Please let us know how these new
pages are working for you or if there are other changes we could incorporate to
meet your needs (govt@agiweb.org).
*** The Almighty Spin -- How Science Is Figuring Into
Politics ***
Election 2004 is still nearly 15 months away, but both sides
are already staking out their positions for a contentious fight. And nowhere is
the fight shaping up to be more contentious than on environmental issues. As
the campaign heats up, the attacks on environmental platforms and voting
records will become more pointed and brazen with each side touting their
successes and adroitly defending themselves from critics. Candidate web
sites already in place, and others that will spring up in the coming months,
can serve as an interesting barometer of how science is figuring into the
current political landscape.
At the end of August, President Bush unveiled his
re-election campaign web site (http://www.georgewbush.com).
The site details his stance on a range of issues including the
environment. The Environment In-Depth section features an issue brief
that high-lights hydrogen fuel, the Clear Skies Initiative, brownfields
cleanup, diesel regulations and "common-sense approaches to improving the
environment while protecting the quality of American life." Since the president was touting his
Healthy Forests Initiative in late August, there was also a plethora of
information about his visits out west promoting the thinning of forests so
wildfires do not burn as often or as hot. Each candidate in the Democratic
primary -- nine at present -- has a web site (listing at http://www.democrats.org/whitehouse/)
and each has placed environmental issues in the core of their agenda. Like the
president, these candidates emphasize their support for sound science underpinning
environmental decisions.
The strongest political broadside on this topic can be found
not on a campaign web site but from within Congress. Earlier this year, House Government
Reform Committee Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-CA) asked the committee's
Democratic staff to assess the treatment of science and scientists by the Bush
Administration. Their highly critical findings have been compiled in a newly
released report, "Politics and Science in the Bush Administration,"
heavily focused on environmental and health-related issues. The report is on the committee's web
site at
http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience
.
*** List of Key Federal Register Notices ***
Below is a summary of Federal Register announcements
regarding federal regulations, agency meetings, and other notices of interest
to the geoscience community. Entries are listed in chronological order and show
the federal agency involved, the title, and the citation. The Federal Register is
available online at www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont03.html. Information on submitting comments and
reading announcements are also available online at www.regulation.gov.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Request for
Applications for fiscal year 2003 investigator initiated grants. Volume 68,
Number 150 (5 August 2003): p. 46185.
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Open
meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology on
September 9, 2003. Volume 60, Number 166 (27 August 2003): p.
51577-51578
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Request for
information regarding National Science and Technology Council/Committee on Science/Subcommittee
on Research Business Models by September 22, 2003. Volume 68, Number 151 (6 August 2003): p. 46631-46632.
Minerals Management Service (MMS). Request for Comments
concerning Offshore Minerals Management Program's e-Government Initiative,
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Connect Initiative. Volume 68, Number 151 (6
August 2003): p. 46656-46659.
Geological Survey (USGS). Request for Public Comments on
Information Collection To Be Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget
for Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Volume 68, Number 153 (8 August
2003): p. 47361-47362.
Department of Energy (DOE). Notice of Availability of Draft
Strategic Plan and request for comment by September 11, 2003. Volume 68, Number
155 (12 August 2003): p. 47917.
National Science Foundation (NSF). Notice of Permit
Applications Received under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, Pub. L.
95-541. Volume 68, Number 156 (13 August 2003): p. 48417-48418.
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. Board will meet to
discuss U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) work related to the natural features of
a spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste repository proposed for
Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Volume 68, Number 157 (14 August 2003): p.
48648-48649.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Notice of Public
Meeting of National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for
Hazardous Substances on September 16-18, 2003, in Washington, DC. Volume 68,
Number 161 (20 August 2003): p. 50135.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Notice of
acceptability/Notice 18 for Significant New Alternatives Policy Program
concerning Protection of Stratospheric Ozone. Volume 68, Number 162 (21 August
2003): p. 50533-50540.
Minerals Management Service (MMS). Final Notice of Sale
(NOS) 186, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Volume 68,
Number 162 (21 August 2003): p. 50549-50552.
*** New Material on Web Site ***
The following updates and reports were added to the
Government Affairs portion of AGI's web site http://www.agiweb.org/gap
since the last monthly update:
* Geotimes Political Scene: Opposition to Evolution Takes
Many Forms (9/03)
* State Challenges to the Teaching of Evolution (8-29-03)
* Action Alert: Representatives Needed to Support Math and
Science
Partnerships (8-20-03)
* Overview of Fiscal Year 2004 Geoscience Appropriations
(8-20-03)
* Water Resources Hearings (8-18-03)
* Climate Change Science Program Strategic Plan (8-18-03)
* President Nominates Utah Governor Leavitt for EPA
Administrator (8-18-03)
* Clean Air Issues: New Source Review (8-18-03)
* High-level Nuclear Waste Legislation (8-18-03)
* Energy Policy Overview (8-14-03)
* FY2004 Agriculture Appropriations (8-11-03)
* FY2004 Interior (USGS, DOE Fossil Energy) Appropriations
(8-11-03)
* FY2004 VA/HUD (NSF, NASA, EPA)
Appropriations (8-11-03)
* FY2004 Energy and Water (DOE) Appropriations (8-8-03)
* FY2004 Commerce (NOAA) Appropriations (8-7-03)
* FY2004 Labor/HHS (Education) Appropriations (8-7-03)
* Action Alert: Help Support the Geosciences Without Leaving
Home (8-4-03)
* Special Web Update: Senate Approves Last Year's Energy
Bill (8-4-03)
* Geotimes Political Scene: A Geological Path to City Hall
(by AGI 2002-2003
Congressional Science Fellow Larry Kennedy; 8/03)
Monthly review prepared by Emily Lehr, AGI/AIPG Geoscience
Policy Intern Brett
Beaulieu, and David Applegate.
Sources: American Institute of Physics, Climate Change
Science Program Strategic Plan; Federal Register; George W. Bush re-election
campaign; Greenwire; House Committee on Energy and Commerce; House Committee on
Government Reform minority staff, Math/Science Partnership Working Group; National
Academy of Science; National Center for Science Education; Santa Fe New-Mexican;
Science-Engineering- Technology Work Group; Washington Post; White House Office
of Management and Budget; White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
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3) ÒWHERE
ARE THE WOMEN GEOSCIENCE PROFESSORS?Ó WORKSHOP
SEPTEMBER 26 AND 27, 2003
AWG's ADVANCE (-NSF) Workshop: "Where are the Women
Geoscience Professors?Ó will be held on September 25-27th in Washington,
DC. Topics include data on where we stand in academia, career paths/options,
"pipeline" leakage and recruitment. Funds are available for transportation and hotel stay in the
State Plaza Hotel. For more
information and to register: http://www.awg.org/gender-workshop03/.
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4) ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2003 ANNUAL GREAT LAKES
SECTION-SEPM FIELD
CONFERENCE
Pennsylvanian Sharon Formation, Past and Present:
Sedimentology, Hydrogeology, Historical and Environmental Significance
Field Trip Leaders: Annabelle Foos, University of Akron; Neil Wells, Kent
State University; Jim Evans, Bowling Green State University, with contributions
from Joe Hannibal, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Location: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Date: September 26-28
Geologic Overview: The Sharon Conglomerate is the basal member of the
Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation. We will discuss the alluvial architecture
and regional setting of this braided stream paleovalley complex. Classic
exposures of the Sharon Conglomerate at the Gorge in Cuyahoga Falls and Ritchie
Ledges in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park will be visited. Three-dimensional
exposures of the Sharon at Ritchie Ledges will allow us to take a detailed look
at the sedimentary structures, including spectacular, recumbently-overturned,
crossbeds and huge, pebble-filled scours.
We will have a unique glimpse into the Sharon Aquifer where
it has been recently dissected by downcutting of the Cuyahoga River at the
Cuyahoga Falls Gorge. The chemistry of natural springs and seeps at the Gorge
has yielded information about the heterogeneous flow through this unit.
Early settlers built dams and associated mills where the
rivers flowed over resistant layers such as the Sharon Sandstone. We will visit
two of these dams and discuss the controversy over their removal. We will also
visit a dam failure site in Chagrin Falls where the village is remediating the
site as a riparian wetlands.
Logistics: Additional details will be posted on the Great lakes SEPM
web site as they become available. http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/gls-sepm/
Cost: The meeting registration fee is $40 for professionals and $30.00 for
students and K-12 educators. Registration includes the fieldtrip guidebook,
Saturday lunch and evening barbecue.
To request further information contact:
Annabelle Foos
Geology Department
University of Akron
Akron Ohio 44325-4101
Phone 330-972-7991
Fax: 330972-7611
afoos@uakron.edu
* Cosponsored by NOGS (Northern Ohio Geological Society) and
NAGT (National Association of Geoscience Teachers)
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5) 13TH
CCWEST CONFERENCE: CALL FOR PAPERS
CCWEST 2004 Conference
A National
Conference for the Advancement of Women
in Engineering, Science and Technology
June 10-14, 2004
Brock University
St. Catharines, Ontario
FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT
Call for papers
Proposals are invited from the delegates for oral
presentations, workshops and posters dealing with the conference theme of
ÒLetÕs Get GrowingÓ. Submissions may include issues such as education, work
life balance, professional development and examples of community involvement.
Contributors will be selected by the program committee and notified by January
2, 2004.
Deadline for all Abstract Submissions: December 15,
2003
Oral Presentations
An abstract, of no more than 300 words, that describes the main points and
conclusions of the presentation must be submitted by December 15, 2003.
Posters
All posters will be displayed in a common area during the conference. The size
of each poster is to be 46"x46". The main poster headings are a
Title, Authors, Abstract, Introduction, Main Body and Conclusion. An abstract,
of no more than 300 words, that describes the main points and conclusions of
the poster must be submitted by December 15, 2003.
Workshops
One and a half hours will be scheduled for each workshop. An abstract, of no
more than 500 words, that clearly outlines the summary of the objectives,
format, content, and how the planned workshop meets the conference theme must
be submitted by December 15, 2003.
At registration, delegates will receive a conference package
containing a CD with all author-prepared papers, workshop materials and poster
abstracts. Authors that are selected for the oral presentations and workshops
will be required to submit author-prepared papers by March 15, 2004.
For more information visit the conference website at http://www.brocku.ca/fms/ccwest2004.
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6) PRETEND
MOVES AND THE DYNAMIC EARTH
Janet Wert Crampton and her husband are undertaking a
Òpretend moveÓ in an effort to clear their Maryland home of 30 years of
accumulated household possessions and scientific literature. HereÕs what she has to say:
Pretend Moves are great. All my husbandÕs mathematics
journals have gone to a Native American college in Albuquerque. All his Army
uniforms went to the famous Barter Theatre, in Abingdon, Virginia. Amvets took our
gasoline-powered lawnmower; I have planted ground cover, ferns, hostas and
other perennials, so we have no grass. My glass, china, linens, old tools and
other items from my motherÕs side have gone to the new Lawrence County
Historical Museum in Bedford, Indiana, where Mother grew up.
Eight boxes of Scientific American have already gone to the
Publication Pipeline of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, to be
shipped on oil-company ships to educational institutions in Africa or Asia.
(See ÒUncertain Fate of a GeologistÕs Library,Ó GSA Today, June 2002, p. 48,
and Geotimes of a month or so later.)
I have packed Scientific Americans up to the mid 1980s and
have looked again at the September 1983 issue, The Dynamic Earth. I see now
that here was the Earth science research agenda for the next 20 years, the work
weÕve all been doing, or watching.
The Dynamic Earth authors tell good stories. Seniors in
geology and grad students should have this issue added to their reading list.
WonÕt librarians be surprised by requests for a 20-year-old magazine! If itÕs still
in your home archives, read it again.
The articles:
The Dynamic Earth, Raymond Siever
The EarthÕs Core, Raymond Jeanloz
The EarthÕs Mantle, D.P. McKenzie
The Oceanic Crust, Jean Francheteau
The Continental Crust, B. Clark Burchfiel
The Ocean, Wallace S. Broecker
The Atmosphere, Andrew P. Ingersoll
The Biosphere, Preston Cloud
Enjoy.
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7) POSITION
OPENINGS
Northern Illinois University
Earth Science Education
The Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences anticipates filling a
tenure-track position in earth science teacher education to begin in August
2004. A teaching certificate and teaching experience at the 6-12 grade
level are highly desirable, although not required. A Ph.D. in the
geosciences is required at the time of appointment, and evidence of scholarship
in an area of the geosciences will be expected. Appointment will be at
the assistant professor level, or at the associate professor level for a
candidate with established external funding and appropriate experience.
In addition to scholarship, primary responsibilities will include administering
the earth science education program to prepare secondary earth science
teachers. NIU has a teacher preparation structure that places full
responsibility for the program with the department. Therefore,
responsibilities might include teaching science education classes, coordinating
clinicals, supervising student teachers, etc. Some of these activities
are shared with other science departments, and the candidate will be expected
to coordinate with faculty in these departments. The successful applicant
will be expected to establish and maintain a vigorous externally-funded
research program in science education and/or other areas of the geosciences,
supervise graduate students, and have a commitment to excellence in teaching at
both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Research expertise that
integrates with one or more of our existing program strengths in
biogeochemistry, environmental geochemistry/geophysics, hydrogeology, global
change, volcanology, experimental mineralogy, structure/geodynamics,
paleontology, or Antarctic geoscience would be welcomed but is not required.
The department offers programs leading to the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees,
and currently has 14 faculty members, whose research and teaching interests are
described on our web-site at http://jove.geol.niu.edu. Applicants must
submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and statement of teaching and
research interests. Applicants must also have at least three letters of
reference sent by the deadline to: Dr. Mark Fischer, Search Committee Chair,
Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, Northern Illinois
University, DeKalb, IL 60115. For consideration, all application
materials must be received by October 15, 2003. Women and minorities are
especially encouraged to apply. NIU is an equal employment
opportunity/affirmative action institution.
*****************************
QueenÕs University
Canada Research Chair
Queen's University invites applications for a tenure-track
Canada Research Chair (CRC - Tier II) related to water quality and
sustainability of ecosystems or human health. Applicants should have
training and at least four years of post-doctoral experience in related
disciplines (such as, but not limited to: aquatic ecology; microbiology;
environmental toxicology and chemistry; pharmacology and toxicology; water
treatment engineering) and a strong record of interdisciplinary collaborations
in areas of research funded by Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council (NSERC). The successful candidate will be appointed
jointly to the School of Environmental Studies and to a department related to
the primary discipline.
Queen's University is committed to employment equity and welcomes applications
from all qualified women and men, including visible minorities, aboriginal
people, persons with disabilities, and persons of a diversity of sexual
orientation. CRCs are open to individuals of any nationality and all
qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. However, Canadian Citizens
and Permanent Residents will be given priority. In accordance with
Queen's guidelines for assigning CRCs, applications from qualified women are
particularly encouraged. Academic staff at Queen's University are
governed by a collective agreement between Queen's and the Queen's University
Faculty Association (http://www.queensu.ca/qufa/).
Curriculum vitae, statements of current and prospective research interests, and
teaching experience or potential, and supporting letters from at least three
referees should be sent to Dr. P.V. Hodson, School of Environmental Studies,
Queen's University, Kingston, ON Canada, K7L 3N6, by September 30,
2003. More information can be found at http://www.queensu.ca/envst/.
*****************************
Department of Geological Sciences
College of Natural Science and Mathematics
California State University, Fullerton
Hydrogeochemist/Hydrologist
Tenure Track
The Department of Geological Sciences invites applications for a tenure-track
position starting August 2004. The Department has 11 full-time faculty with
expertise in physical hydrogeology, geomorphology, paleoclimatology,
seismology, engineering geology, tectonics and petrology. We have about 50
undergraduate majors and 25 MS students. The nearby geological provinces
provide abundant opportunities for field-based research, which the department
emphasizes in its curriculum. The Department operates summer hydrogeology field
camps at Mammoth Lakes and Orange County, CA. See http://geology.fullerton.edu/
for additional information.
Position
Teaching responsibilities may include, but not be limited to, undergraduate and
graduate courses in hydrogeochemistry, contaminant fate and transport,
hydrogeology, aqueous geochemistry, field hydrogeology/hydrology, and physical
geology. Research activities must result in publications in refereed journals.
Supervision of both undergraduate and graduate student research projects is
required.
Qualifications
The successful applicant will have the following credentials and capabilities:
á A Ph.D. in Geology or a related discipline at the time of appointment
á A primary interest in achieving excellence in teaching
á A vigorous, field-based research program in hydrogeochemistry that would
involve undergraduate and graduate students.
á An ability to interact with faculty in physical hydrology, geomorphology,
paleoclimatology and stable isotope geochemistry would be considered favorably.
Rank and Salary
This position will be filled at the rank of Assistant Professor; salary is
competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. An excellent
comprehensive benefits package is available.
Appointment Date
August 19, 2004
Application Procedure
To apply, please send 1) a detailed curriculum vita, 2) a letter of application
that explains how you meet the qualifications outlined above, 3) a statement
about teaching that includes a discussion of relevant course work and/or
experience in preparation for teaching, a list of courses you would feel
comfortable teaching, and a statement of your teaching philosophy, 4) a
statement of your future research plans and goals, and 5) letters of
recommendation from at least three references familiar with your teaching and
research potential. Referees should send their letters to:
Dr Diane Clemens-Knott, Search Committee Chairwoman
Department of Geological Sciences
California State University
PO Box 6850
Fullerton, California 92834-6850
Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To assure
full consideration, submit applications by November 19, 2003.
Cal State Fullerton is an Equal Opportunity/Title IX/503/504/VEVRA/ADA
Employer.
*****************************
Rice University
Department of Earth Science
Biogeochemistry/Aqueous
Geochemistry Faculty Position
The Earth Science Department anticipates filling one new tenure line position
in the general field of low temperature geochemistry. We are particularly
interested in hiring an earth scientist who uses chemistry or microbiology to
solve a broad range of earth systems processes such as mineral
precipitation/dissolution, soil formation, gas production/consumption, metal
transport, environmental remediation, and life in extreme environments.
Successful candidates are expected to establish forefront research programs,
supervise graduate research, and to teach courses for both undergraduate and
graduate students. We are especially interested in individuals who would
bring to our department opportunities for collaboration while allowing us to
expand into new and emerging fields of research. Rice University is a
private university whose administration and faculty are dedicated to
outstanding research and education at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Applications at all academic levels will be considered; those received by
December 1, 2003 are assured of receiving fullest attention.
Please send a resume and names of four or more references to:
Search Committee Chair,
Department of Earth Science, MS-126,
Rice University, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892
Information about the department can be found at http://earthscience.rice.edu/
Rice is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer.
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8) CONTACT
INFORMATION
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