Volume 51, Number 3 The Professional Geologist Jul/Aug/Sept 2014
TPG Volume 51, Number 3 The Professional Geologist Jul/Aug/Sep 2014 Inside This Issue
FEATURES The Next Generation of Geoscientists Starting Young! Jan Mazgaj, CPG-7019 4 AIPG National Officers Election Results 5 AIPG/AHS National Conference Sponsors 5 2014 AIPG Student Scholarship Winner Essays 6 22 AGI/AIPG Summer Interns Learning the Ropes Abigail Seadler 13 The Ocean Floor: A New Rare Earth Element Frontier Ryan Phillip, SA-5283 17 Coal, Just Not for Burning Michael D. Campbell, CPG-3330, M. David Campbell, Jeffrey D. King and Henry M. Wise, CPG-7691 21
Interpreting Geology in an Art Museum G.H. Edwards, CPG-2570 and A.F. Martin 39
PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE Participating in Undergraduate Geoscience Research Builds Skills that Employers Value Dr. Uwe Richard Kackstaetter, MEM-2437, Barbara EchoHawk, 35 Claire M. Hay, and Stella W. Todd 47
Cover Photo: Soft sediment deformation features within the Upper Browns Park formation, south-central Wyoming. Photo by Mark Zellman, CPG-11582.
35 Coal, Just Not for Burning
Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., CPG-3330 M. David Campbell, P.G. Jeffrey D. King, P.G. Henry M. Wise, P.G., CPG-7691
This is the rest of the story. As indus- material from plants and animals that leum used currently to manufacture try has begun to pull carbon dioxide lived millions of years ago. This mate- most of the wood-based and plastic- out of the atmosphere and store it in rial has been metamorphosed into rock based products, such as furniture, utility underground reservoirs, we also have or densely packed sediment by heat and poles, building construction materials, the option to not burn the coal of fossil- pressure from being buried thousands and a host of other products. Carbon- ized dead forests. Alternative sources of of feet below the surface. Coal forms rich natural resources no longer need energy to generate electricity are avail- in stages, starting with organic mud, to be burned for the purpose of gener- able. We also have the option to prevent progressing through metamorphism suc- ating electricity but can be used as a the destruction of the living forests (and cessively (given sufficient heat and over- feedstock to formulate carbon fiber and their associated ecosystems) that pro- lying pressure) to lignite, bituminous carbon nanotubes and cages (microscopic duce much of the oxygen that humans coals, and ultimately anthracite coal structures of graphene that we’ll define and other organisms need to exist. The (the metamorphic version of carbon). later) that are already used in reinforced carbon in coal can also be used to make Graphite forms as a result of organic plastics, heat-resistant composites, cell- other common “clean” products. Coal material or limestone undergoing even phone components, batteries, fishing may then become “clean coal” after all greater heat and pressure at depth over rods, golf club shafts, bicycle frames, and not just an oxymoron with visions of an even longer period of time. sports car bodies, the fuselage of the becoming germane economically. In discussions with an associate a few Boeing 787 Dreamliner, pool cue sticks China, Australia, Russia, India, the months ago (James L. Conca, Ph.D.), and to reinforce concrete and gray cast Asia Pacific region, and the United as we were finishing a report on our iron and many other products. This also States have large coal resources, but investigations of using nuclear systems includes carbon rods used as a neutron they are currently committed for burn- to generate electricity to power the 2nd moderator in nuclear reactors to control ing to generate electricity, putting huge space race that has just begun 4, 5, page 182, the rate of fission. quantities of particulates, carbon diox- we realized the importance of carbon- Carbon is also used in components ide, carbon monoxide, mercury and other based materials that were on the verge for heating nuclear fuel and in the cool- contaminants into the atmosphere (see of replacing many products made of less down process, and can absorb heat up to Figure 1). sturdy materials, especially those appli- 3,000 degrees C without any significant cations requiring materials that provide deterioration.22 Refractory crucibles superior strength and protection from for high-temperature are also made of radiation. These materials have appli- graphite as well as in the manufacture cations in products on Earth as well. 7 of electrodes for many industrial appli- A shift in the paradigm is afoot it cations, e.g., the aluminum and steel seems. Carbon derived from coal is smelting industries. becoming more important than wood Chairs and other furniture could be and petroleum products as feedstock to made from reformulated coal that could make common products that society uses seat an elephant, last a hundred years, every day. and be of any form and shape conceived Carbon formulations can replace of by the designer. Figure 1. A Coal-Fired Power Plant. wood, some metals, and some plastics, Using high-carbon materials formu- the latter once considered to be “the lated for building materials would also future” by a family friend providing minimize building fires and damage by The United Nations has formalized advice in the movie The Graduate. The high winds, and even replace gypsum bold opposition to burning coal in a new material of the future comes from wallboard to improve energy conserva- recent press release,10 but the Asia coal and other carbon-rich materials tion within homes and interior strength Pacific region is largely dependent at such as graphite. One word, carbon, of materials. present on coal, rather than wind and will carry many present graduates to a Even as we move off-world in the com- solar resources, and even these currently rewarding future but plastics will still ing decades, carbon products of high den- 25 have serious drawbacks. be needed as well. sity and strength will likely become more Coal in its most common natural form We discovered the merit of using useful in exploration activities to protect is composed primarily of carbon consist- carbon products to replace the need to human habitation and electronics from ing of decomposed and fossilized organic harvest trees and to produce the petro- radiation and from various types of www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 21 Coal, just not for burning inherent stresses in orbit or encountered Graphite is composed of thousands of strains, bulges or wrinkles as seen in in building structures on or under the layers of graphene. It is used in pencil transmission electron micrographs of surface of the Moon, asteroids, and even “leads” (the lead’s hardness is adjusted graphene nanoplatelets consisting of Mars.8 Some form of carbon material will by altering the associated clay content). only a few layered graphene sheets. also be needed to make the 28,000 miles One can split the microscopic layers of These structures impart different prop- of carbon-fiber belts required in building graphene in graphite by marking with erties to materials that can enhance the first space elevator, see Figure 2. 5, a pencil on paper and applying Scotch page 201 Tape over the mark and then pulling off the tape. You will see a graphene layer showing on the tape and on the paper.23 For scale, there are still thousands of lay- ers of graphene below those one can see. There are other forms of carbon, but these are not commonly available on Earth. These forms include Buckminster fullerene and several cage and tubular varieties that can be made artificially and offer promise for future applica- Figure 2. Artist’s Conception of the Space tions.9 Meteorites also contain graphene Figure 4. Chicken Wire Pattern with 15 Elevator Hoagland. in the form of “buckyballs”, and lunar Variations in the Grid. soils consisting of meteorite impact dust will likely also contain large amounts of The production of carbon for use in graphene (and carbyne to be discussed performance in composites, batteries, consumer products would likely main- later), in addition to helium-3. 5, page 182 electronics, and many other products tain or increase employment in the cur- It is clear that these carbon materi- (see Figure 4). rent coal and graphite industry and in als are becoming increasingly impor- Graphene is an incredible submicro- the associated new carbon-based indus- tant natural resources and are useful scopic material, and is: tries that formulate and manufacture resources driving the expansion of a • the strongest material in nature new carbon products. new carbon-based industry, not only in (200 times stronger than steel by Underground mining of coal could be the nuclear industry but in many other weight), put off until it could be accomplished by industries as well.26 • able to be mixed with other materi- robotic miners without the need for the Graphene appears at the atomic-scale als like plastics and cements, continuous presence of humans under- like chicken wire made of carbon atoms • highly flexible, ground in typically methane-rich and and their covalent bonds (see Figure • the thinnest useable material in the therefore potentially explosive environ- 3). Most importantly, graphene is the world (100,000,000 stacked sheets is ments. strongest material widely available in less than an inch), 1 It is apparent that coal and associ- nature. • a better heat and electricity conduc- ated carbon-rich natural resources tor than copper, such as lignite can be converted to • a material that can replace silicon high-grade carbon through indus- in semi-conductors, trial heat and pressure, producing material similar to the naturally • a material that revolutionizes solar- occurring anthracite coal and power collection, and graphite.18, 24, and 33 Graphite is a • a material that dramatically natural mineral that consists of improves the performance of lithi- carbon that forms only two bonds um-ion batteries. with other carbon atoms. This The race is now on to commercialize means it has free electrons, and for graphene as an integral part of the nano- that reason it is a good conductor of technology industry. China is leading electricity as well as a strong mate- the race at present. American companies rial. In addition, graphite exists have entered the race as well, especially in layers. This enables one layer since there are substantial security to slip over another layer, making implications and increasingly important Figure 3. The regular framework structure of carbon 11 graphite an excellent lubricant. atoms in graphene sheets. (TEM images). Image applications of graphene. Its ultra-thin Also, since there are free electrons credits - NIST (National Institute of Standards and structure allows for sheets of the mate- to absorb light, graphite is black. Technology) and Cabot Corporation.3 rial to be stacked to increase energy Blocks of formulated, fine- storage and possibly double the current grained carbon (like carbon black capacity of the new ultracapacitors.12 used in copying machines) could also be The regular framework structure of A graphene-based core additive has used in new 3-D printing that has been stacked graphene sheets show patterns been developed for various types of developed recently to make all manner upon larger periodic Moiré patterns (see high-energy density lithium-ion battery of large and small products out of carbon Figure 3). Discontinuities and defects in applications. This is a new technology materials. the stacked sheets can produce subtle platform that helps lithium-ion battery
22 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org Coal, just not for burning manufacturers achieve superior perfor- bonds or consecutive double bonds, is Not only are many products derived mance.3 actually twice as strong as graphene, from reformulated coal useful in the Graphene-based products are in and exhibits unusual characteristics world today, but by moving away from development and are actively being that make it appealing for a wide range burning coal, the transitioning to addi- studied in Europe, but Asia and the of uses.17 and 20 However, carbyne has also tional nuclear power systems in the form U.S. are currently leading when it comes been detected in inter-stellar dust and of either large-scale plants or in the form to patent publications - even though it meteorites, likely the result of the high of small modular reactors that will soon was pioneered in Britain.9 Universities, temperatures and pressures experienced be coming down the road on a trailer corporations (IBM and others) and gov- in those environments, and the Rice truck or rail-road car, will finally come ernments in Asia, Europe and North study indicates synthesizing it here on into their own, driven by the merits of America are leading the effort. Industry Earth has proven to be difficult. It may be their economy and outstanding safety and Wall Street are beginning to gear in more abundance on the lunar surface record (see Figure 5). up for a new materials future (Example: and on passing asteroids. Sampling will Cabot Corporation,2 and others 1 and 21). tell us when we visit those sites some- In another university-industrial time this decade. effort, a successful demonstration of a New technology being developed from new direct carbon fuel cell design was old resources (i.e. coal and graphite) is carried out recently at the University paving the way in some unexpected direc- of Queensland and by Direct Energy tions.10 They will likely be important to in Australia.31 The demonstration indi- industry for years to come in produc- cated the apparent commercial integrity ing new building materials, developing and viability of the unit, together with new nanotechnology for the electronics its scalability. The carbon fuel cells oper- industry, or in the field of medicine. The ate through a simple electrochemical possible uses are vast. Flat screen TVs Figure 5. A Nuclear Power Plant with Water- reaction without excessive fumes and as thin as Saran Wrap... nanotechnol- Cooling Towers and the Beginning of the without combustion. ogy devices that would put the power of Electrical Grid in the Area. The University researchers have a supercomputers in the palm of your refined the extrusion and manufacture hand... and very small brain implants The alternative energy sources of 19 of the fuel cell tubes to commercial that may combat Alzheimer’s, as well wind and solar will continue to be tested 28 grade quality. These tube extrusions as a graphene-scale radio, to name just to determine if they can have a signifi- contain the essential anode, electrolyte a few new applications under develop- cant place in the energy picture (after and cathode materials that are the key ment today. government subsidies are removed), and component in the conversion of gasified The carbon present in refined coal tar whether they can be scaled up to meet the coal to power. A relatively small unit has been used for many years in the man- needs in other than remote areas away can replace large boilers, turbines and ufacture of industrial chemicals, such from national power grids and meet the generators – noise free, no moving parts, as creosote oil, naphthalene, phenol, operation and maintenance demands of minimal emissions and using half the and benzene. Ammonia gas recovered their moving parts. The transition from amount of coal for the same output from coke ovens is used to manufacture burning coal to other reliable energy (which means double the electrical effi- ammonia salts, nitric acid and agricul- sources (like natural gas and nuclear ciency of a traditional coal-fired power tural fertilizers. Thousands of different power) will likely be slow because indus- plant).32 This is another approach to products have coal or coal by-products as try cannot change quickly unless compa- using carbon but without combustion to common household constituents: soap, nies are placed on an emergency footing. generate electricity; the costs for such aspirins, solvents, dyes, plastics and However, a large number of coal-fired clean energy appear to be reasonable various fibers, such as rayon and nylon.27 plants are still in the planning stage for 30 after all. Coal is also an essential ingredient construction in the U.S. Such changes may not become obvious in this decade, So it is now apparent that carbon can in the production of specialist products, but they certainly will be apparent in be used to generate power and manufac- such as: the decades ahead. ture everyday products including those • Activated carbon - used in filters utilizing microscopic electronics that will for water and air purification, in So, in the big picture, coal has been 6 have a large impact on society in the kidney dialysis machines, and in used since the days of the cave man. years to come.14 and 29 But that’s not the gold and silver recovery operations Coal (in making steam) drove the indus- whole story. The strongest known mate- associated with mining, trial revolution. It is useful today, and will be more so in the foreseeable future rial in the world may have recently been • Carbon fiber (Graphene in driving a new, repurposed carbon replaced with an even stronger material. Assemblies) - an extremely strong industry, but just not for burning. Researchers from Rice University have but light weight reinforcement mate- calculated the properties of a little-stud- rial used in construction, mountain ied form of carbon known as carbyne, and bikes and tennis rackets, etc.,33 References they’ve determined that it should have a • Silicon metal – carbon is used to 1. Anon, Science Daily, “Graphene specific strength surpassing that of any produce silicones and silanes, which News”. December 13, 2013. Accessed other known material. 1 and 16 are in turn used to make lubricants, Internet on December 13, 2013 via: The new study shows that carbyne, water repellents, resins, cosmetics, http://www.sciencedaily.com/ made up of a chain of carbon atoms hair shampoos and toothpastes, etc. news/matter_energy/graphene/. linked by alternate triple and single www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 23 Coal, just not for burning 2. Cabot Corporation, 2013, “New earths-atmosphere-energy-needs- http://www.isciencetimes.com/ Product Development: Graphenes,” for-space-colonization/ articles/5919/20130820/strongest- Accessed Internet on December 13, 9. Dodson, B., 2013, Graphene: material-carbyne-property-gra- 2013. via: http://www.cabot-corp. Electronics – “New lithium/sulfur phene.htm. com/New-Product-Development/ battery doubles energy density of 17. Kastrenakes, J., 2013, “New form of Graphenes. lithium-ion,” GizMag, December carbon said to be strongest material 3. Cabot Corporation, 2013, “Cabot 1, 2013. Accessed Internet on ever found,” in The Verge August 15, Launches First Graphene-Based December 7, 2013 via: http://www. 2013. Accessed Internet on December Additive to Improve Energy Density gizmag.com/tag/graphene/. 6, 2013 via: http://www.theverge. of Lithium-Ion Batteries,” Accessed 10. Edmonds, R., 2013, “Windows com/2013/8/15/4625542/car- Internet on December 13, 2013. via: Phone Central: Nokia Embracing byne-determined-strongest-materi- http://investor.cabot-corp.com/ New ‘Miracle Material’ for Future al-ever-found phoenix.zhtml?c=94559&p=irol- Hardware Development,” Jan 28, 18. McLeod, C., 2013, “Scientists newsArticle&highlight=& 2013, Accessed Internet on December Create Graphene Quantum Dots ID=1788701. 6, 2013. via: http://www.wpcentral. from Coal, in Graphite Investing 4. Campbell, M. D., and W. A. Ambrose, com/nokia-investing-new-material- News, December 9, 2013. Accessed 2010, “Significant Uranium and future-hardware-development. Internet on December 6, 2013 via: Other Discoveries on the Moon May 11. Figueres, Christiana, 2013, http://graphiteinvestingnews. Indicate New Space Race is Afoot,” Speaking to the International Coal com/4728-scientists-create-gra- A Press Release, April 16, 2010, and Climate Summit, organized phene-quantum-dots-from-coal/. Accessed Internet on December 10, by the Polish government and the 19. Money Morning Staff, 2013, “Massive 2013 via: http://www.mdcampbell. World Coal Association, Executive Breakthrough For Graphene com/SpaceRace04172010.pdf. Secretary of the UN Framework Investors,” in Money Morning, 5. Campbell, M. D., J. D. King, H. Convention on Climate Change, Accessed Internet on December 11, M. Wise, B. Handley, J. L. Conca, Warsaw, 18 November 2013. 2013 via: http://moneymorning. and M. David Campbell, 2013, Accessed Internet on December 5, com/active-premiums/graphene- “Nuclear Power and Associated 2013 via:https://unfccc.int/files/ forecast/. Environmental Issues in the press/press_releases_advisories/ 20. Owano, N., 2013, ”Carbyne is stron- Transition of Exploration and application/pdf/pr20131811_ ger than any known material,” in the Mining on Earth to the Development cop19_coalassociation.pdf. WebLog, August 20, 2013. Accessed of Off-World Natural Resources 12. Graphite Investing News, 2013, Internet on December 10, 2013 st in the 21 century,” in Energy “Featured Stock: Grafoid Inc. – via: http://phys.org/news/2013- Resources for Human Settlement in A Global Graphene Platform,” 08-carbyne-stronger-material.html. the Solar System and Earth’s Future Accessed Internet on December 13, 21. Plimsoll Publications, 2013, “Carbon in Space: AAPG-EMD Memoir 101, 2013. via: http://graphiteinvesting- (eds) W. A. Ambrose, J. F. Reilly II, & Graphite Global - Industry Report,” news.com/2951-grafoid-graphene- Accessed Internet on December and D. C. Peters, eds., pp. 163–213. research-investment/ Accessed Internet on December 11, 6, 2013 via: http://www.report- 2013 via: http://www.i2massoci- 13. Graphene Energy, Inc., 2013, linker.com/p01908632-summary/ ates.com/downloads/Memoir101- Corporate Website, Accessed Carbon-Graphite-Global-Industry- CHAPTER09Rev.pdf Internet on December 1, 2013. via: Report.html http://www.grapheneenergy.net/ 22. Prasher, R., 2010, “Graphene 6. U. S. Department of Energy, 2014, A technology.html. Brief History of Coal Use,” Accessed Spreads the Heat,“ Science 9 April Internet on February 11, 2014 via: 14. Graphene-Info.com, 2013, 2010: Vol. 328 no. 5975 pp. 185- http://www.fe.doe.gov/education/ “Graphene-Info is the Web’s Leading 186 DOI: 10.1126/science.1188998. energylessons/coal/coal_history. Resource on Graphene Material Accessed Internet on December 7, html Technology, Accessed Internet on 2013 via: http://www.sciencemag. December 6, 2013 via: http://www. org/content/328/5975/185.short. 7. Conca, J. L., 2013, “Coal Doesn’t graphene-info.com/. Have To Die - We Can Make 23. Next Graphite, Inc., 2014, “Positive Furniture Out of It,” Accessed 15. Hoagland, R. C., 2005, “Moon Industry Outlook - Graphite Uses Internet on December 11, 2013 with a View: Or, what did Arthur Due to Increase Demand on Mining via: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ know and when did he know it? of Natural, Flake Graphite,” jamesconca/2013/07/14/coal- Part 5,” Accessed Internet on Accessed Internet on August 7, 2014 doesnt-have-to-die-we-can-make- February 7, 2014 via: http://www. via:https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/ furniture-out-of-it/. enter¬prisemission.com/moon5. news/next-graphite-inc-provides- htm positive-121000317.html 8. Conca, J. L., 2013, “Beyond Earth’s Atmosphere: Energy Needs For 16. International Science Times, 24. Updates on Graphite Exploration Space Colonization,” Accessed 2013, “Carbyne Beats Graphene and Mining:, 2013, Accessed Internet Internet on December 8, 2013 via: As World’s Strongest Material: on December15, 2013 via: http:// http://www.forbes.com/sites/ What Can The ‘Super’ Substance graphiteinvestingnews.com/ jamesconca/2013/05/05/beyond- Do For Engineering?” Accessed 25. Clemente, F., 2013, ”IEA recognizes Internet on December 9, 2013 via: reality: Coal is the path out of pov-
24 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org Coal, just not for burning erty in Southeast Asia,” November ms/2013/131206/ncomms3943/ IN MEMORY 6, 2013. Accessed Internet on full/ncomms3943.html For the December 18, 2013 via: http:// References in separate PDF: See: Dr. Ramon Edward Bisque www.energy-facts.org/ http://www.i2massociates.com/ (Ray), CPG-01595, 82, passed away in Downloads/2014AIPGRefs.pdf. Golden, Colorado on Monday, June 9, 26. New Scientist, 2013, “Graphene 2014 of natural causes. Ray lived every Search Results,” Accessed Internet moment to the fullest, up to his very on December 18, 2013 via: http:// Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., CPG- 03330, is the Executive Vice President last. Ray grew up in Iron River, a small www.newscientist.com/search?doS mining town in Michigan’s Upper earch=true&query=Graphene. and Chief Geologist /Hydrogeologist for I2M Associates, LLC, Houston and Peninsula. He went on to earn his 27. World Coal Association, 2013, “USES Seattle. undergraduate degree at St. Norbert OF COAL,“ Accessed Internet on College, and advanced degrees from December 27, 2013 via: http:// M. David Campbell, P.G. is a Project Iowa State University, where he met www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-of- Manager and Senior Geologist for I2M his wife, Marie Livingston Young. coal/. Associates, LLC, in Fort Pierce, Florida. After marrying in Algona, Iowa, Ray 28. New Scientist, 2014, “First Graphene and Marie re-located to Colorado Radio Broadcast is a Wireless Jeffrey D. King, P.G. is President and in 1959. He became a professor at Wonder,” Accessed Internet on CEO for I2M Associates, LLC in Seattle. Colorado School of Mines, an entre- February 7, 2014 via: http:// preneur, an innovator, and a writer. Henry M. Wise, P.G., CPG-07697, is www.newscientist.com/article/ Early in his career, he was the director the Remedial Services Senior Specialist mg22129553.100-first-graphene- of a curriculum project which involved for SWS Environmental Services, La radio-broadcast-is-a-wireless-won- contributors in what was arguably Porte, Texas. der.html. the most interdisciplinary gathering For more about the Authors, http:// of geoscientists ever convened in the 29. Red Orbit, 2013,”Scientists: Coal www.i2massociates.com/Downloads/ United States. Activities from his Is Better, Cheaper For Making AbouttheAuthorsFeb2014Coal.pdf. home base at the Colorado School of Graphene Quantum Dots,” Mines earned him recognition as a Accessed Internet on February 7, Fellow of the American Association 2014 via: http://www.redorbit. for the Advancement of Science, a com/news/science/1113022163/ Distinguished Lecturer, and a feted coal-graphene-quantum- Ramon E. Bisque Native Son in his home town. dots-gqd-medical-imaging- CPG-01595 Bobby Joe Timmons, CPG-02736, 120613/#Mo9pgbRO2RfJEX2z.99. Member Since 1967 83, died at his home in Jacksonville 30. Ambrose, W. A., 2013, June 9, 2014 Beach, FL, on June 7, 2014. He served “Unconventional Energy Resources: in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Buck 2013 Review,” Chapter 1: COAL – Golden, Colorado during the Korean War. A 1962 gradu- See Figure 3, Accessed Internet on ate of the University of Kentucky, February 15, 2014 via: http://www. he enjoyed a long and distinguished i2massociates.com/Downloads/ Donald C. Haney career as a geologist and geophysicist, EMD_AAPG_2013_NRR_online. CPG-04053 working in both the public and private pdf sectors and eventually establishing an 31. Direct Energy Holdings Pty Ltd., Member Since 1977 eponymous consulting business. Mr. 2014, SHAREHOLDER UPDATE June 8, 2014 Timmons was a long-time member of – February 25, Accessed Internet on Lexington, Kentucky the Forum of Geology on Industrial February 27, 2014 via: http://www. Minerals and the American Institute i2massociates.com/Downloads/ of Professional Geologists. He was DE_Shareholder_Update_2%20 honored by the AIPG for his contri- 26a.pdf . Bobby J. Timmons butions to the field of geology with the Martin Van Couvering Memorial 32. Direct Energy Holdings Pty Ltd., CPG-02736 Award. 2014, Corporate Website, Accessed Member Since 1975 Internet on February 27, 2014 via: June 7, 2014 He shared his fascination with sci- http://www.dehpl.com/. ence, particularly rocks and minerals, Jacksonville Beach, with any interested audience. He 33. Ruquan Ye, Changsheng Xiang, Jian Florida especially enjoyed interacting with Lin, Zhiwei Peng, Kewei Huang, Cub Scout groups and elementary- Zheng Yan, Nathan P. Cook, Errol school students. Having earned a L.G. Samuel, Chih-Chau Hwang, pilot’s license as a young man, he Gedeng Ruan, Gabriel Ceriotti, Frederick N. Murray loved flying and fiercely supported Abdul-Rahman O. Raji,Angel A. CPG-04755 the exploration of space. While those Martí, and James M. Tour, 2013, Member Since 1980 who knew Mr. Timmons well might “Coal as an Abundant Source of describe him as gruff, exacting, and Graphene Quantum Dots,” Accessed July 20, 2014 at times irascible, he was an old softy Internet on February 28, 2014 via: Tulsa, Oklahoma when it came to children, animals, and http://www.nature.com/ncom- waitresses. www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 25 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Answers on Page 28
Robert G. Font, CPG-03953
1. Which of these would be best described as a “pyroclastic flow”? a) Aa b) Pahoehoe c) Nuée ardente
2. We are working with a soil that has a liquid limit (LL) of 55% and a plastic limit (PL) of 20%. Classify this earth material under the “unified soil classification system”. a) CL b) CH c) MH
3. One of the worst natural disasters in recent history involving loss of life due to volcanic gas emissions occurred in Cameroon, Africa in 1986 associated with Lake Nyos. Which of the following gases was the main culprit in this tragic event?
a) CO2 b) H2S c) HCl
4. Heavy rains trigger landslides in a given area undergoing some urban development. A massive rock slab is suddenly detached and slides down a long slope (assume a frictionless slip surface) reaching a velocity of 50 feet per second in 3 seconds. What is the acceleration of the slab and how far would it move in 6 seconds? 2 a) a = 12.10 ft sec- and S6 = 503 ft -2 b) a = 16.67 ft sec and S6 = 300 ft -2 c) a = 18.76 ft sec and S6 = 240 ft d) Run for your lives! The slabs are coming!
Should I Become a CPG? Have a you been thinking about upgrading your membership to CPG? If the answer is yes, What are your waiting for? To find out if you have the qualifications go to Article 2.3.1 of the AIPG Bylaws. The AIPG Bylaws can be found on the AIPG website or the directory. The CPG application can be found on the website under ‘Membership’. Just follow the instructions. The basic paperwork includes the application, application fee, transcripts, geological experience verification and sponsors. If you have any questions, you may contact Vickie Hill, Manager of Membership Services at aipg@ aipg.org or call headquarters at 303-412-6205. www.aipg.org
26 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Communication
Raymond W. Talkington, CPG-07935 [email protected]
I am at my desk in my office and I and communication is always a critical Please come and meet the YPs and com- looked over at the monitor on my desk component to all. municate with them. We also have a new and noticed several new emails. I have Whether you are employed in indus- program to launch so be there to find out turned off the sound on my computer in try, government, or the private sector, what it is. order not to hear the email notification check how many hours of your day are Since I last spoke with you, AIPG each time a new email arrives. I scan my devoted to communication. I think you had an Executive Committee meeting in desk and there is my land line telephone will be surprised. Thornton, Colorado. I also had the privi- and next to it my cell phone. I think for Let us not forget the “old fashioned” lege to attend the European Federation a fleeting second that I can send and type of communication which is often of Geologists Meeting in Palermo, Sicily. receive emails, texts, and all other types lost these days – oral or face to face com- My Mother’s mother was born in Sicily, of electronic communications from this munication. When you are composing so it was nice to visit the home of my small device. We have “tools” that allow an email or text message who are you ancestors. What was nice is that I us to be in communication with anyone looking at? A piece of electronic equip- understood the Sicilian dialect which in the world just by pressing a few keys ment. It has no feelings. It does not make was what I remember as a child grow- on our computer or phone. weird faces at you as you speak or begins ing up. I will be heading to Georgia to Thinking back just a few years when to fall asleep. The electronic equipment make a presentation to the Student I was in the field in northern Canada is always awake and alert and ready to Chapter of the Year at Columbus State our only communication was a two way do what you want. There is no emotion. University. Thank you for all of your radio. We would have “sched checks” You are now in a meeting, your meeting, hard work and dedication! I will also with other field parties a couple times your agenda, with a group of business visit the Student Chapters at Georgia a day at pre-determined times. Why? colleagues, new client, or regulators. The State University and University of West Just to communicate to make sure that dynamic is different. Body language is Georgia. We still need 24 more student all is fine with each field party. This was important. The way you, yes you, run chapters. Let me know if you would like never more important when we had to the meeting is critical in many ways. You a visit to your Section. Let’s keep up the perform a rescue of a research party from must be on top of your game in a face to communication. the Crater de Nouveau Quebec located face meeting and expect anything and in the Ungava Peninsula. The group any question. of researchers was caught in a terrible At AIPG communication is also wind, rain, and snow storm (and every- important. All at Headquarters and the GSA has an Opening thing else Mother Nature could throw Executive Committee must be available for the Position Of at them) that blew away their camp to communicate with the thousands of Executive Director and destroyed their communications AIPG members as well as the public. directly with us. The rescue took over How do we do this? Our two major out- Would you please forward this 24 hours and required multiple helicop- lets are TPG and AIPG eNews. We also information to any of your members ter trips to rescue the 18 researchers. have a web page, send out email blasts or other individuals you believe would All of their gear was lost and it took a to members, and yes, the occasional snail be good candidates. If you would couple of weeks for them to recover from mail. I encourage you to pick up the like to apply for this position, please this storm. Although we could not com- phone and make a call to Headquarters provide the following documents: municate directly with the researchers and enjoy the welcome you receive by resume, the names, addresses, and after their antenna was destroyed in one of the staff members. Let me know e-mail addresses of three references the storm, we were able to speak with how this goes. and a letter describing your interest another field party on Hudson Bay who in the position. I look forward to seeing and com- could communicate with them through- municating with as many members The individual may send their out most of this three day storm and as possible at the Annual Meeting in information as attachments to rescue event. If it were not for the com- Prescott, Arizona. Look for some excit- [email protected]. For more munication links that were set up, the ing new activities such as the Young information please see the link rescue may not have gone as smoothly as Professionals (YP) Technical Session. provided:http://www.geosociety. it did. We all can share stories like this This is an activity AIPG is promoting org/humanres/1408ExecDirector. through both AIPG and the Foundation. htm www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 27 answers to questions on page 26 Answers: 1. The answer is choice “c” or “nuée ardente”. A nuée ardent defines a swiftly-flowing cloud of incandescent gas, volcanic ash and other pyroclastic material ejected from a volcano in an explosive eruption. The 1902 eruption of Mt. Pelée on the Caribbean island of Martinique resulted in a nuée ardente which buried the city of St. Pierre killing about 29,000 people.
“Aa” describes a lava flow that has a broken and jagged surface.
Pahoehoe defines a lava flow with a ropy, smooth, billowy surface.
2. The answer is choice “b” or “CH” (clay of high plasticity). Recall that the “plasticity index” (PI) is defined as the liquid limit minus the plastic limit. Thus, PI = LL – PL. In our case, PI = 55 – 20 = 35. Based on “Casagrande’s Plasticity Chart” (shown below), our soil plots to the right of the “B line” and above the “A line” placing it within the (CH) category. Clays of low plasticity (CL) plot above the “A line”, but to the left of the “B line”. In comparison, silts of high compressibility (MH) plot below the “A line” and to the right of the “B line”.
3. The answer is choice “a” or carbon dioxide (CO2); the main culprit in this tragedy which suffocated about 1,700 people and around 3,500 livestock!
-2 4. The answer is choice “b” or [a = 16.67 ft sec and S6 = 300 ft]. The proof follows: The key equations from physics are:
Vf – Vo = at (1) S = ½ at2 (2)
For the above, Vf = final velocity, Vo = initial velocity, a = acceleration and t = time. In our problem: -1 Vf = 50 ft sec (3) Vo = 0 (4) t = 3 sec (5) Substituting (3), (4) and (5) into (1) we obtain: -1 -2 a = (Vf – Vo) / t = [(50 – 0) ft sec ] /3 sec = 16.67 ft sec (6) Equation (6) gives us the acceleration of the slab. To solve for the distance traveled by the slab in a 6-second time frame, we plug in the “a” value in equation (6) into equation (2): 2 -2 2 S6 = ½ at = (0.5)(16.67 ft sec )(6 sec) = 300 ft (7) Equation (7) shows us the distance traveled in 6 seconds; equivalent to the length of approximately one football field. How fast can you run the 40?
28 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org answers to questions on page 26 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COLUMN Serving the Profession – Now and Into the Future
Robert A. Stewart, CPG-08337
AIPG as well as many of our peer done outstanding outreach to student that this program will be of interest and organizations have embraced programs members through scholarships, career value to students. to assist students and young profes- days, short courses, field schools, tech- There are three critical parts neces- sionals (YPs) in the geosciences. The nical sessions at national and regional sary to the program: volunteers, time, demographic problem is well known meetings of the Geological Society of and sustaining financial support. AIPG to most practitioners, as the present America (GSA), and other events. At has volunteers in abundance. One and future demand for geoscientists headquarters we are constantly assess- advantage of the bimodal age distribu- is not being met by a sufficient num- ing how and where we can effectively tion of geoscientists is that those of us ber of recent graduates to offset the represent the profession and encour- now in the – ahem – established period impending wave of retirements. The age geoscientists to join AIPG to join of our careers can easily provide the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) our mission. So far in 2014 headquar- intellectual capital deriving from long does an excellent job tracking and pub- ters staff have attended meetings with and diverse experiences. Our early- licizing this issue through its Geoscience the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and career members are well-positioned to Currents (GCs), which AIPG regularly Exploration (SME) in Salt Lake City; share their experiences with students publishes in TPG. The latest GC (No. Colorado Mining Association (CMA) and recent graduates, particularly in 90), inside the front cover of this TPG, in Denver; European Federation of the context of their practical use of the shows a circular diagram that links the Geologists (EFG) in Palermo, Sicily; amazing new technical tools with which degree fields of recent geoscience gradu- Association of American State Geologists older members may not have the same ates with the industries where those (AASG) in Lexington, Kentucky; familiarity. graduates found their first jobs after American Association of Petroleum Time off is usually an easier sell to graduation. This is an exciting depiction Geologists (AAPG) in Snowbird, Utah; employers than a request for a monetary of the diverse academic and professional Council of Engineering and Scientific contribution to a cause such as AIPG’s subdisciplines available to geoscience Society Executives (CESSE) in Spokane; YP program. We all have full lives with students and YPs. Energy Exposition in Billings, Montana; many commitments outside our profes- GC No. 90 is also the general goal of American Rock Mechanics Association sion, putting our volunteer time at a pre- professional outreach programs to stu- (ARMA) in Minneapolis, and the National mium. The YP program will be portable, dents and YPs, in which practitioners Conference of State Legislatures, with the hope that our members will use share their experiences with students, also in Minneapolis. Through the it on a local basis. Additionally, consider provide suggestions and encouragement end of 2014 this list will include the acting as a mentor to a geoscience stu- for YPs entering the work force, and Unconventional Resources Technology dent. If you would like AIPG’s assistance, thereby link academic training with (UrTec) Conference in Denver, GSA let us know! To begin the process, check specific geoscience careers. AIPG’s early and AGI at the GSA annual meeting in the appropriate box on the 2015 member- approach was to geoscience students, Vancouver, British Columbia, and the ship renewal form, on-line or paper, as a beginning with our first student chap- American Geophysical Union (AGU) mentor or a mentee. annual meeting in San Francisco. ter at Wright State University in 1996. Last but not least, the YP program will Other chapters followed in 1998 (James Annually, AIPG can be proud of its need sustaining support as a long-term Madison University) and 1999 (Colorado accomplishments through the efforts of program, as there will be development School of Mines). In 2003 AIPG inaugu- our members and headquarters staff. So costs, and support to our volunteers rated the annual student issue, which what’s the next step? AIPG is developing to defer expenses for travel, accommo- began a highly successful forum for stu- a YP program to take to colleges and dations and subsistence. AIPG plans dents, and particularly undergraduates, universities as a means of introducing to fund the YP program with support to present their research and views in a geoscience students to the profession and from the Foundation of the AIPG (“the traditional print format. Since 2003, the all the ancillary matters of employment Foundation”). Our goal is to build the number of AIPG student chapters has – job searches, networking, resumes, assets of the Foundation to a level grown to over 20, with more chapters in interviewing, and so forth. Our intention that will fund the YP program on an the works for 2014. Contributions to the is to offer the YP program to academic annual basis from investment income. annual student issue typically spill into geoscience programs at no cost to them. Please consider a contribution to the the Spring issue of TPG, and our annual This is the general concept, and the spe- Foundation, or volunteering your talents meeting is increasingly popular with cific program is under development, for a as a fund-raiser. students and YPs. Our sections have one-day event. We know from experience
www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 29 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND PRACTICES - Column 151
Topical Index-Table of Contents to the Professional Ethics and Practices Columns A topically based Index-Table of Contents, “pe&p index.xls” covering col- umns, articles, and letters to the editor that have been referred to in the PE&P columns in Excel format is on the AIPG web site in the Ethics section. This Index- Table of Contents is updated as each issue of the TPG is published. You can use it to find those items addressing a particular area of concern. Suggestions for improve- Compiled by David M. Abbott, Jr., CPG-04570, ments should be sent to David Abbott, 5055 Tamarac Street, Denver, CO 80238, [email protected] 303-394-0321, fax 303-394-0543, [email protected]
Social License to Operate the public, fracking is something new that these new residents in the oil patch and Fracking and unknown that potentially impacts are not receiving royalty payments, exac- society in a variety of ways. Fracking, erbating the frustration. In column 148 (Nov. ′13) I reported as used by the general public, covers Demonization of the oil and gas indus- on the American Geoscience Institute’s all aspects of drilling, completion, and try and others is also continuing, and Forum on Ethics in the Geosciences production. Because the public has only is perhaps cranking up as we approach and the increasing awareness that geo- recently become aware of fracking, there the fall elections and the attack ads are scientists, regardless of specialty or are lots of questions, concerns, fears, and starting to occupy more TV time. Attack employer, have an ethical obligation misinformation being passed around and ads are a prime source of demonization. to weigh the societal benefits of their efforts to regulate this “new” fracking Candidate A is bad because he/she sup- research against the costs and risks to industry are being proposed. ports Obamacare (the demonizing term human and animal welfare and impacts In Colorado, most of the state’s popu- for the Affordable Care Act) and worked on the environment and society. One of lation lives along the Front Range moun- with the health insurance industry AIPG’s primary purposes is to monitor tain front from Colorado Springs north to (demonized) in developing Obamacare, and weigh in on laws and regulations close to the Wyoming line. I-25 traverses which has caused millions of Americans that affect geoscience practice. For many this corridor at varying distance east of to lose the health insurance they had, years, such monitoring focused on state the mountain front. The mountain front and is receiving campaign contributions licensing laws, an effort that continues also coincides with the western boundary from the health insurers. Candidate A’s today. Licensing laws and regulations of the Denver Basin, which covers much opponent is bad because he/she wants to are a form of social license to operate. of northeastern Colorado and adjacent dismantle the Affordable Care Act and Laws and regulations also affect the Wyoming and Nebraska, and which is receiving campaign contributions from industries we work in, mining, oil and has been an area of active oil and gas health insurance companies who want to gas, environmental regulation, water drilling since the 1950s. Because of the protect their record profits (demoniza- law, and geotechnical practice. These asymmetric shape of the Denver Basin, tion). “Big oil” is a favorite demonizing laws and regulations are another aspect steep on the west side and shallow on term in ads attacking a candidate that of the social license to operate. the east, most of the oil and gas drilling is alleged to support the oil and gas Fracking is a hot topic in many parts has occurred in the rural areas east of industry. of the country now and the political I-25. However, for those who bothered Fracking is a current political issue. debates about whether fracking should to recognize what they were seeing, drill Traditionally, regulation of oil and gas be allowed and, if so, under what condi- rigs, pump jacks, and tank batteries have drilling has been done at the state level. 1 tions. These debates are clearly another been visible adjacent to I-25 for years Now, efforts are being made to allow and dramatic form of social license. once one drove north out of the Denver county and local governments to further Those in the oil and gas business have metropolitan area. What is new along the regulate, or to ban, oil and gas drilling known about hydraulic fracturing (frac- I-25 corridor are housing developments. (i.e. fracking) on a local basis. ing) for decades and it’s no big deal. But What for years has been rural is becom- What is the appropriate response to the expansion of horizontal drilling and ing suburban. The appearance of a drill these political efforts? The geoscientist’s fracing in shales, often in parts of the rig that operates 24/7 near new homes common first reaction is to look up lots country that had not previously had and schools is alarming to the residents of technical information that can be dis- extensive oil and gas drilling and pro- of these new communities. The fact that tributed. But this is not what most people duction activity, has brought the whole many of the mineral rights have been want. They want to know the technical subject to the public’s attention. For severed from the surface rights means
1. In this paragraph I spell the abbreviated term for hydraulic fracturing two ways, “fracing” as used for decades in the oil and gas indus- try for a specific completion technique and “fracking” as used in news media and by the public when referring to the whole process of drilling, completing, and producing hydrocarbons from tight shales commonly using horizontal drilling techniques. It is clear that the specific meanings of the terms are different, something geoscientists need to recognize and respect.
30 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND PRACTICES - Column 151 issues have been studied by reputable, is increased cost of electricity resulting book that can be passed around to others. independent parties (not “big” oil) and from these efforts. We already have a I’d agree if it were likely that a) it was that there is either not a problem or significant percentage of the population likely not to be copied, and b) I would not that particular issues, such as distances that has trouble paying their energy need it again before it was ‘returned’ to from homes or schools or noise, can be bills. The mandates for increasing the me. Granted, anything can be copied, but resolved. Unfortunately, the web, that percentage of clean energy exacerbate this actually has my name on it as the source of so much information these this problem. Is it socially responsible one that ordered/downloaded it. days, is not a good place to find simple, to ignore this consequence of these man- “This came up again this morning clear, and unbiased answers to ques- dates? Dunshea notes that the medical with a slightly different situation. One tions about fracking. Certainly, there and life science professions have or are of our other offices was asking to ‘bor- are some whose minds are made up and developing professional ethics codes that row’ two historical standards (there are cannot be changed. But most people are recognize the need for the ethical treat- more recent versions of each available puzzled and want summary information ment of living organisms in research and that we have purchased). It seems that and reassurance from someone they view practice. Dunshea’s suggestion that we in this case, one of our clients needed to as knowledgeable and that they trust. restrict natural resource exploitation have them available for a period of time I’ve experienced this personally. Listen now is not unlike requiring the medical to go with a document that would be on to the questions and answer them with profession to stop vaccinating against public display. They would have a hard a minimum of technical detail (unless some disease for some segment of the copy available in a “records room” situ- specifically requested). Talking to our population or that various expensive ation where people could look at it but neighbors and others in groups we asso- medical procedures not be available to not copy it. This entity has apparently ciate with will be the most effective those over a certain age because they are ordered a hard copy of the standards way we can provide answers to people’s likely to die soon anyway.2 The ethical that won’t arrive for a length of time, questions. uproar against adopting such medical and our version would be a stand-in until proposals ensures they will never be they receive them. I’ve been assured that Geoscience Ethics and adopted, at least in some mandated once they receive their purchased copy, Social Responsibility form. Are placing restrictions on the use they will destroy my version. Given this of identified natural resource deposits assurance, and the fact that these are Roger Dunshea published a short any different? old standards I no longer refer to, I’m not piece, “The only way is ethics,” in the concerned with a copyright violation in May 2014 issue of the Geoscientist, the Software License this case. If it were a current standard, Fellowship magazine of the Geological I’d be more concerned. Society of London. Dunshea opines that Restrictions geoscientists have an ethical responsibil- Adam Heft, CPG-10265, sent me the “Can you shed some light on this for ity to the environment and to society to following question: “Here is the situa- me?” “consider fully the geo-strategic, ethi- tion. I’ve purchased an electronic version Heft sent me a copy of the license cal, and economic sustainability factors of several ASTM standards (for ESAs, in agreement for this software, which fairly before pointing out where to drill and this case) for use here at the company clearly states that one can only tempo- blast” in the exploration for and exploita- using company funds. The standards rarily transfer the electronic file of an tion of natural resources. Dunshea notes are applicable for several of us within ASTM standard to a computer and that that “while our peers in the medical and our group, which is spread over several only one printed copy can be made for life sciences are developing new ethical offices. The ASTM standards list who internal use. Not surprisingly, ASTM standards to protect the wellbeing of downloaded the standard, and indicate wants everyone to purchase his/her current and future generations, is it not that no reproduction of the document personal copy of each ASTM standard now time to start discussing and devel- is permissible. We keep the documents regardless of whether the company or oping a set of geological scientific ethics on one of our local computer drives, and the individual paid for the software. I that can support very long-term global those of us locally can access it. After visited the ASTM website where one can sustainability?” Dunshea appears to be initially reviewing it to see how it affects buy “pay per use options” for internal use suggesting that we curtail the exploita- some of our work products/methods, we or for external use. The prices depend on tion of natural resources now so that they rarely do anything with it other than the number of copies desired. These uses will be available for future generations. keep it in our files. I have a hard copy are for hard copies only; no emailing or The problem is who selects what of the document in my office that I occa- other electronic distribution is permit- natural resources will be made available sionally refer to. ted. The text of the ASTM standards now, which segments of the population “The question is to what degree (if is the issue here. This differs from the can have access to them, and who gets any) is it permissible to share the docu- license to use software that allows one left out? For example, concerted efforts ment with colleagues in another office? to do something like create a document are being made to restrict or eliminate I’ve been pretty conservative in that I or drawing. the use of coal for power generation by don’t like to provide it to others given What do you think of this situation? mandating the use of increasing percent- the limited use declaration on it. One of How would you handle it? Have you ever ages of “clean” energy. What is not dis- my colleagues looks at it a bit differently. quoted an ASTM standard in a report? cussed by the advocates of clean energy He thinks it can be treated like a bound If so, what was the source?”
2. A number of years ago, former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm created a great deal of furor by suggesting that the terminally sick and elderly had a “duty to die” rather than demanding the use of scarce and expensive medical resources.
www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 31 Hydrothink
IN MEMORY Geologic Ethics & Dr. Frederick Nelson Murray, Professional Practices CPG-04755, of Tulsa, Oklahoma died is now available on CD INSURANCE July 20, 2014. The former Air Force This CD is a collection of articles, col- officer, professor of geology and meteo- umns, letters to the editor, and other material rology, land and exploration manager addressing professional ethics and gen- PROGRAMS for energy companies, geologic consul- eral issues of professional geologic prac- tant, and local community volunteer tice that were printed in The Professional Available to will be remembered by many for his Geologist. It includes an electronic version AIPG MEMBERS knowledge, experience, and time that he of the now out-of-print Geologic Ethics and shared with others. Fred was a gradu- Professional Practices 1987-1997, AIPG GeoCare Benefits Program ate of Tulsa University, the University Reprint Series #1. The intent of this CD is For information: of Washington, and the University of collection of this material in a single place Colorado. He obtained a B.S. in Geology, so that the issues and questions raised Life, Dental, Disability, a B.S. in Meteorology and Climatology, by the material may be more conveniently Supplemental Insurance, and and an M.S. and PhD. in Geology studied. The intended ‘students’ of this CD Cancer Expense respectively. He served two years as a include everyone interested in the topic, GeoCare Benefits Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from the new student of geology to profes- Insurance Plan from 1958-1960. Based at Ben Guerir sors emeritus, working geologists, retired http://www.geocarebenefits.com/ AFB, he served as a weather forecaster geologists, and those interested in the Phone: 800-337-3140 or for pilots who flew missions and made geologic profession. 805-566-9191 surveillance during the Cold War. An extensive traveler, Fred enjoyed adven- AIPG members will be able to update ture, being outdoors, and working with their copy of this CD by regularly download- Liberty Mutual Insurance the land. Whether he was surveying ing the pe&p index.xls file from the www. Auto and Home Insurance the land, improving the landscape, or aipg.org under “Ethics” and by downloading http://www.libertymutual.com/lm/ maintaining cabins, he spent time either the electronic version of The Professional aipg at his farm in Creek County, Oklahoma Geologist from the members only area of Phone: 1-800-524-9400 the AIPG website. The cost of the CD is $25 or in Scholfield, Colorado at the fam- Please mention client for members, $35 for non-members, $15 for ily cabin. Fred was actively involved #111397 when you contact with Will Rogers HS Class of 1953 and student members and $18 for non-member Liberty Mutual. served as Westminster Class treasurer students, plus shipping and handling. To order go to www.aipg.org. at First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa. He was a weekly volunteer for Helping The Wright Group Hand, Eastern Oklahoma Community Professional Liability Insurance Food Bank, and affiliated with local General Liability Insurance and national geological associations that http://www.thewrightgroupinc.com brought enrichment pro grams to Tulsa Phone: 303-863-7788 youth to encourage their endeavors in physical and geological science. Financial Services The Consulting Group at RBC Wealth Management David Rhode, Senior Investment Management Specialist/Financial Advisor http://rbcfc.com/david.rhode/ [email protected] Phone: 1-800-365-3246 Fax: 303-488-3636
Is Your Profile Correct? It is important to keep your address, phone numbers, and e-mail information up to date in our records. Please take the time to go to the AIPG National Website, www.aipg.org, login to the member portion of the site and make sure your information is correct. You can edit your record online. If you do not know your login and password you can e-mail National Headquarters at [email protected] or call (303) 412-6205.
32 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org Hydrothink What Are You Trying To Show Again?
William J. Stone, MEM-2164
A constant challenge in technical the datum was ever discussed in the writing is to say what you mean and to report. If a map only serves to confuse mean what you say. This also goes for the reader or expose the carelessness of Invitation from what is shown versus what is intended the author, it is not useful. Furthermore, AIPG to Submit in figures. Common map errors include such illustrations reflect poorly not only Articles having an inadequate or inaccurate on the author but also on the consulting legend, incorrect or unclear labels, and company and client he/she represents. You are invited to insufficient base information (scale, TIP: Make illustrations clear and correct roads, features, location grid, etc). or leave them out. submit an article, paper, Environmental agency personnel or guest column based review many reports. Justly or unjustly, Dr. Stone has more than 30 year of upon your geological experience in hydroscience and is the they tend to judge the quality of the experiences or activities work done by the quality of the report author of numerous professional papers submitted. Who could blame them? as well as the book, Hydrogeology in to the American Institute Illustrations in the report contribute Practice – a Guide to Characterizing of Professional Geologists greatly to the general impression of the Ground-Water Systems (Prentice Hall). to be included in “The work. Feel free to argue or agree with him via email at [email protected]. Professional Geologist” When employed by a state environ- (TPG) quarterly journal. mental agency I once reviewed a trouble- some report of a petroleum pipeline leak. The article can address What should I have concluded from a a professional subject, figure labeled as a “contour map of free- Foundation of be technical in nature, phase hydrocarbons” that showed zones the AIPG – Please rather than contours and was poorly or comment on a state or labeled even for that? Join Us at the AIPG national issue affecting More specifically, the focus of labels Annual National the profession of was inconsistent, alternating between Meeting in Prescott, geology. zones and boundaries of zones. For Arizona example, the label, “surface soil staining Article submissions for at the time of the spill,” clearly appro- The FAIPG wishes to be visible, priate for a zone, was applied instead especially to members of AIPG. TPG should be 800 to by arrows to the line edging a zone. On All members of AIPG are welcome 3200 words in length the same map, a dashed line around the to participate in any FAIPG meet- (Word format). Photos, ing conducted throughout the area of soil contamination was labeled figures, tables, etc. are “line of soil contamination.” This seems year. Please be sure to attend to be describing a boundary, but if that the FAIPG meeting while at the always welcome! Author was the intended focus it would be better AIPG annual meeting this fall instructions are available (Sunday, September 14 from 4 to labeled, “extent of surface contamina- on the AIPG website at tion.” 6 pm). You will learn of the foun- dation’s mission to support AIPG www.aipg.org. Furthermore, water-level contours and have a chance to meet founda- were labeled with values less than 100 tion members and help to support (units unspecified ?!) in an area where Please contact AIPG the future of AIPG though FAIPG ground-surface elevation alone is in the headquarters if you have efforts. For details, please contact thousands of feet. When the consultant John Bognar at 314-660-9968, or any questions. AIPG who prepared the report was ques- john.bognar@geosciencesolu- email is [email protected] or tioned about this, the response was, “the tions.net. water–level contour values were derived phone (303) 412-6205. by reference to an arbitrary datum.” Unfortunately, neither the process nor www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 33 EDUCATOR’S PAGE Natural Hazards and Disasters: Mini-Case Reviews 2010-2014†
Michael J. Urban, MEM-1910 †Disclaimer: Clearly not a comprehensive list.
During the past couple of years I have critical component to living safely. After wipe out all life on the planet. Students had the opportunity to teach an under- all, it has been said that “chance favors enjoy learning more about the probable graduate Environmental Geology course the prepared mind.” If I’m unaware of extinction event that doomed the dino- at a community college and teaching the dangers of building on a floodplain or saurs and the catastrophic effects of the course always serves as a reminder swelling soils, in an earthquake zone or even a small asteroid striking the Earth. to me of all the “natural hazards” we on an active volcanic island, at the base Just a week after covering “solar system must contend with in the United States. of steep topography, or in an area with hazards” in class this past semester (Feb. I decided to write a little bit about the Karst topography, I’m much less likely 2014), the near-Earth asteroid 2000
topics covered in the course, recent to effectively plan for the unthinkable. EM26 made a close pass by the planet examples of some natural disasters (or Several of the class topics to which (see video link in references).1 [Although near-misses), and some of the resources I considerable time is devoted include: I find it interesting, and therefore teach used in the class. Teaching the class is a avalanches, earthquakes (and tsuna- it to the students, understanding the lot of fun and the discussions are always mis), flooding, mass wasting, oil spills, nomenclature for provisional designa- stimulating! swelling soils, volcanic eruptions, and tion of asteroids does not seem to be high For those who may need a refresher, water contamination. Unfortunately, on their list of priorities!] Incidentally, environmental geology (EG) is a branch there have been numerous examples of just about exactly a year earlier, a very of geology concerned with a variety most of these events to study lately. [I small asteroid made contact with Earth’s of topics, primarily related to solving suppose one of the only positive aspects atmosphere (meteor) and exploded over environmental problems and dealing of these natural disasters’ occurrence is Chelyabinsk, Russia (see references for with lithosphere-human interactions; that they further drive home the point video link and article), which also made for example, preventing or mitigating that they can and do happen.] Excepting for a curious aside in class. natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, typically earthquakes and volcanoes, landslides, etc.), cleaning up pollutant each of these hazards is prone to one or Flooding spills or contaminated groundwater, both of the two states I am most famil- The devastating floods of Colorado in and managing natural resources like iar with (and have recently taught in): September 2013, and of Minnesota in water, minerals, and fossil fuels, are all Colorado and Minnesota. I have often June 2014, serve as terrifying examples applied activities of the environmental thought taking a “case study” approach of the effects soil and rock composition, geologist. While I greatly enjoy teaching to teaching EG might be a very good way topography, and ground capacity have other geology courses too (e.g., physical to go, but have not yet fully implemented when combined with torrential rain- geology and planetary science), I really such a curriculum (something to think fall. Seldom immediately obvious are appreciate the potential value an EG about…). the downstream consequences resulting course can have on opening the eyes of A few of the specific events and their from localized flooding, but nevertheless, our students to the true power of geol- relationship to EG, are explored next: the danger exists and students studying ogy in general – both in terms of the EG become better aware of associated effects of nature on us and in how we Asteroid Impacts concerns. Current events are typically come to adapt to living on our dynamic replete with examples of floods making planet. We cover some of these issues My absolute favorite topic to teach is extraterrestrial impactors – I think it’s national news during spring and sum- in our other geology classes, however in mer months. few others is the point so clearly driven because of the sheer respect such a haz- home: we are at the mercy of the Earth, so ard commands; no other potential calam- understanding our surroundings and the ity can do so much damage so quickly potential dangers they bestow on us is a with the utter destructive capability to
nd 1. The preliminary designation 2000 EM26 means the object was discovered in the first half of March in the year 2000 and was the 662 object discovered during that time frame. See the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Minor Planet Center for details.
34 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org EDUCATOR’S PAGE EDUCATOR’S PAGE
Debris flow on the south flank of Porphyry Mountain near Massive pile of debris in Jamestown, Colorado left in the wake Jamestown, Colorado. This flow began as a small rockslide of torrential flooding in mid-September. Photo by Matt Morgan, due to highly fractured porphyritic bedrock and turned into a MEM-2480, Colorado Geological Survey hyperconcentrated flow as precipitation and runoff increased. It came within a few feet of a residence in its path. Photo by Matt Morgan, MEM-2480, Colorado Geological Survey.
Car-sized boulders litter this debris fan on Lefthand Canyon Drive, Boulder Colorado The debris flow ran over 3,000 feet Portion of Lefthand Canyon Drive that was washed out by a down the mountainside before crashing into and removing debris flow, Boulder Colorado. Photo by Jon White, Colorado part of the highway. Photo by Matt Morgan, MEM-2480, Geological Survey. Colorado Geological Survey.
Oil Spills with even rudimentary in many places, so finding meaningful in-class experiments involving attempts examples are typically fairly easy to Certainly ecologically tragic, the April to remove motor oil from a simulated 2010 British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in come by (depending greatly on individual environment (i.e., sand in the bottom of location). the Gulf of Mexico, referred to now as a bowl, or aquarium, filled with water), “the worst oil spill in US history,” is a cen- leave students with a lasting impression Sinkholes tral theme for discourse in the EG class of our possible impacts on the resources and enables us to broach a wide range of the Earth. A pretty memorable event, if you like of environmental topics of biological, eco- classic cars, occurred in February 2014 nomic, geological, and societal interest. Landslides in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at the Peripherally related, discussions about National Corvette Museum, and may be gas prices, nonrenewable resources, The unusually large, nearly square- immortalized as a permanent display. and water contamination all arise due mile, March 2014 landslide (mud- A sinkhole underneath the museum to the widespread influences of this slide) affecting the towns of Oso and opened up and swallowed eight (most- singular event. Similarly noteworthy Darington, in Washington State, made ly classic) corvettes. These kinds of are localized events affording scientists news headlines for claiming the lives of events happen in various places across long-term water quality research oppor- several dozen victims. The peculiarities the country, often making the news in tunities, like the August 1979 pipeline of this particular event, including its Florida, but are restricted to very spe- burst near Bemidji, Minnesota, that unanticipated extent, made it worthy of cific underlying rock conditions, namely spewed some 1.7 million liters of crude study for a number of reasons besides limestone. These events further exem- oil into the surrounding environment. its relative recency. Other local and plify the seemingly random and almost Events such as these, when combined less impactful landslides occur regularly instantaneous nature of natural disas-
www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 35 EDUCATOR’S PAGE Headlines ters, and therefore, serve to reinforce Center at
36 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org Headlines Siberian Monsters
Stephanie Jarvis, SA-1495, [email protected]
On July 15th, the Siberian Times methane into the atmosphere by bubbles com/science/casestudy/news/first- reported that a mysterious large hole and storms, have recently been made.7,8 pictures-from-inside-the-crater-at- had been discovered in the Yamal pen- Sure enough, preliminary investiga- the-end-of-the-world/. Accessed insula, an important natural gas pro- tions reported in a Nature news article August 11, 2014. duction region at the northern edge of found that air near the bottom of the 3. “Now two NEW large holes appear in 1 Siberia. The hole is about 30 meters first hole contained very high concen- Siberia”, The Siberian Times, July across and has an icy lake that starts trations of methane—up to 9.6%.9 Such 28, 2014 at http://siberiantimes. approximately 70 meters down and is a catastrophic release of methane could com/science/casestudy/news/now- 2 of unknown depth. Within a couple of be due to the recent “abnormally hot” two-new-large-holes-appear-in-sibe- weeks, two more holes were reported, one summers in the area melting permafrost, ria/. Accessed August 11, 2014. also in the Yamal peninsula and another indicating a short-term cause and effect 4. Cosier, C. and Morris, S., “Opinions in Taymyr Peninsula, east of Yamal.3 scenario.9 The release could also be a divided over mysterious 80-metre As one would expect, there were a result of a long-term warming, either by wide crater in northern Siberia.” lot of theories floating around. The trapping methane released by melting The Sydney Morning Herald, July more entertaining included: monsters permafrost until overlaying ice could 16, 2014 at http://www.smh.com. emerging from the ground to take over not hold the pressure or destabilizing au/world/opinions-divided-over- the world, a UFO landing, giant moles methane hydrates trapped in the per- mysterious-80metre-wide-crater-in- and gophers, angels coming to earth, mafrost.9 A short warming-time scenario northern-siberia-20140716-ztqvi. some mysterious new Russian weapon, could indicate that this is a rather nor- html. Accessed August 11, 2014. the opening of an entrance to another mal phenomenon that we are just now world, and—probably the most baffling observing in its early stages. A longer- 5. Methane Hydrate, U.S. Department to me—a prank. More realistic expla- term scenario, however, could mean of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy. nations included a meteor or sinkhole, that a critical balance has been upset. URL: http://energy.gov/fe/science- though both were ruled out fairly quickly While the study of these mysterious innovation/oil-gas-research/meth- due to the shape of the hole. From the giant holes is still in preliminary stages ane-hydrate. Accessed August 11, beginning, however, the leading theory and thoughts on the implications of their 2014. was that it was related to warming: an formation for climate change are, for the 6. Ruppel, C. D., 2011, Methane ‘extreme’ collapsed pingo or the release most part, still in the overly-sensational hydrates and contemporary cli- of gas from melting permafrost.1 Pingos, stage, it is definitely a story to keep tabs mate change: Nature Education hills formed when a block of ice grows on. Regardless of the implications of Knowledge 3(10):29 at http:// under the sediment, are common peri- their formation on our understanding of www.nature.com/scitable/ glacial features that form characteristic climate processes, those living and work- knowledge/library/methane- circular-shaped lakes when the ice block ing in the region have a definite interest hydrates-and-contemporary-cli- melts.4 in understanding the formation of these mate-change-24314790. Accessed My first thought when I read the large, potentially dangerous, holes. As August 11, 2014. always, more research is needed. released methane theories was of the pos- 7. Papadopoulou, S. “SWERUS-C3: itive-feedback role of methane hydrates First observations of meth- in run-away global warming scenarios. References ane release from Arctic Ocean Of potential energy production interest, 1. “Large crater appears at the ‘end hydrates”, Department of methane hydrates are structures in of the world’.” The Siberian Times, Applied Environmental Science, which methane molecules are encapsu- July 15, 2014 at http://siberian- Stockholm University at http:// lated by ice—a relationship dependent times.com/other/others/features/ www.swerus-c3.geo.su.se/index. on a temperature-pressure balance that large-crater-appears-at-the-end-of- php/swerus-c3-in-the-media/ could be upset by warming.5 While only the-world/. Accessed August 11, news/177-swerus-c3-first-obser- a small percentage of methane hydrates 2014. vations-of-methane-release-from- are likely to dissociate with continued 2. Liesowska, A.,“First pictures from arctic-ocean-hydrates. Accessed warming,6 detection of large methane inside the ‘crater at the end of the August 11, 2014. releases along the East Siberian Arctic world’.” The Siberian Times, July 8. “Bubble trouble for East Siberian shelf and slope, and dispersion of the 17, 2014 at http://siberiantimes. Arctic Shelf.” The Siberian Times, Continued on page 38
www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 37 student’s voice Expect the Unexpected
Kristina Pourtabib, SA-3410 [email protected]
Before beginning a graduate program ate student, and I was exposed to a new in geology (or any other program for community of people a lot earlier than I Geoscience Online that matter) it is generally expected would have been if I stuck to my initial Learning Initiative that you will be conducting the research research topic. Since undergoing my first (GOLI) - AGI/AIPG that you discussed with your prospective research impediment I have been faced advisor prior to beginning your pro- with countless more. Looking back at the You, as an AIPG Member, are gram. Although it would be amazing if completion of my first year in graduate invited and encouraged to submit a everything in graduate school, let alone school, it feels as if I haven’t been able presentation to be given online for life worked out this way, think again. to catch a break with plans working out the Geoscience Online Learning Graduate students and professionals smoothly. I have become used to hear- Initiative (GOLI). AGI and AIPG alike have to possess the necessary skill ing the phrase “well I’ve never seen this have teamed up to build a portfolio set to be able to think quickly on their before” or “I don’t know if we’re going to of online learning opportunities feet and roll with the punches so to speak, be able to get your samples,” not par- to help support the professional whether a research project evolves into ticularly things that people ever want development of prospective and something completely different from its to hear, but I have found ways to still early-career geoscientists as well infancy, funding falls through, sample develop my research despite being faced as addressing topics of interest to preparation problems, or waiting on with a series of problems. the broader geoscience profession. GOLI courses support both syn- fellow collaborators, there are many After discussing similar experiences chronous and asynchronous online obstacles that can hinder your progress. that my fellow colleagues have encoun- learning, and count toward con- As cliché as the phrase “expect the unex- tered in their own research I have learned tinuing education units (CEU’s). pected” sounds, this type of adaptability to accept the dogma that research isn’t is crucial to your success as a graduate research without overcoming some sort A $200 stipend and 10% share student, and is a skill not often touched of barrier. Encountering walls and test- of registration fees are provided to upon in an undergraduate curriculum. ing yourself with how well you circum- the presenters (details on present- So far, in just my first year of work- vent the problem is a way to prove ers guide). ing towards my doctorate I have experi- yourself as a successful researcher and If you are interested please enced my fair share of setbacks. Before to see if you’re fit to be a self-sustaining read the GOLI - AGI/AIPG my first semester of graduate school individual who can establish their own Presenters Guide and Guidelines even started, I was faced with my first unique road of inquiry and discovery in and Suggestions for Webinar string of changes. I had originally come the future. As frustrating as encounter- Presentations on the AIPG to graduate school with the expectation ing barriers in your research can be, each National website (www.aipg.org). that I would be primarily working with obstacle should be looked upon as being a certain mineral, but my advisor had a a new beginning. An opportunity to try AIPG, 303-412-6205 change of heart a week before abstracts something new, and to come up with www.aipg.org for GSA were due. He broke the news a new plan of attack, I wouldn’t doubt to me that I would now be working on a that some of the most successful geologic completely different group of minerals researchers experienced their fair share Continued from page 37 and that I was to make an abstract to of setbacks, and it was probably those be ready for the GSA submission, despite setbacks that pushed them to work even November 27, 2013 at http:// the fact that I had not even begun to harder and make some incredible dis- siberiantimes.com/science/cas- do any background reading on my new coveries and theories that have helped estudy/news/bubble-trouble- mineral group. After hearing the news, to shape the geologic community today. for-east-siberian-arctic-shelf/. I will admit that I was initially shocked, So for you new researchers out there, be Accessed August 11, 2014. this must be what graduate students on your toes, prepare for the worst, and 9. Moskvitch, K., “Mysterious are faced with all the time, I remember remember to not let setbacks discourage Siberian crater attributed to thinking to myself, but after the initial you from being successful. methane.” Nature, July 31, surprise wore off I was determined more 2014 at http://www.nature. than ever to jump into my new program com/news/mysterious-siberi- head first. For me, the initial change up an-crater-attributed-to-meth- in my area of study was a great way to ane-1.15649. Accessed August test out my adaptability as a new gradu- 11, 2014.
38 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org Interpreting Geology in an Art Museum
G.H. Edwards, CPG-2570, and A.F. Martin
Abstract inspired to begin a public outreach we remind visitors that before the artist program to once again link Art and can reduce creative inspiration to a phys- In an outreach effort to communicate Science-in this case, geology-the Harn ical reality, someone, somewhere, has to geology to the general public, a “dis- Museum of Art approached one of the dig something out of the ground. We call covery table” in the central rotunda of authors (Edwards) in early 2012 for the overall philosophy “Metageology,” a major art museum presents visitors assistance in developing the program. which, in itself, stirs curiosity by analogy with several representative art objects, Basing our approach on some of the work to metaphysics. displayed in conjunction with the earth of G.D. Rosenberg (Rosenberg, 2009), materials from which they were made. we prepared a proposal to the Harn The Table Interpreters guide visitors to an under- staff, suggesting an informal teaching We use an eight-foot, folding table standing of how feldspars weather to approach using a “discovery table” with from the Museum’s stock, covered with kaolin clay (for example), and how the various objects intended to stimulate a white banquet cloth, and surrounded clay is located, mined, and processed visitor curiosity about the variety of by a black pleated skirt. Tall stools are into porcelain. Similar connections are ways in which an artist’s work depends provided behind the table for the inter- shown between silica sand and stained on prior work by geologists. Our intent preters, usually two persons. glass, and between precious metal ores was to create a greater understanding of and jewelry. The presentation enables geology and how it relates to art, and, by The table holds an array of paired the interpreters to help curious visitors extension, to everyday life. objects-ore minerals and the resulting gain a greater understanding of the work of art crafted from them-each After several meetings to develop objects of art in the museum’s collec- labeled, and organized with small arrows the concept, the formal proposal was tion, and of the importance of earth indicating the relationship between the accepted by the Harn staff in April of minerals beyond the museum’s walls. source and the final product. In addition, 2012, and we began to collect objects for The interpreters also explore how inven- a number of labels contain questions display, with a primary emphasis on ore tions of artists such as the development intended to trigger curiosity in the visi- minerals and the objects of art into which of three-dimensional linear perspective, tors’ minds, such as, “What does galena they are fashioned. Most of the items on have heavily impacted the development have to do with American Brilliant cut display came from a private collection of of the sciences as well. Visitors are crystal?” or, “What does this limestone one of the authors, and a few others were permitted to handle the objects of art have to do with Tiffany stained glass?” acquired specifically for this program. and the ore mineral samples, adding a Small stands hold some items and labels No items from the Harn collection were unique interactive approach relative to above the table surface adding some- used. The project launched in May 2012. the rest of the museum. The program thing of a three-dimensional aspect to We staff the table every Sunday during is presented on a weekly basis and at the display, and glass domes help protect Museum opening hours. Museum Night events, and has been well rare and valuable specimens. The basic theme for interpretation is received by the public. There is no linear theme in the layout of Introduction the objects-although At the western edge of the University glass objects tend to of Florida campus stand two large muse- dominate the right ums: to the south is the Florida Museum end of the table, and of Natural History, and 50m to the north, the sole oil painting the Harn Museum of Art. These institu- resides on the left – tions are both agencies of the State of the concept rather Florida, operating under the manage- being that a visi- ment of the University. tor can begin at any Yet, interaction between the two Figure 1. Entrance to the Harn Museum of Art;Gainsville, Florida. point that piques his/ Museums has historically been small. The interpretive program table is located just inside the front doors. her interest, allowing Visitors to one tend not to also visit the interpreters the the other. Generally, there has been a opportunity to steer the conversation from object to object. dichotomy between Art and Science, that everything the artist has to work implicit in the separation between the with comes from the Earth. Our posted two buildings. Recognizing this, and motto is that “Geology Is Destiny, “ and www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 39 interpreting geology in an art museum 1964), ground and pol- the artist from the confines of the studio ished into the shape of and allowing him to go outside to paint. a decorative egg. Like With a little imagination, we can steer the petalite (above) this the visitor to seeing how this simple specimen is from an ore- invention allowed for de pleine air paint- body dated to over 2.5 ing, and how it led to the development of billion years. the Impressionist Movement. Heavy mineral sands, We also remind visitors that they from Stake, Florida, and used Rand’s invention, intended for his a tube of Mixing White oil fellow painters, that morning when they paint, which uses titani- brushed their teeth-a fine example of um dioxide as a pigment. how the arts have given back to society Figure 2. Overview of the Metageology table. This heavy mineral sand in unexpected ways. mining operation is with- Nephrite jade specimen from The objects presented for interpre- in 50 miles of the Harn Wyoming, USA, and small carved jade tation change somewhat from time to Museum, and thus allows us to weave objects: The Harn collection is rich in time, partly to keep the display fresh in a local source concept, and to initiate Chinese jade carvings, so it is valuable for returning visitors, and partly for the a discussion of the geological history of for visitors to see raw jade and have benefit of the interpreters. Florida and the formation of heavy min- a chance to discuss how hard the jade This is a “touching table, “in the sense eral sand deposits along the coastlines. minerals are (about 6.5) and how difficult that, unlike most of the galleries in the it must have been to carve the intricate Museum, we allow visitors to handle and beautiful objects to be seen in the certain items. This aspect is particularly Asian Wing of the Museum. popular with children who can be frus- Kaolin clays from both Deepstep, trated by the general museum rule of “Do Georgia and Edgar, Florida paired with Not Touch.” To control the handling of some porcelain objects: We have a signed objects, we do have a sign admonishing Wedgewood cup and saucer (first half visitors to not touch to objects, but we are of the 20th Century), a small Chinese quick to point out that this is negotiable. rice-grain porcelain bowl (second half In fact, we encourage touching in some of the 20th Century), and a small hand- cases. For example, we ask visitors to painted porcelain statue (Germany, 20th place their hand on a large fragment of Century). The Harn Museum collection petalite ore from Western Australia, and is rich also in ancient Chinese and guess how old the sample is. Most are Japanese porcelain, as well as in con- surprised and impressed to hear that it temporary porcelain works. has been U/Pb dated to 2.65 billion-“yes Beside the Wedgewood cup and saucer that’s billion, with a “b”- years old”. Upon is a small bone with a question label telling them this, we open a chance to Figure 3. A small oil painting by Robert Hall, reading “Bone china is really made with illustrate the magnitude of geologic time. RA, with tubes of cobalt blue and mixing bones. T/F?” Surprisingly, many visi- This is an important topic, because the white, cobalt nitrate and a specimen of heavy tors will answer in the negative, giving average educated individual appears to mineral sand to show the sources of the pig- the interpreters a chance to relate the have little to no grasp of the vastness ments, and a vial of linseed oil. story of the invention of bone china in of Time. The demonstration of such an England, 1748, by potter Thomas Frye, ancient mineral is a worthwhile teach- and to speculate on how he was inspired ing moment. Tubes of oil paint, and accompany to burn bones from a nearby slaughter- miniature oil painting by British Royal house to produce calcium phosphate, Object Pairs Academy artist Robert Hall. This small or bone ash. If this intelligence sparks but fine oil painting (which we keep some curiosity, we can then extend the In no particular order, examples of under glass for safety) allows us to talk some of our most popular pairs include: discussion into Bronowski’s conclusion about how oil paints get their pigment that inspiration and creativity are the Native gold in quartz from the Ashanti colors, in part, from metallic ore miner- same intellectual process in art and in Mine in Ghana and Lapis Lazuli from als, ground and compounded with vari- science (Brownowki 1958). Afghanistan paired with a set of gold ous oils and hardeners. Beside them on and lapis lazuli cufflinks (Early 20th the table lie a small bottle of linseed oil Glass Raw Materials, and an assort- Century). This specimen has been sawn and a very fine brush, matching the tiny ment of glass objects, including stained with a diamond saw to make the veins brush-strokes of Hall’s painting. These glass: The glass raw materials include of gold easier to see. objects also enable the interpreters to glass-grade sand from a deposit near Davenport, Florida, soda ash, feldspar, Argentite from the Silver Queen Mine discuss the invention of the paint tube and limestone, along with various col- in the Aspen District of Pitkin County, in London in 1841 by John Rand (Hurt, oring oxides represented by their ore Colorado, paired with a small sterling 2013), and how that invention freed the minerals and by refined chemicals. silver liqueur glass. artist from the burden of grinding pig- The metal ores include chromite from Lepidolite, from the al Hayat Quarry ments in a mortar and pestle, and boiling linseed oil in a pot, thus emancipating Montana, erythrite from Morocco, and of the Bikita Mine in Zimbabwe (Cooper, even a sample of galena (Illinois) adja-
40 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org interpreting geology in an art museum cent to an American Brilliant cut crystal science to art. A common answer to the bowl, which allows us the change to question is “both,” which is, of course, discuss the use of lead in glass. correct. The periodic table, which relates to everything on the table: With the copy of the period table is a card with the ques- tion “Where did the chemical elements in your body come from?” which leads the inquisitive visitor into cosmology and the formation of the Universe. In a way, this is the most profound question on the table. The interpreters are well prepared with details about the various object Interpretive Technique pairs, but the initial engagement with the visitor can take several forms. If We decided at the beginning of the the visitor has no immediate question, Figure 4. Glass raw mineral, and examples program not to do it as a formal, sched- or if the initial question falls some- of glass objects of art. uled presentation, but instead to keep it thing along the lines of “What’s all this informal and as close to one-on-one as about?” we have a standard introduction possible. Of course, on busy afternoons at The glass objects include some that explains that this is a discovery the Museum it becomes one –on –several, small stained and leaded glass items, table that illustrates the concept of but this seems to work quite well. and a photograph of a major Louis Metageology-by which we mean the Comfort Tiffany window from his estate, Informal interpretation allows us to philosophy which links the science of Laurelton Hall, on Long Island, New engage the individual interest of each geology with the Arts-and that present York. This window, entitled “The Tree visitor. Often our visitors are artists on the table are various examples of of Life,” illustrates six things Tiffany themselves and want to learn more these connections. We can then direct the felt were of fundamental importance to about their particular field. Ceramists attention of the visitor to the specimen human life. Geology is the first of the query us about clays, jewelers ask about of kaolin, and point out that before the six panels. the gold and silver ores, and painters artist, working in her studio, can begin are interested to know more about the Lithographic limestone, and vari- to shape the clay into a porcelain figure, sources of different pigments. ous examples of lithographic reproduc- someone unseen by our artist, had to dig tions of art. The specimen is from the One of the teaser questions” on the into the Earth and extract and process Solnhofen limestone of Bavaria, the table is “Can you make a pot from any the clay. If the visitor has a little innate same source Alois Senenfelder used for old clay that sticks to your shoes?” and curiosity, this will lead to further ques- his limestone slabs when he invented the this intrigues many ceramists, who gen- tions. Some do not, and the interpreters process of lithography in 1796 (Meggs, erally obtain clay for their craft from a let the conversation end there, thanking 1998). supply company, not pausing to consider them for visiting the Museum. the ultimate origin of the material with Reproduction of DaVinci’s “View of which they are creating. It helps us that the Arno Valley.” This small drawing one ceramics instructor at the University is said to be the oldest DaVinci extant, of Florida has a class assignment requir- and illustrates the basic principles of the ing her students to dig up some clay from Law of Original Horizontality and the a local creek, and form and fire an object Law of Superposition. Also illustrated is from it. This often leads us to a discus- the lateral continuity and correlation, as sion on the nature and origins of clays. made clear in DaVinci’s field notes when he drew this sketch. Contact with the individual visitors can be as brief as answering a single Nearby is a diagram illustrating geo- question in a minute or so, or can develop metric perspective, which allows the into longer, and stimulating, discus- interpreters to expand on the concept sions, with one answer leading onto Figure 5. Interpreters engaging that this artistic technique was critical to Museum visitors. another questions. “Always the beauti- the advance of Western thought into the ful answer that asks the more beautiful Scientific Revolution (Rosenberg, 2009), question“, as the poet e.e.cummings put a basic point of Rosenberg’s discussions, it. One well-informed visitor once took and one disputed by many Orientalist Results the point about DaVinci, and debated scholars (Monastersky, 2004). Over the nearly two years we have that DaVinci was an artist, while the operated this program, we have inter- In interpreting geology for the public, interpreter maintained that he was a acted with some 4,500 visitors to the we use the importance of three-dimen- scientist, a geologist, and an engineer. museum. Not all visitors respond to our sional linear perspective and the works This went on for half an hour, and then presentation in the same way; the visit- by DaVinci to further connect Art and the two debaters switched sides and ing population divides itself into three Science. One of our “teaser questions” defended the other’s prior argument. groups: the first group is apparently on the table is “Was Leonardo DaVinci Both the visitor and the interpreter were uninterested (Gelertner, 2014), and may and artist or a scientist?” which has led delighted with this outcome. to lengthy discussions of the relation of pass by the table without a glance. The www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 41 interpreting geology in an art museum second group expresses minor interest, thanks from a spontaneous source is Magazine. Smithsonian Institute. may stop and look at some of the objects gratifying. Retrieved 18 May 2013. and perhaps ask a question or two, but Gelertner, D., The Closing of the Scientific remain only briefly before passing on Acknowledgements Mind, Commentary Magazine, 2014. into the galleries of the Museum. The The authors are grateful to the Staff third group consists of people with more Meggs, P.B., A History of Graphic Design at the Harn Museum of Art for their sup- curiosity, stopping and asking many (1998), J. Wiley & Sons, Inc., port and encouragement. The Security questions about the display. This last Monastersky, Richard. Lack of Guards have been particularly helpful in group, of course, is our real audience, Perspective, Chronicle of Higher the set-up and take-down of the display and it is for them we have a chance to Education, 25 January 2002. every Sunday. Erin Brown and Brigit clarify the importance of Geology in the Tuschen served as faithful interns on Rosenberg, G.N., The measure of man Museum, and in their daily lives. the program, and have gone on to impor- and landscape in the Renaissance Other expressions of appreciation tant work in graduate school, preparing and Scientific Revolution, Geological include repeat visits-those who come for careers in the teaching of science. Society of America Memoir 203, back again, sometimes with specimens Anthony Gray was instrumental in the 2009. of minerals or objects of art of their own initial concept and development of the which they want to discuss at greater program. George Edwards was born and length. reared in Kansas City, and earned his Quantifying these responses is dif- References professional degree in Geology at the ficult, and we have discussed several University of Kansas. After jobs in Bronowski, J. The Creative Process, methods, including evaluation forms mineral exploration and mapping in Scientific American, vol 199, Num.3, and interviews. Such an approach is of Argentina, a stint as Mine Geologist for 1958. questionable value, if for no other reason a copper mine in Michigan, and several than the self-selection error implicit in Cooper, D.G. The geology of some ore years doing research for the Federal voluntary questionnaire participation. deposits in Southern Africa, the Government, he joined Corning Glass We have had several spontaneous geology of the Bikita pegmatite, Works, retiring after nearly 30 years expressions of appreciation directed to Geology Society of South Africa (II), as Chief Geologist. He now serves as the Staff, including the Director of the 441-461, 1964. President of G.H. Edwards & Associates, Museum. To receive such a letter of Hurt, Perry., Never Underestimate the Inc., and on several professional society Power of a Paint Tube, Smithsonian committees.
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42 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org interpreting geology in an art museum
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46 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org Participating in Undergraduate Geoscience Research Builds Skills that Employers Value
Barbara EchoHawk, Claire M. Hay, Uwe Richard Kackstaetter, MEM-2437, and Stella W. Todd, Metropolitan State University of Denver Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Campus Box 22, P.O. Box 173362 Denver, CO 80217
Abstract this paper, we consider courses to be “traditional” if they are lecture-, laboratory-, or field-based but not designed around The value of participation in undergraduate research (UR) individualized undergraduate research. in preparing students for future employment or graduate school is reaffirmed through an assessment of employer- Methods identified essential learning outcomes (ELOs) and their relationship to skill sets learned through traditional courses For this study, we concentrated on students enrolled in compared with those gained through UR at Metropolitan undergraduate geoscience courses in the Department of State University of Denver (MSU Denver), a four-year liberal Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) at Metropolitan State arts institution of higher education. Traditional coursework University of Denver (MSU Denver), a four-year liberal arts required for the geoscience degree may not fully support the institution in Denver, Colorado. development of employer-valued essential learning outcomes As our proxy for skill sets that are highly desirable to (ELOs) unless it is enhanced by the integration of UR into employers, we adopted essential learning outcomes (ELOs) the geoscience curriculum. Embedding UR-based modules identified in recent surveys of employers conducted by Hart throughout the geoscience curriculum, emphasizing qual- Research Associates (2007, 2010, 2013) for the Association of ity faculty mentorship for students in UR, promoting active American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). engagement by potential employers in UR internships and We evaluated which of these employer-identified ELOs are projects, and encouraging students to take ownership of their emphasized in a variety of geology courses and closely allied own UR opportunities all can enhance UR as a meaningful geographic information systems (GIS) courses offered by our component of undergraduate education. The additional time EAS department. Through this assessment, we identified the commitment required to participate in UR in the geosciences intersection of employer-identified ELOs with the skills gained is more than offset by the development of skill sets that benefit through the “traditional” coursework that leads to the comple- both students and employers by expanding the intersection tion of a four-year geoscience-based degree at MSU Denver. between skills sought by employers and skills possessed by Next, we evaluated which of the employer-identified ELOs new graduates. are emphasized in undergraduate geoscience research under- Key Words: undergraduate research, UR, geoscience, taken by students in geology concentrations in our department employer, graduate school, essential learning outcomes, ELO, and assessed the intersection of employer-identified ELOs Metropolitan State University of Denver, student benefits, with the skills gained through participation in UR. employer benefits We also conducted an anonymous survey of students in upper-division geology courses in EAS at MSU Denver to Introduction obtain informal data on student perceptions of undergraduate Participation in undergraduate research (UR) as a col- geoscience research. lege student requires a time commitment greater than that required for a “traditional” degree awarded solely for the sat- Results isfactory completion of a specific set of courses. Is participat- ing in UR worth the extra time? Do students who participate Skills Employers Want in UR gain skill sets that enhance their opportunities for employment in geoscience careers after graduation? In order A survey of employers who have hired recent two- or four- to assess these issues for undergraduate geoscience students year college graduates, conducted on behalf of the Association at Metropolitan State University of Denver, the relationships of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) by Hart between skill sets emphasized in “traditional” undergraduate Research Associates (2010), indicates that “a candidate’s dem- geoscience courses, skill sets emphasized in geoscience-based onstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, undergraduate research, and skill sets identified as essential and solve complex problems is more important than their learning outcomes (ELOs) by employers were examined. In undergraduate major.” www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 47 peer reviewed article
More specifically, top skills desired by employers include written and oral communication skills; critical thinking and analytical reasoning; applied knowledge in real-world settings; complex problem solving; teamwork skills in diverse groups; and information literacy (Table 1). In an extensive, multi-year ethnographic study unrelated to Desirable Skills in Recent % of Employers Surveyed the AAC&U survey, Laursen et al. (2006) collected data from Graduates undergraduate students participating in summer UR programs in biology, chemistry, and physics. Their results indicate that Written and oral communica- 89 students who complete the summer UR program report gains in tion skills knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors related to virtually Critical thinking and analyti- 81 each of the employer-identified ELOs in Table 1. In the Laursen cal reasoning et al. (2006) study, 92% of 1,230 student observations and 90% Applied knowledge in real- 79 of 55 faculty advisors reported positive benefits to students from world settings participation in UR, including increased technical and scientific knowledge and skills; increased ability to apply knowledge and Complex problem solving 75 skills to scientific research; enhanced ability to transfer knowl- Teamwork skills in diverse 71 edge and problem-solving skills to new situations; increased groups “intellectual engagement and initiative”; enhanced capacity as Information literacy 68 “independent and creative” problem solvers and decision mak- ers; and increased skills in communication, information literacy, teamwork, and organization. Table 1. Top-rated learning outcomes identified by employers as We anticipate that gains for students who participate in needing “more emphasis” in undergraduate education. Data from Raising the Bar: Employers’ Views on College Learning in the Wake of the geoscience undergraduate research will be consistent with those Economic Downturn, a survey conducted by Hart Research Associates for students participating in biology, chemistry, and physics in (2013) for AAC&U. the Laursen et al. (2006) study, but we do not yet have the data to support that conclusion. As initial steps toward examining these issues in more depth, we conducted an anonymous infor- mal survey of geology students to gather data on their perceptions of undergraduate research, and we examined the skill sets emphasized in “traditional” undergraduate geoscience courses and in geoscience-based undergraduate research. The results of each of these efforts are described below. Student Survey We conducted an anonymous survey of students in upper-division geology courses in EAS at MSU Denver to obtain infor- mal data on their perceptions of undergraduate geoscience research. Although a senior seminar is expected as a capstone experience for graduating seniors, the questionnaire is focused primarily on undergraduate research experiences outside the senior seminar requirements, such as independent study (“directed study”), student-initiated research within other courses, independent research, or internships involving focused problem solving and research. The survey divided the volunteer participants into two sets of upper-division students in the geoscience programs, “Group A” (n=32) which comprises students who have NOT participated in any recognized form of undergraduate research and “Group B” (n=11) which comprises students who are involved or have been involved in one or more undergraduate research projects. Students were asked to rate certain statements concerning undergraduate research on a scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree). A summary of the results is given in Table 2, indicating the percent respective responses received for each rating category.
GROUP A – 5 4 3 2 1 “Did NOT Do UR” I am interested in doing under- 56% 28% 9% 6% 0% Table 2. Results of informal student graduate research survey of upper-division students. N = 43 respondents, with n = 32 for Group The thought of doing under- 9% 47% 28% 9% 6% A and n = 11 for Group B. See text for graduate research is intimi- additional explanation of survey popu- dating. lation and respondent groups. I know how to get started doing 3% 16% 22% 34% 25% undergraduate research. I should do undergraduate 59% 28% 9% 0% 3% 5 = Strongly Agree; 4 = Agree; 3 = Neutral; 2 research. = Disagree; 1 = Strongly Disagree Doing undergraduate research 71% 19% 3% 3% 3% could help me get a job after graduation. Doing undergraduate research 66% 25% 6% 3% 0% could help me get into gradu- ate school.
48 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org peer reviewed article peer reviewed article
GROUP B – “Did UR” 5 4 3 2 1 I enjoy doing undergraduate research. 64% 9% 9% 9% 9% Doing undergraduate research was a valuable part 45% 27% 9% 9% 9% of my education at MSU Denver. I plan to continue my undergraduate research after 45% 9% 18% 9% 18% my coursework ends here at MSU Denver. Undergraduate students should take part in under- 64% 18% 9% 0% 9% graduate research outside required senior experi- ences or similar. My undergraduate research could help me get a job 64% 18% 9% 9% 0% after graduation. My undergraduate research could help me get into 64% 18% 9% 0% 9% graduate school.
5 = Strongly Agree; 4 = Agree; 3 = Neutral; 2 = Disagree; 1 = Strongly Disagree
Results of the survey indicate that students, whether or not Students in both groups agree that students “should” par- they have participated in UR, perceive doing UR as important ticipate in undergraduate research: the average rating for this and as potentially beneficial in finding employment or in question by Group A respondents (“Did NOT Do UR”) was 4.4, successfully applying to graduate school. However, although and the corresponding rating average by Group B respondents students in Group A are interested in participating in UR, they (“Did UR”), was 4.3. Both groups anticipate that involvement may be uncertain how to get started and may feel intimidated in UR will improve their chances for finding employment or for by the process. getting into graduate school. This expectation is underscored Although the majority of students in Group B perceived by the following written comment by one student respondent their UR experience as enjoyable and valuable, certain UR to the survey: experiences did not have the anticipated positive effect on “Undergraduate research is a critical aspect of the under- student attitudes and perceptions, as indicated by some of the graduate experience. Many students I know from across the lower ratings among Group B respondents. While this inter- United States who are students in the top tier universities nal finding needs further investigation, it aligns with results all participate in undergraduate research as a requirement from a similar research survey compiled by Lopatto (2004) for their degrees. This is something that can really advance on a much larger scale. His observations indicate that poor our school and students. It is very beneficial for getting into mentor quality contributes to student responses that are less graduate school and critical in the job market as I know from positive than anticipated, suggesting the pivotal importance firsthand experience when my undergraduate research experi- of the quality and level of involvement and guidance provided ence was the determining factor for me getting a highly sought by supervising faculty. While outside the scope of this paper, after job.” our institution of higher education needs to find better venues The indirect benefit of increased confidence for those apply- to attract and retain interested students in undergraduate ing to graduate school is indicated by the comment of another research activities, as well as ways of increasing the quality student: of mentor-student interactions. “Doing undergraduate research made graduate school less Results of the more pertinent findings for the focus of this intimidating and helped me have the confidence to apply. study are displayed in Figure 1. Without doing it I don’t think I would have applied.” These anecdotal student observations are congruent with analyses by Lopatto (2010) and Laursen et al. (2006), which conclude that student gains through UR reveal an “extensive array of professional and personal benefits.” Skills our Traditional Geology Courses Emphasize We examined selected significant activities and projects from four lower-division (1000- and 2000-level) geology courses and four upper-division (3000- and 4000-level) geology courses to determine which of the employer-identified top ELOs are emphasized in the “traditional” geology undergraduate pro- gram of study (Figure 2). Our compilation of skills includes only those emphasized in these geology courses. The red solid line in Figure 2 indicates the percentage of Figure 1 – Averages of upper-division student responses to UR state- geology courses addressing each ELO, while the blue dashed ments measured on a 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree) scale. line refers to the percentage of ELOs addressed by specific Respondents are divided into those who have not participated in UR undergraduate research-focused learning modules within (n=32) and those who were involved in UR (n=11).
www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 49 peer reviewed article
Figure 2 – Radar graph of percentage of MSU Denver geology courses assigned to a particular employer desired skill (red solid line), as well as MSU Denver geol- ogy UR modules embedded within courses (blue dashed line) addressing employer- desired skills.
Figure 3 - Radar graph of percentage of MSU Denver GIS courses assigned to a particular employer-desired skill (red solid line), as well as MSU Denver GIS UR modules embedded within courses (blue dashed line) addressing employer-desired skills.
the same set of courses. Although not all geology courses are dashed line, please refer to the explanation in the discussion designed to emphasize particular ELOs, learning modules of traditional geology courses. As with the geology courses, or exercises within each geology course do address all of the the red solid line in Figure 3 is an indicator for a “traditional” ELOs. Thus, the red solid line can indicate a “traditional” educational model in GIS courses, while the dashed blue line educational model in the geosciences, while the dashed blue encompasses an undergraduate research-driven approach by line encompasses an undergraduate research-driven approach modules within GIS courses. by modules within geology courses. Skills our Traditional GIS Courses Skills our Undergraduate Geoscience Emphasize Research Opportunities Emphasize We examined selected significant activities and projects In order to examine the benefit of skills obtained by par- from three lower-division (1000- and 2000-level) GIS courses ticipation in undergraduate research, we assessed skills and seven upper-division (3000- and 4000-level) GIS courses emphasized in undergraduate research projects undertaken to determine which of the employer-identified top ELOs are by two students who are in advanced stages of their research emphasized in the “traditional” GIS undergraduate program (Table 3). The skill sets gained, the processes learned, and of study (Figure 3). Our compilation of skills includes only the products generated during UR by our representative those emphasized in these GIS courses. For the explanation student-participants suggest a positive ratio of benefit vs. concerning data compilation of the red solid line and blue time investment.
50 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org peer reviewed article peer reviewed article
ELOs Student #1 Student #2 Written and oral communica- Poster and oral presentations at national confer- Poster presentation at national confer- tion skills ences. ence. Oral presentation at university UR forum. Current compilation of peer reviewed Current compilation of peer reviewed publication. publication.
Critical thinking and analyti- Finding approach for field and laboratory research. Finding approach for field and labora- cal reasoning Guidance for additional research depending on tory research. outcome of initial results. Applied knowledge in real- Field and laboratory survey according to industry Consultation with client about new world settings approach. approach. Feedback for feasibility. Complex problem solving Relationship and interpretation between physical Innovation of new research techniques and geochemical data. never before documented in the lit- erature. Teamwork skills in diverse Connection with industry. Communication with industry repre- groups Facilitation of collaboration sentatives. Collaboration with client. Information literacy Additional skill sets mastered, such as detailed Improved wet chemical lab skills XRD work and heavy mineral separation tech- beyond the scope of regular course niques. lab work.
Table 3. Sample processes and products from two students’ UR projects vs. employer-identified learning outcomes (ELOs). Processes and prod- ucts listed are in addition to “traditional” course requirements.
The positive balance of “benefits gained” vs. “time invested” integrated focus across the geoscience curriculum increases extends to UR across our student population, as illustrated the time commitment required of students, the increase in schematically in Figure 4. The “UR Focused Approach” inte- required time is more than offset by the expanded intersection grates undergraduate research into geoscience coursework by of new graduates’ skill sets with prospective employers’ ELOs, incorporating UR modules packaged as activities, independent as indicated by the student products summarized in Table 3 studies, internships, and field and laboratory experiences that and by the expanded region of common benefits to employers specifically address ELOs. Although embedding UR as an and students in Figure 4. Discussion Students who follow a “tra- ditional” approach in earning a geology-based undergradu- ate degree at MSU Denver gain skill sets that incorpo- rate each of the employer- identified desirable learning objects (ELOs) summarized in Table 1. Geology courses and GIS courses encompass the range of ELOs in general, but specific learning modules within these courses provide greater focus on particular ELOs (Figures 2, 3). Students who commit to an undergraduate research project in a way that involves them deeply in UR develop greatly expanded skill sets Figure 4 - Educational and employer benefit comparison between the “Traditional” and “UR Focused (Table 3) over those gained Teaching” approaches. The increased time commitment indicated by the larger circle in “UR Focused through “traditional” cours- Teaching” also yields substantially more benefits for both prospective employers and students. es. The UR-focused skill sets
www.aipg.org JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 • TPG 51 peer reviewed article bring enhanced benefits to both students and their future and your UR research goal. The additional time and resource employers (Figure 4) by increasing the intersection between investment is well worth the effort. employer-identified desirable learning outcomes and the skills students possess at the time they receive their undergraduate References degrees. These findings are corroborated by Lopatto (2010) who Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU). lists the observed benefits for students involved in UR as gains 2010. Percentages of Employers Who Want Colleges in “a variety of disciplinary skills, research design, information to “Place More Emphasis” on Essential Learning or data collection and analysis, information literacy, and com- Outcomes. https://www.aacu.org/leap/documents/ munication,” typical for employer-advocated ELOs. Laurens MoreEmphasis_2010.pdf. et al. (2006) also conclude that “UR is a powerful experience for students, developing skills, knowledge, attitudes, [and] Peter D. Hart Research Associates, 2007. “How Should behaviors that have a profound impact on their emergent Colleges Prepare Students to Succeed in Today’s Global adult identity.” Economy?” Results of a national poll for the Association of American Colleges and Universities. http://www.aacu. Although students in general, whether or not having partici- org/leap/students/employerstopten.cfm. pated in undergraduate research, agree that UR is important and might help them gain employment or graduate school Peter D. Hart Research Associates. 2013. It Takes More Than admission after graduation (Figure 1), not all students – even A Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and those who have participated in UR – fully realize its benefits Student Success, An Online Survey Among Employers (Table 2). An additional appropriate role for faculty advisors Conducted On Behalf Of: The Association Of American for UR, as suggested by Lopatto’s (2004) study, is to help Colleges And Universities By Hart Research Associates. students understand and value the gains and benefits offered http://www.aacu.org/leap/documents/2013_ by participation in UR. An important indicator of successfully EmployerSurvey.pdf. implemented undergraduate research is the key element of Kammler, Sara. n.d. Karriere: Türöffner: Die Diplomarbeit Im “enthusiasm” infused by the UR mentor (Russell, Hancock, Unternehmen Schreiben - Karriere.de. [Career: Opening and McCullough, 2007). the Door: Writing the Undergraduate Research Thesis Prospective employers can support efforts to expand the within Industry]. Karriere.de. http://www.karriere.de/ role of undergraduate research by providing internships or by karriere/tueroeffner-die-diplomarbeit-im-unternehmen- sponsoring UR-related projects. An example of benefits derived schreiben-6699/, accessed December 12, 2013. from active employer support for UR is demonstrated by a Laursen, S., Hunter, A.-B., Seymour, E., DeAntoni, T., European model in which students and industry work hand DeWelde, K., & Thiry, H. 2006. Undergraduate research in hand by allowing a future graduate to engage in research of in science: Not just for scientists any more. Ch. 6 in J. J. importance or benefit to a particular employer. The end prod- Mintzes & W. Leonard (eds), Handbook for College Science uct for the sponsoring entity is a bona fide, supervised, low-cost Teaching (pp. 55-66). Arlington, VA: NSTA Press. documentation of results. As Kammler (n.d.) reports, a side benefit is the commencement of a potential employer-employee Lopatto, David. 2010. Undergraduate Research as a High- relationship, which results in a direct job offer in as many as Impact Student Experience. Peer Review, Spring 2010, 50% of employer-student pairings. In this active-employer Vol. 12, No. 2. http://www.aacu.org/peerreview/pr-sp10/ model, employers can proactively support the development of pr-sp10_Lopatto.cfm. desirable ELOs in potential future employees, directly enhanc- Lopatto, David. 2004. Survey of Undergraduate Research ing their pool of qualified and capable prospective personnel. Experiences (SURE): First Findings. Cell Biology Education 3(4): 270–277. Conclusions Russell, Susan H., Mary P. Hancock, and James McCullough. As an institution of higher education, we are on the front 2007. Benefits of Undergraduate Research Experiences. lines for providing meaningful undergraduate research expe- Science 316 (5824): 548–549. riences that benefit both employers and students. We can This article was peer reviewd by Associate Editors Gail increase the positive impact of UR throughout students’ G. Gibson, CPG-9993 and Solomon A. Isiorho, CPG-7788. geoscience coursework by incorporating UR modules packaged as activities, independent studies, internships, and field and Barb EchoHawk is a geology professor at Metropolitan State laboratory experiences that specifically address employer- University of Denver, where she teaches physical geology, identified ELOs. UR-based modules can be coordinated across historical geology, geology of Colorado, energy and mineral an existing undergraduate geoscience curriculum so that an resources, and stratigraphy and structure. She received a BS individual student’s research is extended over multiple courses degree in earth sciences and secondary teaching certification and semesters. Embedding UR across a curriculum enhances from Michigan State University and MS and PhD degrees in its role within the undergraduate educational experience geological sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and may help students more accurately perceive and value where she specialized in Western Interior Cretaceous stra- the positive benefits of investing time in participating in UR. tigraphy. She has worked as an exploration geologist in the While academia and employers can do much to facilitate petroleum and minerals industries, as a project geologist in good undergraduate research, the key element for students is the engineering of large urban transportation projects, and involvement. The counsel is simple: Students, get involved in as a consultant on a variety of geological and educational UR on your own, even if it is not offered at your institution. projects. Barb has taught geology and education courses at Talk to mentors or advisors at school or at a professional orga- undergraduate and graduate levels, pre-service and in-service nization such as AIPG for help. For an enhanced experience, courses for K-12 teachers, and K-12 science and math. She find someone who is enthusiastic about his or her profession holds certification for teaching English as a second language
52 TPG • JUL/AUG/SEP 2014 www.aipg.org peer reviewed article peer reviewed article and has taught science to mixed-grade ters, new wavelength dependent night junior high classes for students learning prospecting tools, improved processes Foundation of the English as a second language. of rock and mineral thin sectioning, AIPG – A Search and clay mineral analytical processing for a Development Dr. Stella Todd is an Associate and computations. He currently works Professor of Geography in the as Assistant Professor of Geology at Committee Chairman Department of Earth and Atmospheric Metropolitan State University of Denver and Development Sciences, Metropolitan State University where he teaches courses in Mineralogy Committee Members of Denver. She teaches a variety of GIS and Optical Mineralogy, Hydrogeology, The FAIPG has been in the process and remote sensing courses and col- Applied Volcanology and Field Methods. laborates with undergraduate student of establishing its internal struc- researchers engaged in a variety of ture and policies, which include the spatial analysis projects. Her interests creation of a development arm. The are in cartography, conservation bioge- FAIPG seeks a volunteer to become ography, and community planning. a member of the Foundation and undertake the key role as the Chair Dr. Uwe Richard Kackstaetter, MEM- of the Development Committee. We 2437, a German native, received his M.S. are also seeking other volunteers to in Geology from BYU, Provo and his serve on that committee. Some have Ph.D. in applied geology and mineral- suggested that retired or semi-retired ogy from the University of Würzburg, members of AIPG may best be suited Germany. His professional expertise for this role, but the FAIPG does not on two continents ranges from environ- wish to exclude any person with a mental testing of drinking water wells, strong interest. Persons who have groundwater flow modeling, site contam- been active at the AIPG section level, inant evaluations, as well as geologic and and/or the national level, may be well hydrologic field investigations. As an suited, especially if such persons have educator he has taught not only in college non-profit development experience. and secondary classrooms, he has also However, previous close involve- conducted numerous national and inter- ment in AIPG is not a prerequisite. national geological field courses. Dr. Rob Rohlfs, CPG-9999, volunteering at the Chairing the development commit- Kackstaetter’s current interests are in AIPG booth at the North-Central GSA meet- tee will be a challenging, prominent ing in Lincoln, Nebraska. Thank you Rob for role and very visible to the AIPG developing various practical approaches taking on this task. as advanced tools for the geosciences, community. We ask that you con- such as automated percolation tes- sider filling this important need. For details, please contact John Bognar at 314-660-9968, or john.bognar@ geosciencesolutions.net.
2014 AIPG and AHS National Conference Hotel Information
Prescott Resort & Conference Center artwork indicative to the majestic scenery of the Prescott 1500 State Route 69, Prescott, AZ 86301 area. (855) 957-4637 For more information go to www.aipg.org and select the $119 Night with AIPG/AHS G3986 Room Block conference website.
Resting on the “Top of the Rock” offering picturesque views Please come join us in Prescott for our conference. For of the warmth and scenery of Prescott, the Prescott Resort complete meeting information, visit the conference website and Conference Center is the choice hotel for those seeking on the AIPG home page at www.aipg.org. a luxurious getaway in Northern Arizona. Located just 90 miles northwest of Phoenix, the Prescott Resort is a great escape for a relaxed weekend, corporate retreat, or confer- ence meeting. Experience the charm of Northern Arizona at the Prescott Resort. Our Prescott Resort hotel offers newly renovated guest- rooms that share the culture of the Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe. Each of our 160 guest rooms feature modern ameni- ties that cater to our guests needs, i.e. High-Speed Wireless Internet and Flat-Screen Televisions. Each room was designed in the spirit of the Yavapai Tribe and offers
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