2004 Newsletter

Department of Geosciences University of Massachusetts Amherst A LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD JANUARY 2004 This is the first department newsletter in of these efforts, we have tried to leverage In Memoriam several years, and much has happened. university dollars with federal money, and This edition is somewhat longer than to strategically invest the funds we receive Remembering Terrence Burke Page 2 normal in order to catch up, and hopefully from our alumni to improve classroom and we will get back on schedule with regular field teaching facilities. We also work Memories of Howard Jaffe newsletters after this. Budgets have been closely with departments in the other local Page 3 tight, but as you will see, the department colleges to use our collective efforts when Faculty News has made significant progress in a number that seems like the best strategy. With all of critical areas, including faculty and of the new equipment and laboratories, the David Alexander departs student research, laboratory improvement, department is still as active in the field as Page 4 and a general broadening of our curricu- ever with every faculty member and nearly Steve Haggerty retires lum. The campus has invested new all graduate students working in some Page 5 resources in the department over the past exciting part of the world last year. Some Welcome back Don Wise couple of years, which speaks volumes highlights are included in this newsletter, Page 6 about how we are viewed across the but check our web site to see more about Meet our new faculty—Steve campus. We are commonly cited as an what we have been up to. Burns and Steve Petsch excellent example of a department that Page 7 delivers on the goals of quality teaching, Not everything went according to plan last Faculty notes research, and outreach. Despite the very year. Steve Haggerty — who swore he Page 9 tight budget, we added one new faculty would never retire – unexpectedly decided member last year, in biogeochemistry to retire and move on to Florida Interna- Around the Department (Steve Petsch), completed the new 700 ft2 tional University, where he is continuing his low-temperature isotope geochemistry research. David Alexander accepted a new Pete Robinson honored Page 15 laboratory, now occupied by Steve Burns, position at Cranfield University in England, and completed renovations for the new and moved at the end of 2002. These are State Geologist news electron microprobe facility in preparation two very distinguished faculty members Page 16 for our new “ultrachron” microprobe to be who are internationally known in their installed in early 2004. More details about fields, and losing them was a major loss to Research at Davis Mine Page 17 the activities of the “Two New Steves” and the department, but, we will strive for the the new labs will be found in the following resources to hire new faculty. The Ecological Cities Project pages. (continued on page 2) Page 18 Undergraduate research in PA The campus provided funding for a Page 19 new Finnegan isotope ratio mass Kilimanjaro research spectrometer, a new workstation- Page 19 based computer modeling facility Balloon launched for and matching funds to completely atmospheric research replace all the existing Macintosh Page 20 computers in the Digital Image 2003 student awards Analysis Laboratory (matched by NSF Page 20 funds to Chris Condit). We also added an ICP in the Geochemistry Alumni News Lab, thanks again to NSF funds Alumni Updates (obtained by Richard Yuretich) and Page 21 matching dollars from the campus. Work to reorganize and upgrade the Department Gifts paleontology and mineralogy Donors and funds teaching spaces, and to re-locate the Page 24 Quaternary Laboratory to better space is nearing completion. In all UMass Amherst in the autumn. Photograph by Don Sluter Department of Geosciences, UMass Amherst Page 2 L ETTER FROM THE DEPT. HEAD, CONTINUED We also lost two stalwart equipment, and renovated initiative in Massachusetts. have been doing, and supporters of the depart- labs and classrooms. There He is one of the co- please visit the department ment – Annabelle Lucas in is still much to be done, but organizers of the Connecti- if you get back to Amherst. the front office and Donna Ray certainly kept the cut River Watershed Reppard in Lynn Margulis’ department on a positive Initiative, and he has been Mike Williams lab. Both retired last year trajectory, and placed it in funded by the National and are sorely missed. an excellent position for the Competitive Grants to study future. Thanks for all of the hydrogeology of the One other change occurred your work Ray! We look Nashoba Terrane, among last year. Ray Bradley forward to great things from many other initiatives. In stepped down as Depart- the Climate Research just one year, the State ment Head in January, Center now that you can Geologist’s office has 2003, after 8 years in the give it your full attention. become active and visible in position. Ray brought great almost every part of the vision to the department Finally, one of the great state, thanks to Steve’s hard and many positive changes. achievements of the past work. This is a tremendous When he started, we were year has been the establish- addition to the department. the Department of Geology ment of the Massachusetts The challenge ahead is to and Geography, a name State Geologist’s office on convince the state that the that seemed to define our campus, and the hiring of new office is a benefit to differences rather than our Steve Mabee as the new everyone and a worthwhile common interests in the State Geologist. In his first investment. earth and its occupants. year as State Geologist, During his tenure, we Steve has received funding Mike Williams on a five-college One of my top priorities as field trip to Norway led by Pete became the Department of for the first Massachusetts incoming Department Head Robinson. Also on the trip were: Geosciences, introduced a USGS State Map proposal, is to establish closer Sheila Seaman, Laurie Brown, new undergraduate major in started a cooperative relations with all of our Chris Condit, John Brady, Jack Earth Systems, set up a real “Surficial Map Digitizing alumni. Check out our web Cheney, Steve Dunn, Mike Terry, Department Head office, Kurt Hollocher, John Schumacher, Project” (with Mass-GIS), page when you get the Bob Tucker, Frank Spear, Susanne hired seven new faculty and helped to develop a chance. Also, let us know McEnroe, and Sandra Robinson- members, bought new new USGS Fed-Map where you are and what you McEnroe. R EMEMBERING TERRENCE BURKE Terence Burke, longtime professor (1962-1979) and administrator (1979-1982) at the University of Massachusetts Am- herst, died June 17, 2003 at the age of 72 in Tucson, Arizona. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Philanne "Toppy" Burke, four children, and five grandchildren. Born in Leicestershire, England in 1931, Terry Burke first came to the United States on Smith-Mundt and Fulbright Fellow- ships to study historical geography at Clark University in Worcester while doing graduate work at the University of Birming- ham in England (M.S., 1958, Ph.D., 1968). Terry served as a Flight Lieutenant with the Royal Air Force for four years before coming to teach geography at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1962. Prof. Burke was the first recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1966-67. Terrence Burke was an Associate Professor of Geography in the Dept. of Geosciences (then called Geology and Geography) between 1969 and 1979, and was full Professor and "Associate to the Chancellor" for Chancellor Henry Kofler between 1979 and 1982. In 1982, he went to the University of Arizona with Henry Kofler, where he served as "Associate to the President" and Professor of Geography in the Department of Geography and Regional Development until he retired in 1998. A memorial service was held June 23 at the First United Methodist Church of Tucson, Arizona. Donations may be made in Dr. Burke's honor to the American Red Cross or the Community Food Bank of Tucson. Department of Geosciences, UMass Amherst Page 3 M EMORIES OF HOWARD W. JAFFE (1919-2002) by S. A. Morse They made 10% YAl garnet, then Howard was the master of the simple 20%, then 30%, and soon they Howard Jaffe died on May 13, 2002 Bunsen spectroscope for the semi- figured out where this was going, and in Amherst at age 83. Howard was quantitative determination of trace decided to shoot the moon. They Professor of Geology in this Depart- elements in minerals. He knew all made the end member, Y3Al2Al3O12, a ment from 1965 to 1991 and the emission lines with Mozartian silicon-free garnet! At the hands of Professor Emeritus thereafter. Before mastery, and when a strange one Bell Labs, this became the famous coming to UMass Amherst, Howard appeared too bright, it hit him like a YAG (yttrium-aluminum garnet), that worked for the Bureau of Mines, the sour note in the music he so ably is now one of the most useful high- USGS, and the Union Carbide played. This skill led to one of his energy laser crystals. Corporation. He was three times most cherished discoveries. In Visiting Professor at the University of studying manganese garnet from Howard was mightily proud of Geneva, discoverer of the rare- granite pegmatites, he suddenly spawning this industry. In the earth+aluminum substitution in began to see large abundances of 1990's, out of the blue, he got a garnet, and honoree in 1988 of the yttrium.

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