Geospectrum Spring 2015 4 Hazards and Disasters Series
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GEOSPECTRUM News from the Geoscience Community Celebrate the International Year of Soils | The Discovery of Prudhoe Bay | Promoting Geoethics in Society: A New Challenge for Geoscientists | Realistic Advice for the New Geologist | Field Experiments for Methane Production from Hydrates SPECIAL INSERT: Back from the Field; How to Succeed at the Best Student Geologic Map Competition Spring 2015 In This Issue Spring 2015 NEWS 6 WORKFORCE 48 GEOSCIENCE CURRENTS 58 EDUCATION 64 SPECIAL INSERT 75 GEOSCIENCE POLICY 80 AWARDS & LEADERSHIP 89 MEETINGS 98 On the Cover Geospectrum Celebrate the International Year of Soils 11 4220 King Street Alexandria, VA 22302-1502, USA Dscovery of Prudhoe Bay 16 Phone: 703-379-2480 www.agiweb.org/geospectrum Promoting Geoethics in Society 42 [email protected] Realistic Advice for the New Geologist 49 Publisher P. Patrick Leahy Back from the Field - Competing in the Annual Best Editor Student Geologic Map Competition 75 Maureen N. Moses Methane Production from Hydrates 87 Contributing Editor Christpher M. Keane Cover Photo: Vanadinite crystals. from Miblanden Morocco, Africa. Copyright © StoneTrust, Inc.; Image source: Earth Science World Image Bank http://www.earthscienceworld.org/images Member Societies & Council Representatives American Association of Geographers - Douglas Richardson American Association of Petroleum Geologists - Laura C. Zahm The Palynological Society - Fredrick J. Rich Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists - Mark Bennett Association of Earth Science Editors - John R. Keith American Geophysical Union - Melanie Okoro American Institute of Hydrology - Rolando Bravo American Institute of Professional Geologists - Robert A. Stewart American Rock Mechanics Association - Peter H. Smeallie National Association of State Boards of Geologists - Deana S. Sneyd Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography - Adrienne Froelich Sponberg Association for Women Geoscientists - Denise M. Cox Association of American State Geologists - Laurence R. Becker Clay Minerals Society - Debora Berti Council on Undergraduate Research - Lee Phillips Environmental & Engineering Geophysical Society - Moe Momayez Friends of Mineralogy - Nelson R. Shaffer Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers - Roman D. Hryciw Geochemical Society - Barbara Sherwood Lollar Geological Association of Canada - Brian R. Pratt Geological Society of America - Suzanne Mahlburg Kay AGI Executive Committee Geological Society of London - Edmund Nickless Eric Riggs, President Geoscience Information Society - Suzanne T. Larsen Texas A&M University History of Earth Sciences Society - Warren A. Dym International Association of Hydrogeologists/U.S. National Chapter - Leonard F. Konikow Scott W. Tinker, President Elect Interational Medical Geology Association - Dr. Robert B. Finkelman Jackson School of Geosciences, Bureau of Economic Geology Karst Waters Institute - Harvey R. DuChene Richard J. Lambert, Treasurer Mineralogical Society of America - J. Alexander Speer Roscoe Postle Associates, Inc Mineralological Society of Great Britain and Ireland - Francis Wall National Association of Black Geologists & Geophysicists - Michael J. Carroll William J. Siok, Secretary Mahawie Consultants LLC North American Commission of Stratigraphic Nomenclature - Norman P. Lasca Jr. National Association of Geoscience Teachers - Susan Buhr Sullivan Berry H. (Nick) Tew Jr., Past President National Cave and Karst Research Institute - George Veni Geological Survey of Alabama National Earth Science Teachers Association - Roberta Johnson Killeen National Speleological Society - David Decker Katherine Lee Avary, Member at Large Consulting Petroleum Geologist Petroleum History Institute - William R. Brice Paleontological Research Institute - Stephanie Meyer Paul M. Bertsch, Member at Large Paleontological Society - Steven Holland CSIRO Paleobotanical Section of the Botanical Society of America - Robert A. Gastaldo Society of Economic Geologists - Brian G. Hoal Jacqueline E. Huntoon, Member at Large Michigan Technological University Society for Sedimentary Geology - Howard E. Harper Jr. Society of Exploration Geophysicists - Louise Pellerin & Mr. William Barkhouse Richard M. Powers, AGI Foundation Chair Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists - Al Taylor Consultant/AMEC-BCI -- retired Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. - Harvey Thorleifson Society of Mineral Museum Professionals - Penny Williamson P. Patrick Leahy, Executive Director The American Geosciences Institute Seismological Society of America - Susan Newman Soil Science Society of America - Jan W. Hopmans P. Patrick Leahy, Interim Executive Director The American Geosciences Institute Foundation Society of Vertebrate Paleontology - Ted J. Vlamis The Society for Organic Petrology - Prasanta K. Mukhopadhyay United States Permafrost Association - Julie Brigham-Grette International Associates Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences Geological Society of Africa International Association for Promoting Geoethics The Young Earth Scientists Network (YES Network) The American Geosciences Institute thanks these sponsors of the GeoSpectrum e-Magazine: • Enviro-Tech Services • WH Freeman & Co. • Elsevier Photo of Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia. ©Shutterstock.com/Cristina Muraca. Geospectrum SPRING 2015 4 Hazards and Disasters Series Editor-in-Chief, Dr. John F. Shroder The worst natural disasters in world history are happening right now. The frequency of occurrences has skyrocketed from an annual average of approximately 30 in the 1950’s to more than 850 in 2009. 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Patrick Leahy of the Dr. Jonathan Arthur, Florida State Geologist, and Presi- American Geosciences Institute dent of AASG had this to say of Leahy, “[Leahy] is a friend and vital, dynamic part of the geoscience community, awarded Prestigious Pick & and he embodies its spirit. Awareness of geosciences in Gavel Award this nation has been heightened significantly through Maureen Moses effective education and communication guided by his American Geosciences Institute wisdom and instilled by his enthusiasm and creativity.” Recent recipients of Pick and Gavel awards include The Association of American Congressman Ken Calvert in 2014, Congresswoman State Geologists (AASG) has Betty McCollum in 2013, Senator Dianne Feinstein and recognized the Executive Congressman Jim Moran in 2012. Leahy will be honored Director of the American with a dinner at the Cosmos Club in Washington D.C. on Geosciences Institute, Dr. P. the evening of Tuesday March, 10th, 2015. Patrick Leahy with its presti- gious Pick and Gavel Award. SME Executive Director This award was initiated by AASG in 1999 to recognize receives prestigious MMSA distinguished friends of Gold Medal award Dr. P. Patrick Leahy geology who have made John Hayden Image Credit AGI major contributions to Society for Mining and Metallurgy Exploration, Inc. advancing or facilitating the role that geoscience plays in our society. David L. Kanagy honored “Many of the complex geoscience issues we face at MMSA Annual Dinner today are of significant interest to the public.” Leahy said, The Society for Mining, “Indeed, earth-science problems often involve serious Metallurgy & Exploration conflict, have costly and long-term consequences, require Inc. (SME) is proud to timely action on the part of a policy maker, and reveal announce that Executive significant gaps in our knowledge and understanding.” Director David L. Kanagy Following his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at was awarded the 2015 Boston College, and a Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytech- MMSA Gold Medal by the nic Institute, he had a distinguished career at the U.S. Mining and Metallurgical Geological Survey with assignments including Chief of Society of America (MMSA) the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, Chief at their annual dinner on Geologist of the Geology Division, Associate Director for February 16, 2015 in Den- Geology and as acting Director. Leahy joined the Ameri- ver, CO. can Geosciences Institute in 2007 as its Executive Direc- SME Executive Director The MMSA Gold Medal tor, and continued work on programs like