Volume 49, Number 1 THE PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST JAN/FEB 2012 TPG Volume 49, Number 1 THE PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST JAN/FEB 2012 Inside This Student Issue 6 Features 2012 SME Annual Meeting & Exhibit 3 Scholarship Program 4 Starting a Geology Student Club Public Outreach Program Sammy Castonguay, SA-2047 5 Note To Self--Get a Good Solid Education William J. Elliot, CPG-04194 7 “Get Involved”- Career Advice for Graduate and 15 Undergraduate Students Michael J. Urban, MEM-1910 8 What Geology Students Need To Know About Professional Licensure Robert E. Tepel 10 Undergraduates Conference Attendance, a Win-Win Situation for Students and Their Home Institution S.A. Isiorho, CPG-07788 12 Towers, Tarantuals and Towbots Stephanie Jarvis, SA-1495 13 “Geobassador” Larry Cerrillo, CPG-02763 14 The Permitting Process for Land Development Impacts to Section 404 Waters by the Army Corps of Engineers: A Case Study Taylor M. Bell 36 15 New Yellowstone Website Provides Interactive Maps on Volcanic Activity 40 Studies Shed New Light on Denver Basin Groundwater 42 The view looking south from the mouth of Danger Bay on Afognak Island across Marmot Bay to Peer Reviewed Article Kodiak Island, Alaska. Parrot Island sits in the Assessing a Groundwater Monitoring Network at a Dense foreground. Whale Island is located between Afognak and Kodiak (to the right). Sharatin Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids Remediation Site using Mountain and Elbow Mountain are snowy white Groundwater Temperature, Level and Analytical Data in the setting sun. Photo taken March, 2011, by Kevin Svitana, MEM-1840 45 Christina Coulter, YP-0008. AIPG National Executive Committee DEPARTMENTS PRESIDENT - Barbara H. Murphy, CPG Clear Creek Associates O: (480) 659-7131 14 In Memory [email protected] PRESIDENT-ELECT - Ronald J. Wallace CPG 15 Section News State of Georgia O: (404) 362-2589 [email protected] 16 Editor’s Corner PAST-PRESIDENT - Samuel Gowan, CPG Alpha Geoscience, Inc. 17 Test Your Knowledge O: (518) 348-6995 [email protected] 18 President’s Message VICE PRESIDENT -E. Tom Cavanaugh, CPG AMEC C: (303) 726-1511 20 Members in the News Tom. [email protected] SECRETARY - J. Foster Sawyer, CPG 21 Executive Director’s Column SD School of Mines and Technology O: (605) 394-2462 22 Professional Ethics and Practices [email protected] TREASURER - Robert W. Gaddis, CPG 25 Members in the News Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent, Inc. O: (918) 732-1651 [email protected] 26 Hydrothink EDITOR - Virginia T. McLemore, CPG New Mexico Bureau of Geology 27 Student’s Voice O: (575) 835-5521 [email protected] 28 Educator’s Page (NEW) ADVISORY BOARD REPRESENTATIVES James F. Howard, CPG C: (270) 925-6636 30 Professional Services Directory [email protected] Brent E. 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UPS Savings Program For AIPG news and activities go to www.aipg.org. www.aipg.org or www.savewithups.com/enroll Use promo code WES462 Starting a Geology Student Club Public Outreach Program Sammy Castonguay, SA-2047, University of Oregon Public exchange of geologic informa- tion is important for relating consum- ers of earths resources to the processes of the dynamic earth that created the resources. This need spans all levels of public; from policy makers and execu- tives to public and community educators. As a student myself, I chose to focus on the most accessible and, in many ways, most impactful of the public: the next generation of public education stu- dents. Though, I encourage all students and professionals to become involved in Sammy showing off mineral samples (biotite Sammy discussing stream morphology on st th educating the public on geologic infor- and calcite) to a 1 grade class in a field trip to the Willamette River with 6 mation. South Eugene, Oregon. grade students from Oak Hill Middle School in Eugene, Oregon. Both as an undergraduate and now as -Find your campus ‘Geology Club’ (or a graduate student, I have worked with similar). If one does not exist, start the University of Oregon Geology Club show them you are organized and one through your student government to create a cohesive outreach program. also give them the chance to suggest and Geology Department. That being said, it is not yet consolidated. changes to the material. -Get involved in the ‘Clubs’ outreach In nearly three years, the program -Go into the classroom with confidence program. Again, if there isn’t one, has reached out to elderly communities, and lots of energy. Always engage the start one. public and private schools grades 1-12, students with eye contact and ques- detention centers, community organized Tips on starting and outreach program: tions. You are a guest speaker, it is free-schools, and across campus. -Look up schools in your area, any level, easy for them to write you off and not Some suggestions for students inter- or any place open for public exchange. listen, so keeping them engaged and ested in becoming involved in an out- Really, the possibilities are endless. focused is important. reach program: -Design some basic labs, or use some Our outreach program seems to be of your introductory moving toward an 8-10 lab curriculum course material.