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Department News and Events 2008 Distinguished Scientists Lecture Series - Fall 2008: On September 29, Dr. Stephen Self, Senior Volcanologist, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, will be visiting our campus as this year's first Distinguished Scientists Lecturer. One of the world’s experts in volcanology, Dr. Self has studied volcanic rocks in many parts of the world, concentrating on the products of explosive eruptions, large (flood) lava effusions, and the impact of volcanism on the atmosphere. In the early 1980’s, his research on the impact of volcanic emissions of sulfur into the atmosphere was critical to understanding the relationship between volcanic activity and impact on climatic cooling. His current research interests include mechanisms and deposits of super-eruptions. Dr. Self holds Visiting Professorships at The Open University (United Kingdom) and the University of Hawaii. He was formerly Chair in Volcanology at The Open University (2001-2007) and a past leader of the U.K.’s Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group (affiliated with The Mineralogical Society). He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, Fellow of the Geological Society (London), member of the American Geophysical Union, and a Life Member of International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior. Dr. Self’s public lecture, “Super-eruptions: Volcanic Activity with a Global Impact”, will be given on Monday, September 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Laurie Auditorium. His afternoon seminar, “How do continental flood basalt lava flows form? Results from the Columbia River Province,” is at 4 p.m. on September 29 in NH 040. The seminar is preceded by refreshements at 3:30 p.m. Dr. Diane Smith, associate vice president for Academic Affairs, has been named a Fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA), an international professional organization for earth scientists. more>> Assistant Professor - Dr. Benjamin Surpless is now an Assistant Professor in the Geosciences department. Dr. Surpless earned his Bachelor's degree in Geology from Carleton College in 1993, and went on to earn his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1999. His doctoral research focused on the structural and magmatic evolution of the western margin of the Basin and Range province, from western Nevada to Lake Tahoe, California. His current research integrates original and published structural, geophysical, geochronologic, and geodetic data from the Walker Lane of western Nevada to delineate the ongoing evolution of oblique normal-dextral deformation across this actively deforming, seismically-active region. Dr. Surpless also recently began investigating the potential reactivation of basement thrust systems in the creation of late Miocene syncline-anticline pairs in the Big Bend region of west Texas. New Faculty - The geosciences faculty is delighted to announce that Dr. Lara Heister will be joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Geosciences in August 2008. Dr. Heister earned Bachelor’s degrees majoring in political economy and geology from The Colorado College in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Her geology senior thesis was on the petrography and geochemistry of a diamondiferous lamproite, Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Dr. Heister earned her M.Sc. from Arizona State University and Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. Her dissertation was entitled "The geochronology, geochemistry and petrology of the East Greenland Plateau Lavas". While serving as a lecturer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Dr. Heister taught courses such as Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Physical Geology and Geology of the Western US. Dr. Heister's research revolves around a wide array of topics in the igneous petrology including determination of redox states in magmas, forward polybaric modeling of mantel melting, geochronology, determination of mineral-melt partition coefficients, and the estimation of climatic impacts of volcanic eruptions. Alumni Gathering 2008 - The Geosciences Alumni Gathering on was held on April 21, 2008 at the Hilton Palacio del Rio on the Riverwalk. During the gathering, we honored the long and distinguished careers of Dr. Edward C. Roy Jr. (1936 - 2007) and Dr. Walter W. Coppinger, who retired from Trinity in June 2008 after 34 years of service. In addition to sharing good company and good food, we enjoyed a great view of the Fiesta River Parade. You can view photos of the gathering and the presentation honoring Drs. Roy and Coppinger. Dr. Edward C. Roy, Jr. (1936-2007) - Trinity University is deeply saddened to announce the death of Edward C. (Ed) Roy Jr., a long-time administrator and geosciences professor who devoted 39 years to the University before retiring in 2005. Known as a gifted teacher with an ability to convey his love for earth sciences, he was respected and admired by many students and inspired many of them to pursue careers in the field of geosciences. He died Friday, Nov. 9, 2007. more>> |
