Month: March 2018

Immerse yourself in Virtual Geoscience at VGC 2018 – There is still time to submit abstracts!

The 3rd Virtual Geoscience Conference will be held in the beautiful Limestone City, Kingston, Canada, August 22-24, 2018. This is the premier conference for researchers, government, and industry members conducting innovative research in close range remote sensing and computer visualization applied to the geosciences. This year’s meeting focus is on the theme of immersive geoscience and novel developments in virtual and augmented reality. The broad focus of the conference series allows geoscientists from a variety of subdisciplines to share experience with the latest tools, software, and, technological innovations.

Abstract submission for the conference has been extended to *March 30, 2018*. Submission must be made using the conference submission page. The organizing committee is looking forward to reading your latest virtual-geoscience-themed abstracts.

Keynote Speakers – we are excited to have four keynote speakers confirmed for VGC 2018:

• Dr Nick Hedley, Director of the Spatial Interface Research Lab – a geovisual interface think tank – and a professor of geovisualization and spatial interface research in the Department of Geography at Simon Fraser University, Canada.
• Dr Joseph Wartman, Director of Natural Hazards Reconnaissance Facility at the University of Washington, USA.
• Dr Regula Frauenfelder, Physical Geographer at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute.
• Dr Helen Reeves, Science Director for Engineering Geology & Infrastructure at the British Geological Survey.

Short Course and Field Trip – we will be offering a short course on remote sensing applications to geohazards research and a local field trip exploring the local geology of the Kingston area on August 22nd, 2018. More details can be found on the VGC short course page. Participants can also register on the conference registration page.

Sponsorship and Tradeshow Booths – we would like to thank BGC Engineering, Esri, the Geological Remote Sensing Group, and the VOG group for supporting VGC 2018. We would also like to thank GIM international and Remote Sensing journal for partnering with VGC.

We have a variety of sponsorship opportunities and trade show booth options still available. Please contact the organizing committee for more information: vgc2018@virtualoutcrop.com.

Learn more about the conference by visiting http://virtualoutcrop.com/vgc2018 or follow us on twitter (@VirtualGeo_2018).

Ryan Kromer

On behalf of the VGC 2018 committee

Dear colleagues,

Please consider attending the upcoming Gordon Research Conference: Deep Carbon Science in the Context of Geologic Time, June 17-22.  This conference will explore the evolution of deep carbon in Earth’s biological and nonbiological reservoirs over 4.6 billion years. Topics include how carbon is incorporated into a growing planet and how early planetary processes mediate carbon transfers. We will then turn to the evolution of carbon reservoirs in the first billion years of Earth history, and explore early deep life, the population of terrestrial niches, the challenges that were overcome, and the feedbacks and interactions between the geosphere and the biosphere. The final phase of the conference will address the carbon cycle and how it has evolved through time. A goal of the conference is to engage a diverse and interdisciplinary group of Earth scientists, planetary scientists, and geobiologists.

Attendees will include a mix of leading junior and senior scientists. The conference will provide opportunities for junior scientists to present their work in poster format and exchange ideas with leaders in the field. In addition to programmed discussion sessions, Gordon Conferences provide a collegial, open atmosphere, and opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons, evenings and during meals. They are ideal for scientists from different disciplines to initiate cross-disciplinary collaborations in the various research areas represented.

We anticipate that there will be funds to assist with student travel and registration fees.

The link for the conference is: https://www.grc.org/deep-carbon-science-conference/2018/

Attendance is limited, so early registrations are encouraged.

Hope to see you at the conference,

Craig Manning, Isabelle Daniel, Kai-Uwe Hinrichs, Ed Young

Please see below for sessions of interest to the GeoPRISMS Community, taking place at the 2018 Goldschmidt Conference in Boston (August 12-17). Abstracts are due on March 30. Additional information can be found at:  https://goldschmidt.info/2018/

Please contact the GeoPRISMS Office at info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com if you wish to advertise your session on the GeoPRISMS Listserv.

https://goldschmidt.info/2018/program/programViewThemes

03d: Multidisciplinary Insights into Subduction Zone Processes

Conveners: Joshua Garber, Paul Starr, Edward Inglis, Kevin Burton, Besim Dragovic

Keynote: Pierre Bouilhol (CRPG, Univ. Lorraine)

Understanding the physical and chemical processes that occur at subduction zones is of importance in constraining i) the mechanisms and forces that drive plate tectonics; ii) chemical exchange between surface and deep terrestrial reservoirs; iii) seismic and volcanic hazards on human timescales; and iv) the generation of arc crust. As such, understanding feedbacks between these processes is of paramount importance to elucidating subduction-zone dynamics. This session seeks to link aspects of subduction zone petrology and geochemistry and is concerned with placing better constraints on the temporal and spatial evolution of subduction-zone processes. We invite abstracts that are concerned with, but not limited to, geochemical cycling and interactions occurring within subduction zones (including elemental and isotopic studies); geochronological constraints on subduction zone metamorphism and its evolution; field-based studies of subduction zone terranes; rheological and petrological experiments; and numerical modeling of subduction zone dynamics. We are particularly interested in assessing feedbacks between different physical and chemical systematics, and reconciling disparate datasets or interpretations attained by distinct methodologies – including those on either a global or regional scale.

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03e: The Continents: Origin, Evolution and Interactions with Other ReservoirsConveners: Fang-Zhen Teng, Cin-Ty Lee, Sonja Aulbach, Xiaoming Liu

Keynote: Ming Tang (Rice University)

Much effort has been expended over the past thirty years in understanding the origin and evolution of the continents and their interactions with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and the mantle through time. This session will focus on the composition and structure of continental lithosphere (crust + mantle) in the context of its formation and evolution. Observational, experimental and theoretical insights from petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry, or geophysics are desired.

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03h: Experimenting and Geochemical Fingerprinting at Plate Boundaries: Quantification of Fluid–Melt–Residue Interplay at Ridges and Subduction Zones

Conveners: Yildirim Dilek, Véronique Le Roux, Ali Polat, Christy Till

Keynote: Andrew Matzen (University of Oxford)

Experimental petrology and field-based geochemical studies of igneous and metamorphic rocks from mid-ocean ridges and subduction zone settings show that both mantle peridotites and fluids–melts-crustal material that interact with them are compositionally variable due to slab-driven recycling mechanisms, presence of volatiles, oxidation mechanisms, diffusional processes, magma mixing, and rates–nature of upwelling processes. Therefore, magmas and mantle residues evolving in seafloor spreading environments at mid-ocean ridges and subduction zones are highly heterogeneous. Quantifying the interplay between fluid-melt and residue at plate boundaries through interdisciplinary investigations can help us better understand the mantle dynamics and its evolution through time. In this session we welcome contributions from experimental igneous–metamorphic studies and geochemical–isotopic investigations of peridotites/ophiolites at ridge settings and subduction zones that examine: trace element behavior and partitioning during melting and melt–fluid percolation, mode and nature of mantle depletion and enrichment, dehydration/re-hydration reactions in subducted slabs and their influence on mantle chemistry, scales and development of mantle heterogeneities, mechanisms of asthenospheric upwelling that facilitate melt and solid earth material transport to spreading centers, and records of crustal and mantle recycling processes through plate tectonics.

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04a: From Geochemistry to Geodynamics, Volatile Cycling and Planetary Habitability: Where, When, How?

Conveners: Megan Duncan, Matthew Weller

Keynote: David Catling (University of Washington)

Constraining the long-term cycle of volatiles (e.g., C, H, S, N, He, Xe, etc.) through planetary systems is critical toward understanding the evolution of any planet. Potential ingassing, outgassing, and regassing via deep and shallow recycling processes likely affected the early habitability of planets, such as the Earth, and continues to affect the present day atmospheric composition and magmatic processes. We invite submissions that use a combination of measurements of natural samples, experiments, and modeling to address some of the following questions: What, when, and how are volatiles recycled, lost, and stored? What are the signatures at the surface, e.g., isotopic measurements of arc volcanic rocks or gases? How has it changed over time, and what are its continued implications?

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04e: Magma Production and Emplacement Rates, Tempos, Timescales for Crustal Transport and Storage, and Eruptive Fluxes

Conveners: Christoph Beier, Michael Bizimis, Rebecca Lange, Stephen Turner

Keynote: Christy B. Till (Arizona State University)

There is increasing evidence that rates of melt generation in the mantle and rates of basalt emplacement into the crust vary not only between tectonic settings, but also within a single tectonic setting over time. How variations in the tempo of melt production and emplacement affect subsequent transport pathways through the crust, regions of storage, degree of differentiation, and eruptive fluxes are areas of active research. We encourage contributions that investigate the interplay between magmatic processes and timescales of magma evolution, including all aspects of magma production, emplacement rates, and how changes in tempo affect melt transport pathways and storage in the crust, degree of differentiation, and eruptive fluxes. Contributions that involve geochronology, mineral diffusion profiles, thermal modeling, crystal nucleation and growth rates, and other related topics are welcome.

Dear Colleagues:

The Marine Geology and Geophysics Program (MGG) within the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) in the Directorate of Geosciences (GEO) has announced a nationwide search for a Program Director (Rotator) with experience and expertise in the broad area of marine geophysics.

The MGG Program supports research in all aspects of the geology and geophysics of the ocean basins, seafloor, subseafloor, and continental margins as well as that of the Great Lakes. The person selected for this position will work with the other Program Officers who oversee the MGG Program to balance the award portfolio across the entire range of disciplines supported by the Program.

A Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) has been released and provides detailed information, including guidance regarding qualifications required and how to submit an application. Please see (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/oce18001/oce18001.jsp).

https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/earlycareer2018/index.html 

Application deadline: March 16, 2018

If you are in your first three years of a permanent faculty position, please apply to join us for a multi-day workshop in a stimulating and resource-rich environment where you will participate in sessions on topics including effective teaching strategies, course design, establishing a research program in a new setting, working with research students, balancing professional and personal responsibilities, and time management. Participants must have a full-time faculty position at a two-year or four-year college or a university at the time of the workshop and must be in their first three years of full-time teaching or starting a full-time position in the Fall. The workshop is offered by NAGT On the Cutting Edge professional development program for geoscience faculty with support from the National Science Foundation, Geological Society of America and American Geophysical Union.

The workshop registration fee is estimated at ~$1250 ($1200 for NAGT members). Accommodations and some meals may be covered by the registration fee, pending support from NSF. Travel is not included in the registration fee. Participants or their home institutions must provide transportation to and from the workshop. In cases where the cost of attending this workshop would cause financial hardship, you may be able to apply for a stipend to help defray these costs. Ask your department or university for funds to attend as well – many have been quite supportive. The registration fee will be due in May after notification of acceptance into the workshop.