NEWSLETTER
OF THE ARIZONA-NEVADA
ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
NEWSLETTER
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NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
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June, 1999
Editor, Stephen Williams The 43rd Annual Meeting of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science was held at Northern Arizona University on April 17. Here is the new slate of officers for the Academy. President President-Elect Recording Secretary Membership Secretary Treasurer |
Directors - Southern Arizona Directors - Central Arizona Directors - Northern Arizona Directors - Nevada We have two unfilled positions- Director for Nevada and Director for Southern Arizona. If you have nominations please send them to Owen Davis, President, ANAS palynolo@geo.arizona.edu |
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1999 ANNUAL MEETING REPORTThe 43rd Annual Meeting of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science was held at Northern Arizona University on April 17, 1999. Approximately 40 people attended the Friday evening talk at the Radisson-Woodlands Hotel. Dr. Lawrence A. Soderblom, a Geophysicist and Astrogeologist from the United State Geological Survey presented “Destination Mars.” The Awards Banquet and Luncheon on Saturday was attended by about 80 people with presentations of the Outstanding Service Award and three Outstanding Teacher Awards. Approximately 140 people registered for the meeting with 92 paper presentations including 11 best student papers. In addition, there were 13 poster sessions. Dr. Charles Connell, Provost of Northern Arizona University gave a talk at the luncheon entitled “Dynamics of Change in Higher Education.” The Junior Academy meeting was also held at Northern Arizona University on April 17, 1999. Approximately 70 students attended these sessions with 24 papers given in Life/Environmental Science and 6 papers in Physical and Cognitive Science. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
Opportunities Lost and Potentials to be Recognized |
What could ANAS have done to promote space exploration over the last 43 years? We probably couldn’t have launched our own satellite, even if we’d doubled the annual membership dues! But we certainly could have played a much more active role in promoting public awareness of our international scientific standing, and we could have worked with faculty and researchers at Arizona Universities to make their research accessible to the college and secondary schools of Arizona and Nevada. Nevada plays center stage to another scientific program of global importance. First, the Nevada Test Site hosted the development of the United States nuclear arsenal, and now it is set to become the location of the nation’s high-level nuclear waste disposal at Yucca Mountain. Much of the early history of the area was shrouded in secrecy, but the evaluation of Yucca Mountain’s long-term stability has been a major scientific undertaking involving federal, state, and private agencies that has cost hundreds of millions of dollars. This is science of the first rank -- fundamental biological and geological information of the State of Nevada. Again, ANAS could help make this information available to educators in Nevada and Arizona. These are just two examples. Consider the engineering accomplishments and environmental impacts of the Central Arizona Project. Have a look at the science links on the ANAS web site http://www.geo.arizona.edu/anas/. ANAS should play an active role in educating the students and general public of scientific accomplishments and problems in Arizona and Nevada. Who should do this? That’s where YOU come in. The Academy By-Laws places the responsibility on the shoulders of the Regional Directors. They “inform and advise” of scientific activities and needs in their regions. Each of four regions has two Directors. Currently posts for Nevada and Southern Arizona are not filled. I urge you to contact me or the head of the Nominating Committee, Kathy Lauckner, with the nomination of someone who will help to “stimulate scientific research and education” in Arizona and Nevada. Owen K. Davis, President, ANAS |
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OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDThe Outstanding Service Award went to Robert M. Harris. Dr. Harris was unable to attend the luncheon. JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCEThe Arizona-Nevada Junior Academy of Science Annual Meeting was held in conjunction with the Senior Academy on April 17 at Northern Arizona University. Thirty papers by 67 students from Phoenix Saint Mary’s High School, Tempe Corona del Sol High School and Mesa Red Mountain High School were presented in Physical/Cognitive Science and Environmental Science. The following is a list of the first and second place finishers. Grand Prize - First Place Environmental/Life Science Superior Award - Second Prize Environmental/Life Science BEST POSTER SESSION
Phoenix Flora Data Base. |
GRADUATE GRANTS-IN-AIDTwo graduate grants-in-aid were awarded this past fall. The recipients were: Janet M. ReiberDepartment of Biological Sciences University of Nevada, Las Vegas The title of her research is: Characterization of Adventitious Rooting. Michael L. Ginsburg Henderson, NV The title of his research is: The Evolution of Serpent Across the Drosophila melanogaster Species Subgroup. OUTSTANDING SCIENCE TEACHER AWARD
The three outstanding science teachers were honored at the Annual Meeting Luncheon. |
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TORCH INSTITUTE
GIS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FOR
TEACHERS, GRADES 4-14 July 5 - July 16 1999 This Institute is sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson National Leadership Program for Teachers and funded by the National Science Foundation. This 12 day institute will focus on the use of geographic information systems (GIC) in teaching environmental science. Twenty hours of training will be devoted specifically to learn ArcView GIS software. ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) will provide a complete software package for each participant gratis for PC or Macintosh. Sixty hours will be devoted to normal instruction and practical application of GIS and environmental science. The environmental themes emphasize earth systems science and will include topics of plate tectonics, hydrology and the application of geographic information systems in general. Other instructional topics will include project based learning and Internet publishing. Field trips will allow participants to study the geology and hydrology of central California. |
Location: Stockton campus of the University of the Pacific (one hour from the SF Bay Area, one hour from Sacramento) Fees: $55 for text and CD tutorial, Getting to Know ArcView GIS, $100 deposit to hold place (refunded at the close of the institute) Deposits will be forfeited for no-shows and cancellations after June 1. Continuing Education Units (1-4) are optional at $60/semester unit. Housing: On campus housing available upon request. Cost: $21.50 single, $16.60/day double. For additional information contact the Institute Director, Dick Filson at (209) 477-4234 or e-mail dfilson@inreach.com. |
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Last Modified 6/7/99 by OKD