Earth Science Week and Online Resources

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is excited to announce the availability of The Geoscience Handbook in print, as well as additional resources to assist educators, students, and the wider geoscience community. Reprinted by popular demand, The Geoscience Handbook is now available exclusively through the AGI Online Store and is discounted 10% off retail price through October 31, 2023. Learn more about this comprehensive resource, available in both a full-color spiral-bound print format and a digital edition.

The definitive Glossary of Geology is now available exclusively as an annual web subscription. The Glossary provides students, educators, and professionals access to the precise definitions of geoscience terms. Personal web subscriptions are available here. The Glossary is also available to institutions via IP access for an annual fee. Email jr@americangeosciences.org for details.

Just around the corner is

Special Issue for International Journal of Speleology: Request for Submissions

Dear Colleagues, 

As you surely know, Alexander Klimchouk passed away last May.

He was a great cave explorer, scientist, and friend of many of us. 

He was the main driver of hypogene speleogenesis over the past twenty years, and his presence and the tough discussions with him regarding cave origin and evolution will be greatly missed.

We would like to dedicate a full special issue on Hypogene Karst (his most recent research field) to be published in the International Journal of Speleology (UIS) in 2024. Alexander, from up there, will surely love this idea! The Special issue will be guest-edited by Philippe Audra, Jo De Waele, and Arthur Palmer.

Submissions are open from now until February 28th 2024. 

When submitting choose "Klimchouk Special Issue" among the type of submissions. Submissions are open access and with no article processing charges, as always. We would like to close the special issue on the first anniversary from his passing away. We hope you can contribute with an article on hypogene karst.

If you intend to send in an article, please send us a provisional title and author list: jo.dewaele@unibo.it

Thanks

Arthur, Jo, and Philippe 

Cleveland Grotto 2024 Science Grant

The Cleveland Grotto (NSS 005) will make available a total of up to $1500 in science grants for cave-related projects. The Grotto will make grants of various amounts to bona fide research projects by members of NSS-affiliate grottos or to projects under the aegis of a college or university. Grants are not geographically limited.

The funds are available from the Cleveland Grotto Science Fund which was endowed by Bob (NSS-26333L) & Bev Danielson. The money is available to support research in geology, streams and water, biota, karst and other cave-related research projects.

Requests for equipment grants will be awarded mainly to institutions (schools, grottos). If an individual capital grant for equipment is made, and no supporting institution is available to maintain the equipment after the project is completed, the equipment will become the property of the Cleveland Grotto.

Applicants will be expected to have their project output published in an official publication, preferably the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, NSS News, an academic journal or other similar publication(s). For all activities to be undertaken, if there is any question regarding legality or access, the necessary permissions must be sought from all appropriate and potentially involved parties (landowners, government organizations, etc.) Fund monies are not permitted to be used for travel or in any way that is illegal, unethical, or objectionably dangerous. Awarding of grants and the amounts of each grant will be made at the discretion of the Cleveland Grotto Board whose decisions are final.

Recruitment for Karstology Doctoral Program

Director Search NCKRI Headquarters in Carlsbad, NM

Visit from the NPS Geologic Resources Division

Two lead staff from NCKRI's partner agency, National Park Service (NPS) Geologic Resources Division (GRD), visited NCKRI Headquarters in Carlsbad in mid-September 2023. Dr. Stephanie Gaswirth, NPS Geologic Resources Division Lead, and Mr. Harold (Hal) Pranger, Geologic Features and Systems Branch Lead, based in Lakewood, Co joined Mr. Carlos Romero, NM Tech Associate Vice President - Office of Research, NCKRI faculty member Dr. Dan Jones, and NCKRI staff Devra Heyer, Valerie Davis, and NPS Scientists in Parks Intern, Raquel Lugo for two days of meetings and collaboration.

The City of Carlsbad and Mayor Janway hosted an evening reception at Lake Carlsbad Golf Course so that key stakeholders could spend time together and enjoy Carlsbad's beautiful evening lakeside vistas. The following morning, the NPS, NMT, and NCKRI team met with Mayor Janway and other city officials to further connection and collaboration with the City of Carlsbad.

Visiting Scientists from NASA

In early September, several scientist from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Johnson Space Center visited NMT on an "expedition" for the Goddard Instrument Field Team (GIFT). The GIFT program scientists spent a week evaluating evaporite and carbonate deposits in the Quebradas area, just East of Socorro, as a possible Mars analog. They worked with several NMT faculty and students with Dr. Dan Jones as the Deputy Field Lead for the program.

NASA GIFT team members with NMT students, Amy McAdams and Zoe Havlena examine large outcrops of gypsum in the Yeso formation.

SWR Fall Regional

During the National Speleological Society Southwestern Region (SWR) Fall Regional at McKittrick Hill outside of Carlsbad, NM, NCKRI's Education Program Manager, Devra Heyer and SIP Science Communications Intern, Raquel Lugo organized bat counts and assisted with a restoration trip for the Bureau of Land Management, Carlsbad Office.

Better Together

In celebration of National Public Lands Day, NCKRI participated in "Better Together Eddy County CleanUp". Each day from September 9th -17th, NCKRI staff spent at least 20 minutes cleaning up trashing in public spaces, picking up at least two bags of trash. NCKRI's headquarters is across from the City of Carlsbad's Pecos River Park and close to other city owned green spaces.

Students in “Introduction to Cave Geology” taught by Academic Director Dr. Dan Jones, examine karst features on a weekend fieldtrip to the Quebradas area just outside Socorro.