Check out this exhibit in action by watching the video made by the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at Wheaton College. They just completed an interactive museum exhibit illustrating seismic signals as water flows through caves (activated as you push a button on both sides) as part of s NSF grant. There is a Raspberry Shake seismometer at the top, and you can see the seismic data in real time at the following link: https://dataview.raspberryshake.org/#/AM/R980B/00/EHZ?streaming=on. 

The next edition of the biannual international conference on karst hydrogeology EUROKARST, with hundreds of participants worldwide, will be organized in Rome (Italy), after the usual places of Neuchatel (Switzerland), Besancon (France), and Malaga (Spain). The conference is aimed at presenting the last news on hydrogeological research on karst aquifers and to discuss about groundwater, a fundamental resource for human being, societal development and environmental protection.

EUROKARST 2024 will be co-organized by the Sapienza University of Rome, the University Aldo Moro of Bari and the Sannio University of Benevento, with the support of the Italian Chapter of IAH (International Association of Hydrogeologists), and will be hosted in the main campus of Sapienza University, central Rome, between June 10 and 14, 2024.

You can find out more at: http://www.eurokarst.org  

For any further information, please contact the organizers below.

The Chairs of the Organizing Committee:

Francesco Fiorillo (Chair, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy) francesco.fiorillo@unisannio.it 

Mario Parise (Chair, University Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy)

mario.parise@uniba.it 

Marco Petitta (Chair, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy) marco.petitta@uniroma1.it 

Registration for the New Mexico Geological Society’s annual Fall Field Conference will open on 14 August. This year’s conference will focus on evaporite karst in southeastern New Mexico and geology of the greater Delaware Basin region.

To register: https://nmgs.nmt.edu/ffc/registration/home.cfml

The National Cave and Karst Research Institute is the venue for this year’s annual meeting. The location is 400-1 Cascades Ave, Carlsbad, New Mexico. This is beside the Pecos River and a few blocks from the main road through town. NCKRI acts as a nexus for cave and karst science, stewardship and public education.

The Board of Directors meeting on Friday, November 3rd, from 8 AM until 5 PM, and public presentations, posters and maps about cave exploration, science and other topics will be in same location on Saturday, November 4th, from 8 AM until 4 PM. A more detailed agenda will be forthcoming. We invite all interested presenters, for talks, posters, about your work, be in in New Mexico, CRF, or not. Contact John (below) with your ideas. We hope to have presentations from the three federal cave management organizations in New Mexico. This meeting will allow cross-fertilization of projects, networking between the regional attendees and those coming from out of state from CRF regions around the country. 

Eddy County is the most cave populated county in the state, with many classic limestone caves of all sizes and conditions. Caving field trips and volunteer work are being planned for the week before and possibly on Sunday after the meeting. Meals and accommodations are varied and will be addressed shortly. 

Contacts: John Lyles jtml@losalamos.com

Alternate: Janice Tucker janice.tucker@live.com

Caves as Observatories of Groundwater Recharge

By: Professor Andy Baker, Biological Earth and Environmental Science, UNSW Sydney Australia

Monday September 11, 2024 19:30-21:00 BST

https://bcra.org.uk/seminars2023.html#join

34th BCRA Cave Science Symposium

October 21-22, 2023

Leeds, England

This year's Science Symposium will be at the University of Leeds, on Saturday 21 October, organised by Simon Bottrell. On Sunday 22nd October there will be a field excursion, led by Phil Murphy, to include Gillfield Level at Greenhow and caves of Nidderdale. There is no charge for these events but donations are requested to support the running costs, particularly from participants in the Gillfield level visit who will be asked to make a small contribution towards the costs of maintaining access to this important part of our underground heritage.

Hello to each of our readers-

I want to take a moment to introduce myself more widely through our NCKRI News readership. My name is Valerie Davis, and I joined the NCKRI team in August 2021 as the Operations Division Director. I brought to NCKRI my 20+ years of higher education administrative experience, and I am honored to have been selected to join the team at NCKRI. When Dr. George Veni retired as Executive Director, I was asked to serve as Interim Director while a nationwide search is conducted for a new NCKRI Director. When that person is hired, I will continue my Operations role, and fully support our new Director during their onboarding process.

I want to take a moment to share with you a couple of observations and highlights afforded by my currently expanded role. We have a great opportunity before us to undertake the meaningful and statutory mandate-driven work that the State of NM and the National Park Service have entrusted NM Tech/NCKRI to accomplish. First, I would like to thank our dedicated team of professionals for believing in our mission, and for bringing their best selves to the work and contributing positively each day. Our staff embraced the current opportunities for growth. We are working collaboratively, as a team, cultivating a fresh perspective that will carry NCKRI to new heights. Secondly, I want to mention that NCKRI is most fortunate to be a research institute of one of the nation’s top STEM schools, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Our connection to NM Tech offers high-level administrative support, inspiring professional relationships, and contributes significantly to our success in completing our valuable work. We would not be where we are, doing what we do, if it weren’t for the support and leadership provided to us by NM Tech. 

Together, NCKRI and NM Tech share a commitment and purposeful role in performing cave and karst science and outreach for the benefit of the National Park Service, the State of New Mexico, and our largest stakeholder, the public. I am honored, energized, and enthusiastic to be a part of this organization, especially as we move to a new phase in our development. I thank each of you for your support, cheerleading, ideas, and friendship.

I welcome your comments, questions, and any great ideas that you may wish to share. I can be reached at vdavis@nckri.org.

Valerie Davis

Meet NCKRI's Science Communication Intern

Photo Description: (Above) Raquel Lugo taking measurements during the building of the decon station at the National Speleological Society Annual Convention.

Media Description: (Above) An example Cave and Karst Word of the Week post done by Raquel. (Below) A comic made for the National Speleological Society's decon station designed by Raquel.

Summer is Coming to an End for our Science Interns

Photo Description:

(Top) Anika Baloun assists Jimmy Swift in acquiring water samples at Valles Caldera National Preserve with Abigail Brown at the ready with collection tubes.

(Bottom) Anika Baloun and Jimmy Swift stand outside a dilapitated shelter while Joseph Hoberg rests inside.