MARGINS-NSF Program

SEPM FIELD CONFERENCE AUGUST 15-18, 2008 - Clinoform Sed Deposits (12/19/07)

FIRST CIRCULAR: SEPM FIELD CONFERENCE AUGUST 15-18, 2008

CLINOFORM SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS: THE PROCESSES PRODUCING THEM AND THE STRATIGRAPHY DEFINING THEM

We aim to bring together the ‘modern, ancient and modeling’ communities who have an interest in clinoform deposits, specifically in their formation, character and significance. The focus will be on clinoforms found on continental shelves, in association with fluvial-deltaic systems, including the deeper water shelf margin itself. Whereas the modern community focuses on formative processes and spatial variability of clinoforms, the ancient community has data and insight on sedimentary facies and development over longer time scales. The modelers (numerical and physical) are critical to both groups for providing links between time scales. In turn, the modelers seek validation for the results of their models. All three groups are interested in the source-to-sink aspects of shelf-scale clinoforms. A field Conference will allow prolonged dialog and discussion, while examining some classic field examples of river-, tide- and wave-dominated deltas on shelf and shelf-margin settings.

Conference Themes:

Scale independence of clinoform morphology
Linkages between deltaic and subaqueous shelf deposits?
Margin morphology and shelf-edge deltas
Tide-, wave- and river-dominated deltas and relationships to clinoform structure
Subaerial and subaqueous portions of deltas – their formative relationships
Sandy and muddy gravity flows distributing sediment on clinoforms
Along-clinoform heterogeneity of structure and the processes responsible
Cross-shelf clinoform migration with changing sea level and supply

Convenors: R. Steel & C. Nittrouer

Scientific Committee:
R. Dalrymple, G. Hampson, S. Kuehl, D. Mohrig, J. Swenson
C. Carvajal (field leader: Fox Hills-Lewis clinoforms)
C. Olariu (Field Coordinator)
P. Plink-Bjorklund (field leader: Chimney Rock clinoforms)

Conference Base: Western Wyoming Community College, Rock Springs, Wyoming

Conference format: Two days of keynote lectures and participant posters, Rock Springs, Wyoming, plus two days of field seminar around Flaming Gorge (wave-dominated clinoform sets) and Rawlins areas (Haystack Mountains tide-influenced clinoforms; Fox Hills-Lewis river-dominated, shelf-edge clinoforms) Conference dates and numbers: August 15-18, 2008; maximum of about 80 participants because of limitations on field portion. Arrival into Rock Springs should be evening August 14th.

Conference Fees: Registration fee for 4-day conference will be announced shortly. This will include field transport, abstract book, field-guide books, lunches during two field days, drinks during two field days and meals during lecture days at WWCC.
CALL FOR POSTER ABSTRACTS
Please submit 250-word abstracts (SEPM format) on above or related themes by March 31st, 2008 to SEPM (online submission to become available)

AGU Reminder: MARGINS Reception... (12/4/07)

MARGINS Student and Community Reception
Monday, December 10, 6:00 pm, Yerba Buena Salon 7, San Francisco Marriott
http://www.nsf-margins.org/AGU2007/index.html

MARGINS will host a Reception at the AGU Fall Meeting (details above). The Reception is an open event, welcoming participants in MARGINS-funded studies and all others with an interest in the program. Entrants for the MARGINS Student Presentation Prize are invited to present their posters and discuss their research with the scientific community attending. This will be a great opportunity for the students to further share their results and interact with a wide spectrum of MARGINS scientists. This year, poster entrants will be judged at this event in consideration for the MARGINS Student Prize, and several judges will be present.

There will be ample time to mingle, with food and drinks courtesy of Boston Univeristy and the MARGINS Office. Among those present will be Geoff Abers (MARGINS Chair), members of the MARGINS Steering Committee, and Program Managers for MARGINS from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Chair and NSF Program Managers will use this event as an opportunity to update the community on recent MARGINS events and successes, and discuss plans for the future.

See you there!

ALSO:
Two MARGINS Mini-Workshops are scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 9
9am - 5pm: The Future of the NSF-MARGINS Initiative Rifting Continental Lithosphere (RCL)
2pm - 5pm: Data Resources for the Geosciences
* for more information, see http://www.nsf-margins.org/AGU2007/index.html#mini

-MARGINS Office

Open Letter from the MARGINS Steering Committee (11/28/07)

Dear MARGINS Community,

As many of you know, the NSF MARGINS program was conceived as a decadal program, and that decade ends in 2009. To date, MARGINS has seen a great deal of success, in major scientific discoveries, truly cross-disciplinary scientific communities, and in driving science across a range of programs. A major review is currently scheduled to occur in 2009, and the program in its present form will begin to wind down. A viable successor program will have to be well-argued and driven by major, transformative science endeavors that cannot be accomplished through core funding. We are writing this letter to engage the community in a planning process, and to highlight several ways in which you can get involved.

A) Integration and synthesis proposals.

The MARGINS Science Plans calls for integration and synthesis of results in all Initiatives and, ideally, across Initiatives, a call that was strongly reinforced by a mid-program review in 2004. Cross-disciplinary integration is one major way to distinguish MARGINS as a coherent program. Studies to integrate and synthesize results are well within the scope of the Science Plans and hence within the scope of what could be funded through the MARGINS NSF solicitation (July 1 deadline). We highlight this opportunity, and bring it to the attention of anyone who might consider seeking support for an integrative project. B) Self-organized planning groups.

The MARGINS Steering Committee (MSC) encourages self-organizing groups to formulate potential directions for the future. This is especially important for programs not now represented in MARGINS. Such an effort could be independent of, but parallel with, preparations for the decadal review. Being pro-active in exploring and evaluating future directions is probably the best way to maximize the likelihood of a positive outcome. Any groups interested in self-organizing a planning function should provide an outline of what they would like to do, and contact a MSC member or the Chair (abers@nsf-margins.org) to discuss how to proceed, preferably before April 2008. Again, the nature of any successor program could be quite different than the current MARGINS. The current definitions of Initiatives and Focus Sites (or even the idea of Focus Sites) are not constraints. For example, there has been much discussion already about the merits of a Thematic rather than Focus Site structure to a successor program, and about emphasizing hazards or resource-related science at active and passive margins (see Chairs Comments in Fall 2007 MARGINS Newsletter, just published).

Shortly after AGU, we plan to open up a web-based forum for posting informal idea pieces and white papers on potential future directions of the program. C) MSC-organized planning activities.

The MSC is actively recruiting groups to participate in and run planning activities at a variety of levels over the coming months. Various committee members have been active in bringing together other groups, for example in thematic planning workshops. One example is the RCL Future workshop at AGU this December. We envision a set of straw-man ideas developed over the coming months that could illustrate some of the potential of a successor program, with in-depth science plans developed after such a program is approved. By the time the current program is reviewed, some clear models for potential future program should be outlined. D) Science.

The current NSF MARGINS program is accepting proposals for annual July 1 deadlines (see NSF solicitation 07-546). The program has been steadily funded for the last several years, with successful proposals in all Initiatives. The Post-Doctoral Fellowship program continues to be supported, and is described in the same solicitation. Now is a great time to begin thinking about science proposals to submit for next July.

If you wish to discuss this with any of us, our contact information is available on the MARGINS web page (http://www.nsf-margins.org/MARGINS_Office/AboutSC.html). Also, many members will be present at AGU, at the annual MARGINS Reception Monday Dec. 10, 6-8 pm, Marriott Salon 7, and will be happy to discuss these issues with you.

Regards,
The MARGINS Steering Committee
November 28, 2007

MARGINS Newsletter Issue 19 (11/27/07)

Dear MARGINS Community,

A color version of the Spring 2007 MARGINS Newsletter Issue 19 is now available online at http://www.nsf-margins.org/Publications/Newsletters/Newsletter.html

Your paper copy will be delivered shortly. See you at AGU!

-The MARGINS Office

MARGINS Office Positions Available in New York (11/20/07)

The MARGINS Office seeks a new Coordinator starting in January 2008. The Office is moving to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, in Palisades, New York, through October 2009, continuing under the direction of the current Chair, Geoff Abers. The Office fosters and facilitates activities of the NSF-MARGINS program, and provides a focal point for the planning, organization, communication and interaction with the Earth Science community. The Coordinator will manage day-to-day operation of the Office, and serves as scientific assistant to the Chair. Duties include scientific interaction with researchers around the world; writing content for, editing, and distributing newsletters, reports, and meeting minutes; developing materials and managing content for the MARGINS web site; providing some technical assistance for web site; overseeing meeting logistics including on-site support and budget monitoring; coordinating and participating in Steering Committee working groups; and reseraching and drafting science policy documents. The Coordinator also serves as primary liaison with the Data Management system, and coordinates some education and outreach efforts. A Master's or PhD in geosciences or related discipline preferred. Well-developed organizational and communication skills are necessary. Must be able to travel to national and international meetings. Helpful qualifications include expertise in web design and management; experience with administration including supervision of at least one person; experience with science education and outreach projects.

Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Geoffrey Abers, MARGINS Chair, abers@nsf-margins.org, along with a CV and names of three potential references.

All interested candidates interested in applying must apply online at: https://jobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=108242
We consider online applications only. Columbia University is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

AGU REMINDER: MARGINS Reception and Student Prize (11/16/07)

MARGINS Student and Community Reception

AGU Fall Meeting
6:00 PM, Monday, December 10; Yerba Buena Salon 7, San Francisco Marriott
MARIGNS will host a Reception at the AGU Fall Meeting (details above). The Reception is an open event, welcoming participants in MARGINS-funded studies and all others with an interest in the program.

Student entrants for the MARGINS Student Presentation Prize are invited to their posters and discuss their research with the scientific community attending. This will be a great opportunity for them to further share their results and interact with a wide spectrum of MARGINS scientists. This year, poster entrants will be judged at this event in consideration for the MARGINS Student Prize, and several judges will be present (see the announcement below for more details).

There will be ample time to mingle, with food and drinks courtesy of Boston University and the MARGINS Office. Among those present will be Geoff Abers (MARGINS Chair), members of the MARGINS Steering Committee, and Program Managers for MARGINS from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The Chair and NSF Program Managers will use this event as an opportunity to update the community on recent MARGINS events and successes, and discuss plans for the future (http://www.nsf-margins.org/AGU2007/index.html).

---------------------------

MARGINS Prize for Outstanding Student Presentation

The MARGINS Office and Steering Committee are offering $500 prizes for two Outstanding Student Presentations on MARGINS-related science at the AGU Fall Meeting, December 10-14, 2007 in San Francisco. The two prizes, one for a poster presentation and one for an oral presentation, will be awarded to highlight the important role of student research in accomplishing MARGINS science goals, and encourage cross-disciplinary input to the MARGINS program. Any student as first author presenting a poster or talk with research related to MARGINS science initiatives is eligible to participate. Students from the U.S. and international community are encouraged to apply. Posters from student entrants will be on display throughout the MARGINS Student and Community Reception (details above) for judging. The winner and any honorable mentions will be notified after the AGU Fall Meeting, and will be highlighted in the MARGINS newsletter and website, including notification to the hosting schools of their achievement.

Application deadline: Friday, November 23, 2007
Visit the MARGINS website for further information and to apply: http://www.nsf-margins.org/AGU2007/index_stuprize07.html

GeoMod2008 Conference (11/15/07)

Dear Colleagues,

This is the first announcement for GeoMod2008, an international conference on geological modelling (analogue and numerical) to be held in Florence, Italy from 22 to 24 sept. 2008. Website of the meeting: www.geomod2008.org; first circular available at: www.geomod2008.org/geo_modelling_1st_circular.shtml.

The conference represents a follow-up of the two successful meetings held in Milan (RealMod2002) and Lucerne (GeoMod2004) and will offer the opportunity to bring together researchers (from universities and industries) who deal with modelling of geological systems. The main topics of the conference will include: Rheology and Tectonics, Mountain Building and Thrust Systems, Subduction Zones, Lithospheric Extension, Basins and Sedimentary Budget, Surface Processes.

Location: the conference will be held in Villa La Pietra, a beautiful historical villa located on one of the foothills surrounding Florence (see attached Google earth link). Villa La Pietra houses the famous Harold Acton Art Collection and one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy. Website: www.lapietracorporation.com.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Roger Buck (Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, USA)
Alexander Cruden (University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada)
Jean-Marc Daniel (Institut Français du Pétrole, Rueil-Malmaison, France)
Claudio Faccenna (Università di RomaTre, Rome, Italy)
Manel Fernandez (Inst. of Earth Sciences 'Jaume Almera', CSIC, Barcelona, Spain)
Luca Ferrari (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Queretaro, Mexico)
Gianreto Manatschal (Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France)
Luc Lavier (University of Texas, Austin, USA)
Onno Oncken (GeoForschungsZentrum, Potsdam, Germany)
Giorgio Ranalli (Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada)
Dimitrios Sokoutis (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Basil Tikoff (University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA)

ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Giacomo Corti (CNR-IGG, Firenze)
Marco Bonini (CNR-IGG, Firenze)
Piero Manetti (Universita' di Firenze) Giovanna Moratti (CNR-IGG, Firenze)
Federico Sani (Universita' di Firenze)

For any other information, do not hesitate to contact us.
The organizing committee looks forward to welcoming you to Florence for the GeoMod2008 Conference!

Giacomo Corti on behalf of the Organizing Committee

MARGINS Student Prize at AGU 2007 (10/25/07)

MARGINS Prize for Outstanding Student Presentation

The MARGINS Office and Steering Committee are offering $500 prizes for two Outstanding Student Presentations on MARGINS-related science at the AGU Fall Meeting, December 10-14, 2007 in San Francisco. The two prizes, one for a poster presentation and one for an oral presentation, will be awarded to highlight the important role of student research in accomplishing MARGINS science goals, and encourage cross-disciplinary input to the MARGINS program. Any student as first author presenting a poster or talk with research related to MARGINS science initiatives is eligible to participate. Students from the U.S. and international community are encouraged to apply. Posters from student entrants will be on display throughout the MARGINS Student and Community Reception (details coming soon) for judging. The winner and any honorable mentions will be notified after the AGU Fall Meeting, and will be highlighted in the MARGINS newsletter and website, including notification to the hosting schools of their achievement.

Application deadline: Friday, November 23, 2007
Visit the MARGINS website for further information and to apply: http://www.nsf-margins.org/AGU2007/index_stuprize07.html

MGDS-GfG GSA workshop (10/18/07)

Data Resources for the Geosciences
Free GSA Lunchtime Workshop
12:00 noon - 2:00pm, Tuesday 30th October 2007
Room 606, Colorado Convention Center, Denver

Join us for an informal introduction to cool, free data resources:
GeoMapApp (a data visualization and exploration tool) and the EarthChem, PetDB, SedDB geochemistry database systems.

Workshop is free. Boxed lunch provided. Bring your laptop! Attendance limited to 30 people. Slots are still open!

Organised by the Marine Geoscience Data System and Geoinformatics for Geochemistry. Sign up at info@marine-geo.org

Check out our web pages:
http://www.geomapapp.org
http://www.marine-geo.org
http://www.geoinfogeochem.org

The MGDS and GfG teams

2 pre-AGU MARGINS Interdisciplinary Mini-workshops (10/11/07)

“The Future of the NSF-MARGINS Initiative Rifting Continental Lithosphere (RCL)”
A pre-AGU activity: Sunday, December 9, 2007, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Metropolitan 3 Ballroom, The Westin San Francisco Market Street (50 Third St.)

Co-convenors: Paul Umhoefer (Northern Arizona University) and Roger Buck (LDEO, Columbia University)

Recent advances in understanding the rifting process have come from studies in the MARGINS-RCL focus site in the Gulf of California as well as through research in many rifts. This workshop will bring together geoscientists that work on the processes and sites of rifting continental lithosphere to discuss the status of RCL research and ideas for possible future directions of RCL within a potential successor program to MARGINS. The program will include a review of advances in research in the Gulf of California focus site, the status of research in selected rifts, and RCL-related modeling. We will consider if the focus site paradigm is the best for the future, and how best to get broader community input into the RCL planning process.

For more information, please contact the MARGINS Office (margins@nsf-margins.org).

-------------------------------

"Data Resources for the Geosciences"
A pre-AGU activity: Sunday, December 9, 2007, 2:00 - 5:00 pm
City Room, The Westin San Francisco Market Street (50 Third St.)

Conveners: Andrew Goodwillie (Marine Geoscience Data System) and Kerstin Lehnert (Geoinformatics for Geochemistry)

Join us for an informal introduction to cool, free data resources: GeoMapApp (a data visualization and exploration tool) and the on-line geochemistry database systems EarthChem, PetDB, and SedDB. Demonstrations of these systems will be given, followed by hands-on exercises. This workshop is free. Refreshments will be available. Bring your laptop! To see these data tools, visit www.geomappapp.org, www.marine-geo.org, www.geoinfogeochem.org

A number of student travel awards will be offered.

SIGN UP TODAY for this free workshop and for information on the student travel awards! Email: margins@nsf-margins.org
Workshop attendance limited to 25 people.

GSA Short Course (9/29/07)

508. Starting out in Undergraduate Research and Education: A Professional Development Workshop for Young Faculty
Sat., 27 Oct., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Jeffrey G. Ryan, University of South Florida; Lydia K. Fox, University of the Pacific; Jill Singer, Buffalo State College. Cosponsored by Council on Undergraduate Research; National Association of Geoscience Teachers; and GSA Geoscience Education Division.

This workshop is focused on developing a successful research program involving undergraduate participants and on inquiry-based courses and teaching practices that are effective in preparing students to pursue research. The course is designed to serve the needs of early-career faculty and others considering academic careers. The workshop facilitators are all current or former officers in the Council on Undergraduate Research and/or the National Association of Geoscience Teachers who have extensive experience in working successfully with undergraduate students in their research enterprises.

Limit: 30.
Fee: US$50; includes course materials and refreshments.
CEU: 0.8. Registration is via the GSA 2007 Annual Meeting website (http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2007/).

Carbonate systems workshop announcement (9/27/07)

NSF Workshop: Community Sedimentary Model for Carbonate Systems

With this email we solicit your interest in participating in an NSF sponsored workshop on carbonate systems, to be held at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, February 27-29, 2008, and hosted by the CSDMS (Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System) Integration Facility http://csdms.colorado.edu.

The workshop will identify the grand challenges for fundamental research on ancient and recent carbonate systems that include recent findings on the influences of climate, ocean systems, and ecology, on carbonate platform development. The workshop will also identify promising areas for advancing the next generation of numerical process models, to enhance our ability to meaningfully and accurately model carbonate systems, e.g.:

1. What are the main processes at different time and space scales that build carbonate platforms?
2. How should we model diagenesis — might reactive transport modeling help to accomplish this?
3. What lessons can be learned from similar but advanced modeling communities.
4. What are the critical questions to advance our understanding and insight into this important Earth system?

The workshop will develop forward plans involving a diverse set of disciplines: carbonate geology, biology, climatology, oceanography, and numerical modeling. Interested participants should email workshop organizers, with a short description of their current research work, including why you would like to attend the workshop. Responses will help organizers to distribute limited NSF travel funds to maximize participation in the workshop.

Organizing Committee:
• Evan Franseen, Univ. of Kansas & KGS, evanf@kgs.ku.edu
• Rick Sarg, Colorado School of Mines, jsarg@mines.edu
• Gene Rankey, Univ. of Miami, grankey@rsmas.miami.edu

CALL FOR PAPERS: Central Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference, Halifax 2008 (9/21/07)

Dear Colleague,

The organizers of Halifax 2008 - Central Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference are pleased to invite you and your colleagues to participate in this important and timely event.

Conjugate basins in the Central Atlantic realm have been explored for over 40 years with varying levels of success. Significant oil and gas discoveries have been made in deep-water offshore Mauritania and on the shallow Scotian Shelf respectively. However, these discoveries are counter-balanced by disappointing deep-water drilling results offshore Morocco and Nova Scotia. Furthermore, some discoveries that have progressed to production have experienced unexpected reservoir issues, and delineation / step-out wells based on the initial discoveries results have occasionally limited successes, illustrating the extent of petroleum system uncertainties. This reality impacts industry’s perception of the prospectivity of these basins, and that of the under- or lightly explored offshore frontier basins of other Central Atlantic. Obviously, a better understanding of the interrelationship of the evolution of these basins and their petroleum systems is required.

This 3-day AAPG- and CSPG-endorsed international conference provides a unique opportunity for explorationists and researchers to integrate the results of hydrocarbon exploration and state-of-the-art seismic data from throughout the Central Atlantic conjugate margin basins using the latest concepts and interpretations of divergent margin basin evolution, petroleum systems, productive fields and analogues. The conference will have oral and poster sessions devoted to Margin Evolution & Development, Basin Petroleum Systems, and Productive Fields and Analogues. There will be displays of the latest industry and academic seismic profiles from around the Central Atlantic in our Seismic Data Room, as well as a core workshop, several pre- and post-conference local and international field trips, technical short courses and industry displays.

Halifax 2008 is designed to attract and bring together representatives of industry, academia, and others interested in the relationships between margin evolution and petroleum systems, particularly those currently or interested in exploring and working in the Central Atlantic and adjacent basins. We believe that the regional focus of the event coupled with access to modern seismic data and new ideas will be a catalyst for a better understanding of the prospectivity of the region. For your reference, additional information is attached with details on the conference including the Call for Papers, Session Themes, Sponsorship Opportunities and the Conference Program & Schedule. We direct you to visit our website at www.conjugatemargins.com for more details on these and all other aspects of Halifax 2008.

In closing, we would be delighted for you and your colleagues to join us at the Halifax 2008 Central Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference.

Sincerely,

David E. Brown and Grant D. Wach
Co-Chairs, Halifax 2008

dbrown@cnsopb.ns.ca / grant.wach@dal.ca

http://www/conjugatemargins.com

Ocean Sciences Session Call (9/18/07)

Dear Colleagues:

We would like to encourage S2S researchers to submit abstracts for the following session at the 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Orlando, FL:

Session 134: Toward Integrating Source-to-Sink Field Studies of Sediment Dispersal Systems

Scientists around the world are examining the processes within and linkages between the components of individual siliciclastic, carbonate, and mixed dispersal systems from uplands and to the sea, including erosion and transport processes in highlands, processing of material along river courses and within floodplains, discharge from land, neritic carbonate production in areas flooded within the photic zone, and redistribution and accumulation on the continental margin from the inner shelf/lagoons to adjacent basins and abyssal plain. In many cases, these studies have reached a point where field observations are sufficient to drive conceptual and/or numerical model generation for all or parts of these systems. This session will focus on results coming out of dispersal system studies and will illustrate the characteristics of modern dispersal systems with a global perspective. Contributions that explicitly integrate one or more components of an individual dispersal system are particularly encouraged.

We look forward to hearing about your research,

Clark Alexander
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
clark.alexander@skio.usg.edu

Andre Droxler
Rice University
andre@rice.edu

Alan Orpin
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, NZ
a.orpin@niwa.co.nz

John Swenson
University of Minnesota
jswenso2@d.umn.edu

Please pass this message along to colleagues you think might be interested in contributing to the session. The deadline for abstract submission is 2 October 2007 at: http://www.aslo.org/orlando2008/start_process.html?x=56&y=20

REMINDER: Sept. 1 Deadline for MARGINS Mini-Workshop proposals at AGU Fall Meeting (8/30/07)

Call for interdisciplinary MARGINS Mini-Workshop proposals at AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, December 2007

This is a reminder that proposals for MARGINS Mini-Workshops at the AGU Fall Meeting are due September 1, 2007. If you would like to host a MARGINS related Mini-Workshop held in conjunction with the 2007 AGU Fall Meeting, we invite you to submit your proposal to the MARGINS Office (margins@nsf-margins.org).

A mini-workshop is a small event that can last 1-4 hours one evening after AGU sessions, or it could be a half-day to one day event before or after the AGU meeting. The purpose is to expedite integration and synthesis of MARGINS science results. The MARGINS Office can provide logistical support and a venue. Travel costs are not covered; people already attending the AGU meeting are encouraged to participate.

The application guidelines are described on the MARGINS website at http://www.nsf-margins.org/miniworkshops.html.

Please contact the MARGINS Chair or the Office for further inquiries (margins@nsf-margins.org)

We look forward to hearing from you,

The MARGINS Office and Steering Committee
http://www.nsf-margins.org

AGU Special Session: "Cold seeps at continental margins (B19)" (8/29/07)

Dear Colleagues:

We would like to encourage cold seep researchers to submit abstracts for the following session at this Fall's 2007 AGU meeting in San Francisco:

B19: Cold seeps at continental margins: past and present
Sponsor: Biogeosciences
CoSponsor: Ocean Sciences

Cold seeps are widespread along both active and passive continental margins and reflect important aspects of basin development, such as hydrocarbon maturation and onset of overpressure. As sites of enhanced methane and sulfide flux, they are commonly associated with gas hydrates, authigenic carbonates (produced via the anaerobic oxidation of methane), and complex chemosynthetic ecosystems. Thus, they are also important components of the global carbon cycle. Ancient seeps are common in the geologic record, and provide unique insights into seep ‘plumbing’, biological and geochemical evolution at long-lived seeps, and seafloor methane flux and evolution of chemosymbiotic organisms through time. We welcome contributions from all disciplines in the Earth sciences that bear on modern or ancient cold seeps at continental margins.

Please pass this message along to anyone you think might be interested.
The deadline for abstract submission is 6 September 2007, 23:59 UT at: http://submissions3.agu.org/submission/entrance.asp

Best regards,

Hilde Schwartz (Earth and Planetary Sciences, UC Santa Cruz), hschwartz@pmc.ucsc.edu
James Sample (Dept. of Geology, Northern Arizona University), James.Sample@nau.edu

AGU Special Session: "Transforming Research Science...(ED 14)" (8/28/07)

AGU Special Session

ED14: Transforming Research Science to Create Inquiry-Based Undergraduate Classroom Experiences: Examples from the NSF-MARGINS Program and Other Initiatives
Convener: Donald Reed, Jeffrey G. Ryan, Cathy Manduca

Description: This session will highlight efforts being made to transform undergraduate education through the repurposing of the datasets and scientific results of major research initiatives for use in classroom settings. Presentations will highlight efforts that take advantage of the fruits of major Federally-funded research initiatives, including but not limited to the NSF-MARGINS Program, Ridge 2000 and IODP, to invigorate coursework and classroom activities and facilitate focused research and research-like experiences for undergraduate students. This session is co-sponsored by NSF-MARGINS and Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR).

Active-source seismologist research position (8/27/07)

Dear Colleagues,

GNS Science is seeking a scientist with expertise in seismological imaging to join a team researching the impacts of plate tectonics on New Zealand. This scientist will initially contribute to research on short-term (seismic cycle timescales) and long-term (basin evolution) deformation of the NorthIsland subduction interface and forearc.

For more information:

http://www.gns.cri.nz/news/vacancies/active_source.html
http://www.gns.cri.nz/research/tectonics/

Please forward this to any colleagues that you think may be interested or post the message or link as appropriate. The closing data for applicants is 31 October 2007.

AGU Special Session: "From the Arc to the Back-Arc... (V10)" (8/24/07)

Dear Colleague,

We would like to bring to your attention a Special Session focusing on mantle processes beneath oceanic arcs and back-arcs for the 2007 Fall AGU meeting. A description of the session is given below, and more details about the meeting are available online at http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/. Note that the deadline for submitting abstracts electronically is 6 September 2007. We hope you will consider contributing to this session. See you in San Francisco.

Best regards,

Paul Hall

==========

V10: From the Arc to the Back-Arc: Linking Geochemical and Geophysical Observations with Geodynamic Models of the Mantle Wedge

Back-arc basins (BABs) are complex tectonic environments in which oceanic crust is created at a spreading center (Back-arc spreading center, BASC) in close proximity to a subduction zone. This juxtaposition results in strong spatial gradients in both geochemical and geophysical observables, providing a unique window on geodynamic and petrogenetic processes in the upper mantle. This session seeks to highlight progress in our understanding of mantle flow and melting in the mantle wedge by considering differences between arcs and BASCs, as well as between BASCs and normal mid-ocean ridges. Questions of interest include: What is the nature of the slab-derived component that contributes to arc and BASC magmatism (e.g., hydrous fluids, melts)? What is the distribution of this component within the wedge, and by what mechanism is it transported? What constraints do seismic attenuation and velocity studies provide regarding the presence of water, melt and fine-scale structure in the mantle wedge beneath BABs? How does plate kinematics (e.g., subduction angle, subduction rate, arc-back-arc separation, back-arc spreading rate) affect mantle flow and melting in arcs and BASCs? Contributions from geochemistry, petrology, seismology, geophysics, geodynamics and mineral physics are encouraged, as are contributions from researchers working in relevant Ridge and Margins focus sites (e.g., Lau Basin, Izu-Bonin-Mariana).

Conveners:

Paul S. Hall
Earth Sciences Department
Boston University
675 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215
email: phall@bu.edu

Stephane Escrig
Earth and Planetary Science Department
Harvard University
20 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
email: escrig@eps.harvard.edu

Post-doc/RA opportunity at the EarthScope National Office (8/22/07)

Post-doc/RA opportunity at the EarthScope National Office.

Full-time, 1.0 FTE, 12-month fixed-term appointment. Salary is competitive and will be set commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary range: $45,000-$55,000. Key duties of the position will include preparing background documents for meetings, editing newsletters and tutorials, developing tools for distribution of results from EarthScope science, developing scientific content for education and outreach materials, assisting in the development and delivery of workshops, and other project support tasks. Two 0.5 FTE positions will be considered, with one focused on science/planning and the other on education/outreach. At the Faculty Research Assistant level, an MS in an earth science field is required; an emphasis on seismology or geodesy is preferred. At the Research Associate (Postdoctoral) or Research Associate level, a Ph.D. with an emphasis on seismology or geodesy is required. A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity is preferred. Application deadline: September 15, 2007. To access application instructions, go to http://oregonstate.edu/jobs, posting 0001174, and for the position announcement, go to http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu/. Inquiries about the position may be directed via email to Dr. Anne Trehu (trehu@coas.oregonstate.edu) or Dr. Robert Lillie (lillier@geo.oregonstate.edu). For more information on EarthScope, see www.earthscope.org.

Oregon State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

AGU Special Session T10: " Mantle Exhumation at Rifted Continental Margins: Magmatic and Tectonic Processes" (8/21/07)

T10: Mantle Exhumation at Rifted Continental Margins: Magmatic and Tectonic Processes
Sponsor: Tectonophysics
CoSponsor: Seismology, Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/?content=search&show=detail&sessid=163

Seismic studies and drilling have shown that ultramafic rocks are exposed in the transition zone between continental and oceanic crust at some rifted continental margins. However, the tectonic and magmatic processes responsible for mantle exhumation remain enigmatic. This session will bring together scientists involved in imaging, sampling and modelling the thinned continental crust, transition zone and early oceanic crust at 'non-volcanic' margins, both modern and ancient.

Key questions which we aim to address include:
- Why do some 'non-volcanic' margins exhibit mantle exhumation whilst others do not?
- What is the origin and petrological history of the exhumed mantle? Can we distinguish between subcontinental and asthenospheric mantle? Can we identify and explain fertile, depleted, refertilized and infiltrated mantle? What are the implications of this on our understanding of the role of inherited mantle heterogeneity and continental break-up processes?
- What is the nature and source of magnetic anomalies in the transition zone? Is there evidence for gabbroic bodies in the transition zone? How deep and pervasive is serpentinisation of peridotite in the transition zone?
- How do the structural, geochemical and volcanic characteristics of the transition zone at 'non-volcanic' margins compare with those of ultra-slow seafloor spreading? Can mantle exhumation at 'non-volcanic' margins be explained by melt suppression as a result of very slow spreading rates or anomalously cool lithosphere during early seafloor spreading?
- What does the sedimentary record tell us about uplift and subsidence during continental break-up?
- How does continental break-up occur without the assistance of magma?

Contributors are invited to present seismic, petrological, sedimentological or structural observations and/or formation process models relating to magmatism and tectonics at 'non-volcanic' margins.

***
Please pass this message along to anyone you think might be interested. We look forward to a lively and exciting session.

Thanks,

Rosie Fletcher, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Gianreto Manatschal, Universite Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, FRA
Othmar Müntener, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CHE
Andrew Goodliffe, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA

The abstract submission deadline is September 6th. For registration deadlines please visit: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/

AGU Special Session T14: "Bringing together Observations and Models at Rifted Margins and Extensional Basins" (8/20/07)

Dear colleagues,

We would like to encourage you to contribute to a session on rifted margins that has been scheduled for the AGU 2007 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, 10-14 December 2007. The motivation for this session is to bring together contributions that examine extension, breakup and initial spreading from both an observational and modeling perspective. The abstract deadline is 6 Sept 2007 (specifically, at 2359 UTC for the ultra-procrastinators out there...).

You can view a description of the session and submit abstracts to:

http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/?content=search&show=detail&sessid=228

Further details on the session are given below. Please pass this on to anyone else you think might be interested. We are looking forward to seeing you in San Francisco this December!

Our best regards,
Jolante Van Wijk, Gwenn Péron-Pinvidic, and Donna Shillington

*T14: "Bringing together Observations and Models at Rifted Margins and Extensional Basins"*

Recently developed numerical models are capable of simulating a wide range of factors thought to be important in controlling the evolution of extensional terranes, including variations in stretching with depth, magmatism, prerift structural heterogeneities, and rheological layering. As these models become more sophisticated, it is essential to compare model predictions with observations. Geological, petrological and geophysical datasets from extensional basins and rifted margins provide critical information on the structure of the crust and lithospheric mantle, volume of magmatism, stratigraphic and subsidence history, petrology of magmatic and mantle rocks, etc. Clearly, a close integration of numerical and analogue modeling with rift attributes from observational data can result in a greater understanding of the factors most important in controlling the evolution of continental basins and rifted margins. Additionally, numerical and analogue models can highlight rift characteristics that are as of yet still poorly constrained by existing data and thus guide future data acquisition. We invite presentations that seek to investigate rifting and the transition to seafloor spreading with diverse observations (e.g., geophysical, petrological and geological datasets) and modeling.

Lectureship/Senior Lectureship, Univ. of Birmingham (8/17/07)

The University of Birmingham (England) seeks to appoint a Senior Lecturer or Lecturer in Geology. Applications are invited particularly from geologists or geophysicists whose work complements existing research expertise in the Subsurface Structure and Properties Research Group, which specialises in the imaging, visualisation, interpretation and analysis of sub-surface structure using mainly seismic methods. Please see the link below for details.

http://www.personnel.bham.ac.uk/vacancies/printableFurtherParticulars.ht m?refNo=5335

Closing date for applications is September 6th 2007. For more information, please contact:

Professor Tim J Reston
Subsurface Group, Earth Sciences
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
Tel. +44 (0)121 41 43188
t.j.reston@bham.ac.uk

Two post-doctoral positions (8/15/07)

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

SCHOOL OF EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Applications are invited for two post-doctoral researchers in submarine geomorphology.

One post will involve deriving geomorphic parameters of canyons in a variety of submarine slope morphologic datasets, contributing to the growing subject of submarine slope geomorphologic modelling. The second post will apply "mesh" computing techniques to study irregularly spaced topographic data of one or more types of geological features depending on the applicant's experience and interest. This post may suit a physical volcanologist or sedimentologist experienced in working with topographic data.

The appointments will be for 22 months in the first instance, with extension dependent on funding. The closing dates for both posts is 10 September 2007. Further particulars and application details can be found at http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/jobs/research references EPS-155-07 and EPS-154-07.

Special Session Announcement for Fall AGU (8/13/07)

T11: Faults in the Ocean Crust: Perspectives From Geology And Geophysics

Description: Faults in the oceanic crust play many roles: accommodating magmatic and tectonic strains at spreading centers, facilitating fluid flow along the ridge crest and outer-rise, and allowing the relative motions of plates along transform boundaries. Different approaches to studying ocean crustal faults include bathymetric analysis, earthquake and reflection seismology, ocean drilling, and geologic studies from submersible investigations. These diverse investigative techniques yield information at a range of temporal and spatial scales, which are challenging to integrate into a comprehensive model of oceanic fault development. Consequently, many processes and interactions involving seismicity, hydrogeology, and fault evolution remain poorly understood in oceanic settings. This session is intended to bridge disciplines to focus on open problems in ocean crustal faulting.

Index Terms: 3000 8100 3035 3039 8010 .

Sponsor: Tectonophysics
CoSponsor: Ocean Sciences
Seismology

Conveners: Nicholas W. Hayman
University of Texas, Institute for Geophysics
hayman@utig.ig.utexas.edu

Del Bohnenstiehl
Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,North Carolina State University
drbohnen@ncsu.edu

Fall AGU 2007 session "Subduction volcanism at continental edges" (8/10/07)

Dear all,

We would like to attract your attention to the session Lee Siebert, Joop Varekamp and myself are organizing in memory of James F. Luhr at this coming Fall AGU (10-14 December, San Francisco). It is entitled "V03: Subduction volcanism at continental edges". We thought you may be interested in contributing a presentation. Note that the deadline for submitting abstracts electronically is September 6, 2007. More details are available at http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/ . We hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Anne Peslier

*Subduction Volcanism at Continental Margins*

This session has its focus on volcanism at the edge of continents, as exemplified (but not exclusively) by the Mexican volcanic belt. Mass flow in subduction environments from the mantle to the surface is influenced among others by differentiation processes, crustal contamination, degassing, magma ascent rates and eruption type. Presentations are invited on volcanic products ranging from volcanic rocks, melt inclusions in crystals, and gases to xenoliths that provide insight into the origin, evolution and transport processes of such continental arc magmas. Fundamental topics to be addressed may include ‘the role of subduction volcanism in the formation of the continents’, ‘estimates on the amount of crustal contamination in a volcanic suite’, ‘the composition of the mantle wedge at continental margins’, ‘the volatile budget in specific subduction zones’, and ‘the application of the stratigraphic and petrologic history of a volcano to better predict future eruptions’. This session invites contributions thematically linked and/or inspired by the lasting and fundamental work of James F. Luhr.

AGU Special Session: Continental Collision (T26) (8/7/07)

Dear Colleagues:

We would like to encourage you to contribute abstracts for a special session entitled "T26 Continental Collision: The Lithospheric Scale" of the 2007 Fall AGU Meeting in San Francisco.

The deadline for electronic submission of abstracts is September 6th. More information about the meeting appears in http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/

See you in San Francisco.

Best Regards,
Wang-Ping Chen
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

T26 Continental Collision: The Lithospheric Scale

This session emphasizes studies that take a holistic view of continental collision zones, aiming to understand the coupling between processes near the surface and deep-seated dynamics in the mantle. Over the past decade, a number of case studies, both observational and theoretical/computational, demonstrated that integrative approaches hold the best promise to comprehend the diffuse, complex nature of continental collision over the entire thickness of the lithosphere -- a last frontier in the aftermath of plate tectonics. Based on past studies, we anticipate contributions to include topics such as coupling of deformation near the surface and that of the lithospheric mantle, spatio-temporal evolution of magmatism and its relationship with tectonics, growth and fall (in height and/or area) of plateaus, rheology, and convective instability of the lithospheric mantle. We also welcome emerging topics such as deep structures of the mantle beneath collisions zones, palinspastic reconstructions of the lithospheric mantle, and recent results from large-scale, multi-disciplinary experiments along active collision zones.

Conveners:
Wang-Ping Chen, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Sun-Lin Chung, National Taiwan University
Robert L. Nowack, Purdue University
Bor-Shouh Huang, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Call for abstract submission for session T36 in Tectonophysics at AGU 2007 Fall Meeting (8/3/07)

Dear colleagues,

We'd like to invite submissions for the following session at this fall's AGU meeting in San Francisco:

Session T36: Megathrust Slip and Forearc Structure
Sponsor: Tectonophysics
Co-Sponsors: Public Affairs, Seismology

Megathrusts accommodate most of the convergence between colliding plates along subduction zones. This interdisciplinary session invites studies that address the connection between seismogenic behavior of the megathrust and forearc structure. Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to, the temporal and spatial relationship between megathrust slip (coseismic, postseismic, and aseismic) and upper plate structure; internal deformation of the overriding plate during the seismic cycle; controls on along-strike and down-dip variations in seismogenic behavior; and models that explicitly tie the earthquake cycle to evolution of the forearc. We hope to attract submissions spanning geology, marine geophysics, geodesy, seismology, and geophysical and analog modeling, and we welcome discussion of how our current understanding of megathrust slip affects seismic hazard models.

Please pass this message along to anyone you think might be interested. The deadline for abstract submission is 6 September 2007, 2359 UT.

Thanks,

Rich Briggs (California Institute of Technology)
Chris Goldfinger (COAS, Oregon State University)
Rob Witter (Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries)

REMINDER: Apps. for the '07-'08 MARGINS Distinguished Lectureship Program due Wed., August 1 (7/30/07)

Applications for the 2007-2008 MARGINS Distinguished Lectureship Program due this Wednesday (August 1)

We invite all colleges and universities from the US to apply for the MARGINS lectureship program, for those institutions interested in hosting a lecture presented by a distinguished investigator involved with MARGINS science. Applications are due by August 1, 2007 for visiting speakers in Winter 2007-Spring 2008. Invitations from institutions not currently involved with MARGINS research are strongly encouraged, including those granting undergraduate or masters degrees, as well as those with Ph.D. programs. Institutions may request a technical and/or public lecture.

The MARGINS Office will cover airfares for speakers' travel and coordinate travel and off-site logistics. Host institutions are responsible for local living costs for the duration of the visit.

For more information on the speakers and to apply please see the MARGINS DLP web page (http://www.nsf-margins.org/DLProgram/index.html). Please direct any questions to the MARGINS Office: margins@nsf-margins.org

Geoscience job posting with the U.S. Department of Energy (7/27/07)

Geoscience job posting with the U.S. Department of Energy's, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV & Pittsburgh, PA.

The position to be filled includes applicants from the fields of Geophysics and/or Geology. The opening spans a variety of R&D areas including, Methane Hydrates; High Temperature, High Pressure (HT/HP) Deep Gas Resources; Enhanced Oil Recovery; Unconventional Gas Resources (tight sands, gas shales, coalbed methane); and environmental issues associated with exploration and production technologies.

One area of specific interest is the evaluation and characterization of methane hydrate accumulations in marine and permafrost environments. This R&D area is a growth area for NETL, so the applicant has significant potential to shape the direction the position and research will head. Applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds are appropriate. http://www.netl.doe.gov/careers/2007/NETL-07-37.pdf

Anyone who may be interested in working at a DOE National Laboratory in the natural gas energy research group (natural gas hydrates, coal bed methane, natural gas resource assessments, etc) is encouraged to apply. This includes applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience levels who may have interest in the position and meet the application requirements.

The closing date on this announcement is August 6th. For additional information and application details please see:

Position description http://www.netl.doe.gov/careers/2007/NETL-07-37.pdf
Application forms etc... http://www.netl.doe.gov/careers/index.html

New Book: MARGINS Series volume released by the Geological Society, July 5, 2007(7/26/07)

MARGINS is glad to announce the release of a new MARGINS series book published by The Geological Society: "Imaging, Mapping and Modelling Continental Lithosphere Extension and Breakup" by Karner, Manatschal, and Pinheiro. This publication is both a MARGINS (US) and an InterMARGINS publication.

Description: This book summarizes our present understanding of the formation of passive continental margins and their ocean-continent transitions. It outlines the geophysical and petrological observations that characterize extreme extensionsal systems, and how such observations can guide and constrain dynamic and kinematic models of continental lithosphere extension, breakup and the inception of organized seafloor spreading.

For more information and to buy online, visit http://www2.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm?name=bookshop_details&action=details&id=803

Call for interdisciplinary MARGINS Mini-Workshop proposals at AGU Fall Meeting (7/25/07)

If you would like to host a MARGINS related Mini-Workshop held in conjunction with the 2007 AGU Fall Meeting, we invite you to submit your proposal to the MARGINS Office (margins@nsf-margins.org) by September 1, 2007.

A mini-workshop is a small event that can last 1-4 hours one evening after AGU sessions, or it could be a half-day to one day event before or after the AGU meeting. The purpose is to expedite integration and synthesis of MARGINS science results. The MARGINS Office can provide logistical support and a venue. Travel costs are not covered; people already attending the AGU meeting are encouraged to participate.

The application guidelines are described on the MARGINS website at http://www.nsf-margins.org/miniworkshops.html.

Please contact the MARGINS Chair or the Office for further inquiries (margins@nsf-margins.org)

We look forward to hearing from you,

The MARGINS Office and Steering Committee
http://www.nsf-margins.org

New Grant Proposal Guide

NSF Issues new Grant Proposal Guide, guidelines for writing proposals, effective June 1, 2007. See NSF document GPG 07-140.

2 Open Positions, Marine Geology and Geophysics, Univ. of Washington (7/20/07)

Assistant Professor Positions in Marine Geology and Geophysics The School of Oceanography at the University of Washington invites applications for two tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in marine geology and geophysics. These positions are intended to complement School-wide cross-disciplinary themes focused on coastal ecosystems, climate change and extreme environments, and a future emphasis on ocean observing systems. We seek candidates with demonstrated expertise and innovative research in:

marine hydrogeology, including physical and chemical processes
marine stratigraphy, using observational and modeling approaches

Candidates with strong quantitative skills who employ integrative approaches are particularly encouraged to apply. The successful candidates will be expected to develop outstanding research programs and to excel in undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring.

A Ph.D. is required on the date of appointment. Applicants should submit a curriculum vita, statements of research and teaching interests, and the names of four references to:

Dr. Russell E. McDuff, Director
School of Oceanography
Box 357940
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-7940
mcduff@ocean.washington.edu
Review of applications will begin September 10, 2007.

These are full-time positions. University of Washington faculty engage in teaching, research and service. The University of Washington is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. The University is building a culturally diverse faculty and staff and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and covered veterans. The University of Washington, a recipient of the 2006 Alfred P. Sloan award for Faculty Career Flexibility, is committed to supporting the work-life balance of its faculty.

Postdoc Position at Univ. of Wyoming (7/16/07)

The Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming invites applications for a postdoctoral position in reflection/refraction seismology, to begin in October 2007. The successful candidate will participate in analysis of marine seismic reflection data, principally in the exciting new field of seismic oceanography — the use of seismic reflection methods to image thermohaline fine-structure in the ocean. Opportunities also exist to participate in field work, including an onshore-offshore seismic survey in Costa Rica, and to contribute to analysis of data from the Storegga slide gas hydrate province.

We seek candidates with knowledge of, and research experience in, processing, analysis, and interpretation of multichannel reflection seismic data. Applicants should have a willingness to participate in field programs, both at sea and on land, and familiarity with advanced imaging techniques. The successful candidate will join a vibrant research group possessing up-to-date computational and data acquisition facilities.

The term of the position is two years, with potential reappointment for a third year. Applications, including a curriculum vitae, list of publications, statement of thesis research, and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references, should be sent to Dr. W. Steven Holbrook, by email at steveh@uwyo.edu. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity employer.

Workshop Application DEADLINE EXTENDED - SubFac Studies in the IBM Arc System (7/10/07)

REMINDER: Applications due for Workshop on Subduction Factory Studies in the Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc System
DEADLINE EXTENDED to July 22
Apply here: http://www.nsf-margins.org/IBM07

Convened by: Patty Fryer (Univ. of Hawaii), Shuichi Kodaira (IFREE/JAMSTEC), Jeff Ryan (Univ. of South Florida), Bob Stern (Univ. of Texas at Dallas), Yoshiyuki Tatsumi (IFREE/JAMSTEC), and Doug Wiens (Washington Univ. in St. Louis)

A workshop on Izu-Bonin-Mariana (IBM) arc subduction studies will be held in Honolulu, HI, Nov. 7-10, 2007, co-sponsored by MARGINS and IFREE (Japan). Objectives of the workshop are to: 1) learn what we have discovered about how the IBM subduction factory operates; 2) synthesize results in the context of the MARGINS Subduction Factory Initiative, and 3) integrate MARGINS-SubFac-IBM and IFREE science goals with the objectives of the other research programs, including IODP, studies stimulated by Law of the Sea, and NOAA’s Submarine Ring of Fire efforts. The workshop will also address subduction-related problems articulated in the IODP Initial Science Plan (ISP). Speakers will be asked to address the extent to which their research helps to answer the central “Subduction Factory” questions, and a day will be spent considering additional efforts needed to answer these questions. There will be a session on the development and testing of curricular materials for use in college-level geosciences courses, as part of a MARGINS educational project.

Participants chosen from applicants to this announcement will be provided with full or partial funding of their costs of travel, accommodation and meals. We encourage applications from those interested in this scientific endeavor, including those from outside the USA, and especially encourage applications from young investigators and under-represented groups. Present or previous MARGINS or IFREE funding is not a prerequisite for attendance. Applicants should prepare a brief (no more than two pages) resume, and a brief (half-page) statement of why they are interested in participating in the meeting, and an abstract of what they hope to contribute to it. Detailed instructions are included on the web application form. Applications should be submitted online at: http://www.nsf-margins.org/IBM07

Applications close on July 22, 2007.

ICDP Workshop on Testing the Extensional Detachment Paradigm: Scientific Drilling in the Sevier Desert Basin (7/5/07)

ICDP Workshop on Testing the Extensional Detachment Paradigm: Scientific Drilling in the Sevier Desert Basin
(Basin and Range Province, Western United States)
July 15-18, 2008
Salt Lake City and Snowbird Mountain Conference Center, Utah, USA

Low-angle normal faults or detachments are widely regarded as playing an important role in crustal extension and the development of passive continental margins. However, no consensus exists on how to resolve the mechanical paradox implied by such faults or to account for the general absence of evidence for seismicity. Proposed drilling in the Sevier Desert basin in the western United States will test the extensional detachment paradigm through coring, downhole logging, biostratigraphic, isotopic and fission-track dating, magnetostratigraphy, and in situ measurement of pore pressure, permeability, fluid chemistry, temperature and stress orientation/magnitude at an example for which evidence of large normal-sense slip on a still-active detachment of particularly low dip (11°) is considered by many to be among the most convincing.

A workshop is being organized under the auspices of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), to flesh out objectives, strategies and operational details, and to develop a consensus on the location of a drill site. The workshop will consist of a day in Salt Lake City, Utah, a day in the field in the Sevier Desert and adjacent Canyon Range, and two days at the Snowbird Mountain Conference Center. The principal product of the meeting will be a full drilling proposal, to be submitted to ICDP in January, 2009. A website has been established to provide information about the project as it develops.
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/sevier/icdp/

We invite applications from the international community of interested scientists and engineers with pertinent expertise in structural geology, rock mechanics, reflection seismology, neotectonics/geodesy, stratigraphy, geochronology, geochemistry, borehole geophysics and instrumentation, and drilling techniques to participate in the workshop. Applications should be sent to Nicholas Christie-Blick (ncb@ldeo.columbia.edu; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964-8000, USA) no later than January 15, 2008. Please provide complete contact information, a brief summary of your expertise, and your intended contribution to the project.

Decisions on participation will be made by the steering committee (N. Christie-Blick and M.H. Anders, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, USA; G. Dresen, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Germany; G.S. Lister, Australian National University, Australia; G. Manatschal, Université Louis Pasteur, France; and B.P. Wernicke, California Institute of Technology, USA). Preference for participation and available travel funds will be given to those from ICDP member countries.

NSF-sponsored Workshop on Future of Marine Heat Flow, Sept 2007 (6/12/07)

Deadline for application is approaching.

A workshop on "The Future of Marine Heat Flow: Defining Scientific Goals and Experimental Needs for the 21st Century" will be held September 6-7, 2007 in Salt Lake City with NSF sponsorship. Information and application information is available at:

http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu/Workshop/FutureofMarineHeatFlow.html

Application deadline is 15 June, and travel costs will be at least partially supported for many participants. Applications from senior graduate students and junior faculty are particularly encouraged.

2 Positions to Work on Volcanoes, OVSICORI-UNA (6/5/07)

1. Physical Volcanology (Field Volcanology)

We invite applicants to fill this vacant on a two year basis (annual contracts) After the third year it will be a tenure-track faculty position. This position will be available after all applications are received and screened by a selection panel. A virtual interview (precandidates only) might be necessary.

The Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI- UNA) is a research institute in-charge of daily volcano and seismic monitoring. Affiliated to Universidad Nacional it counts with a new building, fully equipped with a seismological network, a geochemical lab and other related facilities.
Selected applicants will be asked to provide a CV containing two references from academic advisors and/or prior positions. Copy of university diplomas and grade information will be requested when required.

Required qualifications: M.Sc or PhD in Geology. Students attending final requisites to obtain their PhD will be considered.
Emphasis in:
Physical Volcanology (Volcano Surveillance)
Geologic Cartography and Volcanic Hazards

Requisites:
Experience in physical volcanology and/or field geology
Desirable experience: Modeling of volcanic processes and Geographical Information Systems
Experienced with geophysical instruments and equipment
Analysis, interpretation and publication of related topics
Experience in Petrology and/or petrography
Disposition to carry out team work
Capacity and disposition to carry out institutional consulting work
Availability to work in the entire Costarrican territory
Disposition to accept duty availability
Disposition to receive training
Disposition to teaching part time (25%)
Driver’s license
Full command of Spanish
Full command of English

Conditions: Monthly salary is based on category ranked by institutional financial conditions and academic qualifications. Incentives for intellectual production and other economic items apply. An estimate of salary may vary between $ 1000 and $1500 monthly; this includes duty availability. Economic incentives will increase such salary depending on intellectual production submitted to an academic internal commission.

This position will involve a large field work component, thus applicants should be fit and in good health. Good communicative skills are important to transfer science to non-scientists.

Reception of applications will be open from xx May , 2007 to June xx, 2007.
The screening commission will select pre-candidates after the last day of document reception.
Results will be communicated within 30 days after selection.
Physical address:
Observatorio Vulcanológíco y Sismológico de Costa Rica, Campus Omar Dengo Heredia
Office hours: 8:00 a 12:00 y de 1:00 a 5:00 p.m. (Costa Rica time GMT-6)
P.O. Box: 2346-3000 Heredia, Costa Rica. América Central.
email: puestos@una.ac.cr
Teléfono 562 4001- 261 06 11
Fax (506) 261 0303

2. Volcano Seismology

We invite applicants to fill this vacant on a two year basis (annual contracts). After the third year it will be a tenure-track faculty position. This position will be available after all applications are received and screened by a selection panel. A personal interview might be necessary.

Required qualifications: M.Sc or PhD in Geology, geophysics or seismology. Students attending final requisites to obtain their PhD will be considered.

Requisites:
Experience in: physical volcanology and/or field geology
Desirable experience: Modeling of seismo-volcanic processes
Experienced with geophysical instruments and equipment
Analysis, interpretation and publication of related topics.
Classification and analysis of daily volcano-seismic activity
Disposition to carry out team work.
Capacity and disposition to carry out institutional consulting work
Availability to work in the entire Costarrican territory
Disposition to accept duty availability
Disposition to receive training
Disposition to teaching up to a 1/4
Driver’s license
Full command of Spanish.
Full command of English

Conditions: Monthly salary is based on category ranked by academic qualifications and institutional financial conditions. Incentives for intellectual production and other economic items apply. An estimate of salary can be obtained from the administrative assistant after preselection phase.
This position will involve a large field work component, thus applicants should be fit and in good health. Good communicative skills are important to transfer science to non-scientists.

Reception of applications will be open from April 1st, 2007 to May 1st, 2007
The screening commission will select pre-candidates after the last day of document reception.
Results will be communicated within 30 days after selection.

Physical address:
Observatorio Vulcanológíco y Sismológico de Costa Rica, Campus Omar Dengo Heredia
Office hours: 8:00 a 12:00 y de 1:00 a 5:00 P.m. (Costa Rica time GMT-6)
P.O. Box: 2346-3000 Heredia, Costa Rica. América Central.
email: puestos@una.ac.cr
Teléfono 562 4001- 261 06 11
Fax (506) 261 0303

ICP-MS/IRMS Instrument Technician needed, Univ. of South FL (5/31/07)

ICP-MS/IRMS Instrument Technician - deadline extended

The Department of Geology at the University of South Florida seeks a technician for a new geochemical analytical facility, which will include ICP-MS and IRMS instrumentation. The successful candidate should have expertise in both plasma- and gas-source mass spectrometry and will be responsible for the maintenance of both instruments and support equipment. Additional duties include day-to-day oversight of the laboratory equipment, the supervision of researchers, students and visitors working in the laboratory and the development, refinement and application of new analytical methodology. Applicants should have a M.S. or Ph.D. degree in geosciences, analytical chemistry or closely related field, and a strong background in analytical geochemistry. Several years of experience with plasma- and gas-source mass spectrometry instrumentation are required and experience with LC-MS is a plus. The ability to interact effectively with a broad range of researchers and their students will be considered a strong asset. The position will be filled at the Research Associate or Research Assistant level beginning Fall 2007. The position is initially funded for three years with the probability of extension. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

To apply, send a letter of interest with resume and statement of technical experience and the names and contact details of at least two references to: Jonathan Wynn, Technician Search Chair, Department of Geology, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave., SCA 528, Tampa, FL 33620. For additional information, please contact Jonathan Wynn (jwynn@cas.usf.edu) or visit http://www.cas.usf.edu/geology. Applications will be accepted through May 31, 2007. According to Florida Law, applications and meetings regarding them are open to the public. For ADA accommodations, please contact Jonathan Wynn at (813) 974-9369 or jwynn@cas.usf.edu at least five working days prior to need. USF is an AA/EEO institution.

Call for Special Sessions: AGU Fall Meeting 2007 (5/30/07)

MARGINS Community:

The time is now to think about organizing a SPECIAL SESSION for the Fall 2007 AGU meeting!

Special sessions are an excellent opportunity to highlight a timely research topic. The vast majority of abstracts presented at the Fall AGU meetings are submitted to special session themes, and the most successful sessions are those that are broad and multidisciplinary. The success of the AGU meeting depends on members like you to propose and organize special sessions.

We particularly encourage young scientists to consider proposing a session.

The deadline for proposing special sessions is soon: Wednesday, June 13, 2007.

Proposals should be submitted through the web interface at: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/program.html

If you have questions or need more information, feel free to contact a member of the Fall planning committee The program committee is listed on the website above.

Thanks and looking forward to seeing you in San Francisco in December!

Fall 2007 AGU Program Committee

Workshop on Subduction Factory Studies in the Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc System (5/25/07)

Applications close on July 22, 2007.

Reminder: NSF MARGINS Deadline moved to July 1 (5/17/07)

Dear MARGINS Community,

Please take note that NSF has moved the MARGINS Program Deadline to July 1, 2007 and in subsequent years, including Post-Doctoral Fellowship applications.

The MARGINS Program Announcement is available at http://nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf07546&org=NSF

Sincerely,
The MARGINS Office

REMINDER: Costa Rica Focus Site Workshop Applications Due (3/13/07)

ATTENTION: The application deadline is fast approaching for the "Workshop to Integrate Subduction Factory and Seismogenic Studies in Central America" to be held June 18-22 in Heredia, Costa Rica.

This workshop, co-sponsored by MARGINS and the German SFB-574, will integrate offshore and onshore studies carried out in Central America over the past 5 years. The workshop will cover a wide array of topics that include A) the composition, age and structure of the diagenetic, metasomatic and metamorphic reactions within the subduction input (subducting plate and eroding forearc) and B) processes occurring within, structure of and output from the forearc, volcanic arc, backarc and mantle wedge.

Goals of the workshop will be to improve our understanding of:

Links between processes occurring in different parts of the subduction system, e.g. elationship between subduction input and output in the forearc and volcanic arc, material (especially volatile) fluxes through the system, how differences in subduction parameters (e.g. slab dip, crustal/lithospheric thickness) or mantle wedge structure/composition affect magma composition, the role of serpentine as a source of water in subduction zones, and the relationship between fluid release and seismic activity;
The processes that control the up- and down-dip limits of the seismogenic zone, geodetic vs. seismologic observations, silent slip events, fault zone permeability, seismic imaging, and hydrotectonic pulsing;
The temporal and spatial evolution of the subduction system;
The long- and short-term hazards related to the subduction zone, such as the origin and consequences of earthquakes, submarine and subaerial landslides/mass wasting, tsunamis and volcanic activity (eruptions and gas venting).

Please see: http://www.nsf-margins.org/CostaRica2007/index.html for more details.

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Conveners: Eli Silver, Terry Plank, Kaj Hoernle, Marino Protti, Guillermo Alvarado, Víctor González

Results on the MARGINS Student Prize for Outstanding Presentation at AGU 2006 (3/2/07)

Dear all