MARGINS-NSF Program

MARGINS Listserv Announcements

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

We are pleased to announce the winner of the MARGINS Student prize competition at the 2006 AGU Fall Meeting. Rebecca Bell from University of Southampton, is this year's winner with an oral presentation related to the MARGINS initiative 'Rupturing Continental Lithosphere'. Congratulations Rebecca!

Congratulations also to Aaron Bever (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), Tom Fedenczuk (University of Hawaii), David Shelly (Standford University) and Aya Shimizu (University of Tokyo) for their outstanding presentations receiving Honorable Mention.

Congratulations also to all the students who entered the MARGINS Student Prize at the 2006 AGU Fall Meeting. The judges were greatly impressed by the quality and diversity of the entries, this year with 53 presentations.

More information on the winner and honorable mention recipients is at http://www.nsf-margins.org/MARGINS_Prize/MPWinners2006.html.

We would also like to thank the judges for their contribution to this program.

-The MARGINS Office
Boston University

Undergraduate Summer Internships, Univ. of Minnesota (3/1/07)

Undergraduate Summer Internships, Univ. of Minnesota: "Fluids, from Surface to Core"

The Dept. of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities hosts a 10-week NSF-funded summer internship for undergraduates. Now in its tenth year, the program has a theme of "Fluids, from Surface to Core". Participants will work with individual faculty members and their research groups and will be actively involved in a wide spectrum of projects ranging from paleoceanography to deep earth geophysics.

The program is ideal for students who will be Juniors or Seniors in Fall, 2007 and who are seeking an in depth research experience. The program carries a stipend of $4400, and housing and travel funds are provided. The March 5 deadline is fast approaching. Please bring this program to the attention of your students.

For more information and application instructions, see http://www.geo.umn.edu/dept/programs/intern.html

IODP Workshop Announcement (2/28/07)

IODP Workshop Announcement: "Addressing Geologic Hazards Through Ocean Drilling"

Apply online by April 1, 2007
http://www.iodp.org/workshops
August 26-30, 2007, Portland, Oregon

The oceans are the sources of some of the most severe geologic hazards, including large tsunami-generating earthquakes, submarine landslides, and explosive volcanic eruptions. We seek to extract and read the geologic record of such events in marine sediments, and monitor material properties and physical processes associated with them. This workshop will bring together an interdisciplinary pool of scientists and engineers from research institutions, universities, and companies, for an open and detailed exchange of results, ideas, and experiences to better characterize and understand the causes and consequences of oceanic geologic hazards. The workshop will include a one-day field trip to Mount Saint Helens in order to examine the details of debris avalanche deposits and damage resulting from volcano collapse.

Goals of the workshop are to (a) review the current state of community knowledge, (b) define outstanding research questions that can be addressed through scientific ocean drilling, (c) establish scientific priorities, (d) identify potential drilling targets, (e) evaluate existing technologies and scientific approaches, and (f) recommend the development of new instruments and/or new deployment strategies. This exchange will enhance international collaborations and stimulate teams of proponents to develop competitive IODP proposals addressing oceanic geologic hazards.

IODP and other sponsoring agencies will support travel and expenses for approximately 80 participants. Interested scientists and engineers from all countries are advised to apply online at www.iodp.org/workshops on or before April 1, 2007. Selected participants will be contacted by the steering committee. Places will be reserved for advanced students and early career scientists. For more information, please visit the workshop web page.

East African Rift System Conference (2/23/07)

The East African Rift System (EARS- 23-25 July 07) Conference

The 2007 IGCP, 482/489 conference will take place in Kampala Uganda between 23rd and 25th July 2007. The conference is designed as a forum for discussion of the current state of scientific knowledge and understanding of continental rift systems. The plenary themes of the conference will address:

Sedimentation and stratigraphy of the East African Rift System
Geological and geophysical studies of the East African Rift System
Geo-conservation and geo-hazards
Geodynamic models of extensional and magmatic processes occurring within active rift zones,
Climate, environment and hominid evolution, and
Resources of the East African rift System – Water, Hydrocarbons, Industrial minerals, Ore minerals and Geothermal energy

The organizers of EARS (07) welcome submission of extended abstracts for oral and poster presentations from scientists in all disciplines relevant to the themes of the conference. Selection of abstracts will be based on scientific quality. Participation of researchers is invited from a wide range of disciplines. Young scientists from Africa are particularly encouraged to submit papers. Interested participants are requested to submit titles of their contributions by e-mail to amuwanga@sci.mak.ac.ug before 31st March 2007. An abstract volume will be provided for registered participants.

Organizing Committee EARS (07)

Dr. Dozith Abeinomugisha (Chairperson, Petroleum exploration and Production Department); d.abeinomugisha@petroleum.go.ug, dozithabeine@hotmail.com; Tel: +256-0772-411476
Dr. Genene Mulugeta (IGCP-482/489 Chairman); genene.mulugeta@balticuniv.uu.se or genene.mulugeta@falw.vu.nl
Dr. Andreas Schumann (Secretary, Geology Department); geo-andy@gmx.de; Tel: +256-0772-415057
Mr. James Natukunda (Vice Secretary); jafranat@yahoo.com
Dr. Andrew Muwanga (Editor, Geology Department); amuwanga@sci.mak.ac.ug; Tel: +256-0712-803362
Mr. Moses Masagazi (Treasurer, -Anglo Uganda Corporation Plc); mosesmasagazi@yahoo.com; Tel: +256-0712-848906
Dr. Erasmus Barifaijo (Geology Department); ebarifaijo@sci.mak.ac.ug; Tel: +256-0712-853828
Mr. Nyakaana Julius (Geological survey and Mines Department); jnyakaana@hotmail.com; Tel: +256-0752648609
Mr. Callist Tindimugaya (Water Resources Management Department); ctindi.wrmd@dwd.co.ug; Tel: +256-0772-521413
Mr. Fred Kabanda (Petroleum exploration and Production Department); f.kabanda@petroleum.go.ug, kabandafred@hotmail.com; Tel: 256-772-390177
Dr. M.P. Modisi ((IGCP 482/489), Department of Geology, University of Botswana); MODISIMP@mopipi.ub.bw
Dr. Estella A. Atekwana ((IGCP 482/489) Boone Pickens School of Geology); estella.atekwana@okstate.edu

Please, note that the deadline for submission of registration forms and abstracts in 31 March 2007 and the deadline for payment of registration fees is 15 April 2007.

For more information, please contact Dr. Dozith Abeinomugisha d.abeinomugisha@petroleum.go.ug, dozithabeine@hotmail.com

Farewell Announcement (2/22/07)

Dear MARGINS Community,

The MARGINS Office would like to announce that Paul Wyer has moved on after 3 years with the WUSTL and BU offices to an industry position in Texas. He has been tremendously helpful during the transition between offices and the several months prior when Office leadership at WUSTL was rotating. Paul's professionalism, amiable disposition and dedication to the MARGINS mission will be greatly missed. We hope that he remains active with the MARGINS community and look forward to working with him again in the future!

Best,

MARGINS Office

Summer School on Geodynamics and Magmatic Processes (2/21/07)

Summer School on Geodynamics and Magmatic Processes

Location: Lake Myvatn near Krafla volcano, Northern Volcanic Zone, Iceland
Time: Iceland, August 20-29, 2007 http://www2.norvol.hi.is/page/nordvulk_summerschool%202007

The summer school is a venue for graduate students and post-docs to meet with an international group of researchers dedicated to the theme of the summer school with the aim of gaining further insights in geodynamics and magmatic processes. The summer school is a mixture of talks by invited speakers, presentation by participants, and field trips to relevant geological localities in the Northern Volcanic Zone of Iceland.The school is sponsored by Nordforsk and Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland.

The school will be opened in the evening of August 20, 2007 in Reykjavík, followed by a field trip from south to north Iceland on August 21. The following seven days will include 4 days of oral and poster presentations, and 3 field trips (including the site of the 1975-84 Krafla rifting episode, the Askja caldera and its 1875 eruptive products, and a unique subaerial rift-transform intersection in N-Iceland). The school will end with a field trip back to Reykjavik on August 29.

Organizing committee:
Freysteinn Sigmundsson (Nordic Volc. Centre, Inst. of Earth Sciences, Univ. of Iceland)
David P. Hill (U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, USA)
Reidar G. Trønnes (Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway)
Peter La Femina (Pennsylvania State University, USA)

Main contact: Freysteinn Sigmundsson, email: fs@hi.is

All graduate students and post-docs with an interest and involvement in the theme of the summer school are invited to apply. The application deadline is April 25.

Costs: All participants are required to pay a registration fee of 28000 Icelandic kronas (about US $400), their travel to and from Iceland, as well as accommodation in Iceland before and after the school.

For students and post-docs based in Nordic institutions (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland) the cost of hotel accommodation and meals during the school is covered by NordForsk. Students from other countries need to cover the cost of 87000 Icelandic kronas (about US$ 1300) for hotel accommodation and meals at the venue, and their travel to and from Iceland. We encourage the applicants to seek funding for their own expenditures.

REMINDER: Int'l Data Exchange Workshop Applications Due (2/16/07)

ATTENTION: The application deadline is fast approaching for the "Building a Global Data Network for Studies of Earth Processes at the World's Plate Boundaries" Workshop to be held May 9-11 in Kiel, Germany.

This international workshop, co-sponsored by MARGINS, InterMARGINS, Ridge2000, and InterRidge, is designed for scientists, data managers, and data policy makers to explore new opportunities for scientific research that take advantage of recent rapid growth in digital data collections and data systems technology. Current international efforts in Geoinformatics relevant for studies of continental margin and mid-ocean ridge processes will be highlighted and approaches - technical as well as political - for enhanced open exchange of key data of broad scientific interest will be explored.

The workshop will consist of presentations from scientists on data access and visualization needs; from data center managers on existing data systems available for academic research; and from information technologists on emerging technologies for interoperability and data sharing. Working group discussions will focus on defining science user needs as well as on current obstacles to and potential solutions for enhanced database interoperability and connectivity. The hoped for outcome of this meeting is the development of new partnerships among marine geoscientists and data centers within the broader international community to establish improved access and exchange of data sets for research targeted at active processes along global plate boundaries.

Please see - http://www.nsf-margins.org/Datawkshp07/ - for more details.

Registration Deadline - Friday, February 23, 2007

Coveners - Suzanne Carbotte, Kerstin Lehnert, Wilheim Weinrebe and Seije Tsuboi

Sessions related to MARGINS science at 2007 Joint Assembly (2/15/07)

AGU 2007 Joint Assembly - MARGINS Related sessions

The MARGINS Office has assembled a list of sessions to be held at the AGU 2007 Joint Assembly (Acapulco, Mexico, May 22-25, 2007) that we think may be of special interest to the MARGINS community.

The list is as follows, please see the MARGINS web page (http://www.nsf-margins.org/AGU2007/ja_sessions.html) and the 2007 Joint Assembly web page (http://www.agu.org/meetings/ja07/?content=home) for more information on these sessions.

G02: Steady and Transient Strain Along the Middle America Subduction Zone
G06: Aseismic Slow Slip: Where, When and Why?
G08: Earthquake cycle and fault mechanics
OS16: Sedimentation Associated with Wet-Tropical Rivers: Interdisciplinary Linkages
S02: Upper Mantle Structure and Geodynamics of the South American Plate
S09: New Results and Future Directions for Understanding the Gulf of California Rift
S14: Characteristics of the Subducted Cocos Plate beneath Mexico and Central America and related seismic hazards
T02: Subduction Erosion and Tectonic Underplating Along the Central America Trench and Beyond
T03: Untangling Subduction Zone Plate Boundary Coupling and Trench Migration Using Multi-Scale Observations and Modeling
T06: Mexican and Central America Subduction Zones: Bringing Together Seismology, Petrology, Geology and Geodynamics
U08: Processes Controlling Earthquake Potential of Subduction Zones
U12: Disaster Mitigation and Capacity Building Through Geophysical Monitoring
V08: Diversity of the Subarc Mantle- Insights from Studies of Peridotite Xenoliths, Ophiolites and Metamorphic Rocks from Subduction Zones
V09: Towards Integrated Studies on Volatiles in Magmas: from the Mantle to the Atmosphere
V11: Deep subduction zone metamorphism and rheology: role of fluids
V18: High Mg-Andesites, Slab Melts and Wedge Melts – Significance for Crustal Genesis?
V21: Volcanoes, Plutons and Ore Deposits: What's the Connection?

REMINDER: MARGINS Education Mini-Workshop Applications Due (2/8/07)

MARGINS Education Mini-Workshop: "Bringing MARGINS Science to the Classroom" to be held in April 5-6 in Arlington, VA.

Applications due on Friday, February 16

MARGINS has been awarded an NSF Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) grant to develop web-based undergraduate classroom teaching modules, in cooperation with the Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College. A development workshop will be held on April 5-6 in Arlington, VA, to bring together scientists, educators and members of the MARGINS Steering Committee to identify critical content and initiate development of web-based MARGINS "Mini-Lessons" for use in undergraduate teaching. For more information and to apply visit the workshop web site: http://serc.carleton.edu/margins/Applications are due Friday, February 16, 2007

REMINDER: EarthScope-Related Workshop Applications Due (2/7/07)

Don't forget: Applications are due Thursday, 2/15 for the MARGINS/GeoSwath coordinated workshop on EarthScope collaborative projects in Cascadia and the Walker Lane/Salton Trough. See http://www.nsf-margins.org/Geoswath07/index.html for details on this workshop to explore possibilities of integrated multi-program work in these areas. Limited travel funds are available through applications on our meeting web site.

*Note that if you are staying for the main EarthScope workshop you will also need to register for that meeting as well.*

IODP International Workshop: Large Igneous Provinces (2/5/07)

IODP International Workshop: Large Igneous Provinces
Workshop supported by funding from IODP-MI and JOI

Apply online by March 15, 2007 http://www.iodp.org/lips
July 21 – 26, 2007, Coleraine, Northern Ireland

This international workshop will guide the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program in addressing the objectives in the Initial Science Plan regarding processes associated with and consequences of large igneous province (LIP) emplacement.

Workshop participants will define key scientific objectives of investigating transient large igneous provinces through drilling, establish an integrated and interdisciplinary, long-term, global strategy for addressing fundamental LIP science questions, and identify the technological requirements for achieving these objectives. Problems associated with intraplate and rifted margin LIPs will be considered. Participants will include scientists with a broad range of expertise including geophysics (geodynamics, tomography, seismology, paleomagnetics, remote sensing), paleoclimatology, paleoceanography, environmental modeling, micropaleontology, physical volcanology, planetary geology, tectonics, geochemistry (high- and low-temperature, geochronology, biogeochemistry), and petrology. Research methods range from field and laboratory observation to simulation. Drilling engineers will participate and provide information about enhanced drilling, logging, and long-term borehole monitoring capabilities of IODP.

Based in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, the workshop will include a one-day field trip to spectacular exposures of the Tertiary North Atlantic large igneous province, including Giant’s Causeway.

Support for travel expenses is available for approximately 80 participants. Interested scientists and engineers from all countries should apply on-line at http://www.iodp.org/workshops by March 15, 2007. Selected participants will be notified by the steering committee within 6 weeks of the application deadline. Special consideration will be made for advanced students and early-career scientists.

MARGINS-Related Session at Spring AGU 2007 (2/1/07)

The web link -- http://www.agu.org/meetings/ja07/?content=search&show=detail&sessid=244

SEDIMENTATION ASSOCIATED WITH WET-TROPICAL RIVERS: INTERDISCIPLINARY LINKAGES

Conveners: Alberto G. Figueiredo and Charles A. Nittrouer

This session will address issues of sedimentation associated with the discharge of wet-tropical rivers entering the ocean in low-latitude settings. These systems dominate the supply of particulate and dissolved components to the global ocean, and processes in the adjacent ocean control the fate of this material. Contributions are encouraged across the spectrum of oceanographic disciplines, especially those that highlight interdisciplinary linkages (e.g., how sedimentary processes impact carbon burial). Emphasis will be placed on the coastal ocean, but studies/observations are also encouraged: from adjacent environments (e.g., river drainage basins, continental slope), that provide a broad perspective (e.g., remote sensing), address forcing mechanisms (e.g., sea-level change), and contrast with sedimentation in other latitudinal settings (e.g., temperate locations).

MARGINS-related session at 2007 CGU meeting (1/30/07)

North Atlantic rifted margin sessions at the upcoming CGU meeting in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

From May 28th to June 1st, 2007, the Canadian Geophysical Union will be hosting its annual meeting in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada (jointly with the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and the American Meteorological Society). Two sessions of interest to the MARGINS community are:

- The North Atlantic rifted margin: geophysical processes and constraints (organized by Kim Welford of Memorial University and Keith Louden of Dalhousie University). A keynote address will be given by Brian Tucholke of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

- Geophysics for Petroleum Exploration and Production in Atlantic Canada (organized by Michael Enachescu of Memorial University).

The abstract deadline for the conference is February 15th, 2007. More information can be obtained at the conference website: http://www.cgu2007.ca.

See you in St. John's!

Summer Internships Available in Scientific Drilling (1/26/07)

DOSECC (Drilling, Observation and Sampling of the Earth’s Continental Crust) invites students to apply for summer 2007 internships in scientific drilling. The internships promote student involvement in projects where drilling has provided data and materials for study. Interns can undertake research related to ongoing or past drilling efforts. The internships are open to college students (graduate or undergraduate) and primary and secondary schoolteachers. Applicants do not have to be attending a DOSECC Member Institution to be considered for this award. Internship funding will be available in the summer of 2007 and budgets of $2000 to $5000 are appropriate. Applications must be received by March 1, 2007 and awardees will be announced April 1, 2007. For additional information contact a DOSECC representative at a member institution, consult the information posted on the DOSECC website (www.dosecc.org), or email David Zur, DOSECC's Education and Outreach Manager (dzur@dosecc.org).

MARGINS Education Mini-Workshop: Bringing MARGINS Science to the Classroom (1/23/07)
April 5-6, 2007, Arlington, VA

Workshop Announcement
http://www.nsf-margins.org/EPO/Workshop07.html

Convened by Cathy Manduca (Carleton College), Jeff Ryan (University of South Florida) and Don Reed (San Jose State University)

Application deadline: February 16, 2007

This workshop will bring together scientists, educators and members of the MARGINS Steering Committee to identify critical content and initiate development of web-based MARGINS "Mini-Lessons" for use in undergraduate teaching. The aim is to engage the MARGINS research and educational community in the generation and testing of multidisciplinary learning materials derived from MARGINS science.

Key goals of the workshop are to:

- document ways in which MARGINS science is currently being used in teaching,
- create development teams for larger-scale (i.e., full lab or classroom session-scale) "Mini-Lessons" for each of the four MARGINS research initiatives (RCL, S2S, SEIZE and SubFac; http://www.nsf-margins.org/),
- and develop a plan for testing these materials in our own teaching.

Workshop participants will be asked to contribute an example of their use of MARGINS data or research in their own teaching to the website and to participate in creation or review of additional teaching materials.

This Workshop is sponsored by the MARGINS Education and Public Outreach program funded by NSF. It will take place after the MARGINS Steering Committee (MSC) Meeting and is scheduled for April 5-6 in Arlington, VA. Participants will gain insight into the current state of MARGINS science through presentations by MSC members on the four MARGINS Initiatives, and on the varied data repositories and information resources where MARGINS results can be accessed.

We encourage applications from scientist and educators interested in the education and outreach of the MARGINS initiatives to undergraduates. For more information on the Workshop and to apply online visit the Carleton College host server of this program (http://serc.carleton.edu/margins/overview.html).

Applications due on February 16, 2007. NSF funding will pay for double occupancy hotel rooms. Limited funds are available to support travel.

Important Notice: NSF has moved the MARGINS Program Deadline to July 1, 2007 and in subsequent years. (1/22/07)

Also, please read the following community announcement from NSF:

Dear MGG Community,

The number of post-target date proposals received by the MGG Program at NSF has reached the point of causing severe problems with managing the review process. The late submission of proposals intended for the February 15 and August 15 target dates is peculiar to MGG; the other OCE programs have only a few late submissions and these have written prior approval. In contrast, MGG late submissions rarely have written prior approval, and over 30% of the proposals are submitted after the target date.

In order to better serve the MGG community and in the interest of overall fairness, MGG will begin strict enforcement of the existing NSF policies for target date submissions. Beginning with the February 15, 2007 target date, all late proposals will require a compelling reason and prior written approval by an MGG Program Manager if they are to be accepted for evaluation during the next review cycle. The reason for a late submission must be compelling. In accordance with NSF policy (please see the Grant Proposal Guide), Principal Investigators submitting proposals after the target date will, be asked whether they would like to have their proposal held over for the next panel (a delay of six additional months) or withdrawn from Fastlane.

Rodey Batiza
Section Head, Marine Geoscience Section

Conference on the Evolution, Transfer and Release of Magmas and Volcanic Gases (1/17/07)

Conference on the Evolution, Transfer and Release of Magmas and Volcanic Gases, to be held at Academia Sinica, Taipei, April 22-27, 2007

*** Student travel support is available ***

Principle Organizers:
Georg Zellmer, Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, http://www.earth.sinica.edu.tw/~gzellmer
Tobias Fischer, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Univ. of New Mexico, http://epswww.unm.edu/facstaff/fischer
Bor-ming Jahn, Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica

Details: http://www.earth.sinica.edu.tw/~mag2007

Registration for the International Conference is now open.

Registration forms are available for download on the conference website: http://www.earth.sinica.edu.tw/~mag2007/Registration.html

Please submit your registration forms by fax to +886-2-2783-9871, by March 5, 2007.

*** We want to encourage PhD students to participate in the conference. Please submit your application for support. ***

Details about abstract submission can be found here: http://www.earth.sinica.edu.tw/~mag2007/Abstracts.html
Abstract submission deadline is January 31, 2007

Participants will be informed about available travel support in February.

For questions contact:
Georg Zellmer, mag2007@earth.sinica.edu.tw
Tobias Fischer, fischer@unm.edu

The Conveners
MAG2007

International Data Exchange Workshop Announcement (1/11/07)

"Building a Global Data Network for Studies of Earth Processes at the World’s Plate Boundaries"
Kiel, Germany, May 9-11, 2007
Applications Due: February 23, 2007

This international workshop, co-sponsored by MARGINS, InterMARGINS, Ridge2000, and InterRidge, is designed for scientists, data managers, and data policy makers to explore new opportunities for scientific research that take advantage of recent rapid growth in digital data collections and data systems technology. Current international efforts in Geoinformatics relevant for studies of continental margin and mid-ocean ridge processes will be highlighted and approaches for enhanced open exchange of key data of broad scientific interest will be explored.

The workshop will consist of presentations from scientists on data access and visualization needs; from data center managers on existing data systems available for academic research; and from information technologists on emerging technologies for interoperability and data sharing. Working group discussions will focus on defining science user needs as well as on current obstacles and potential solutions for enhanced database interoperability and connectivity. The hoped for outcome of this meeting is the development of new partnerships among marine geoscientists and data centers within the broader international community to establish improved access and exchange of data sets for research targeted at active processes along global plate boundaries.

Applications are open to all interested individuals from any institution of the world. For more information and to apply online visit the meeting web site: http://www.nsf-margins.org/Datawkshp07 .

Full to partial travel, accommodation and meal costs will be covered for applicants accepted, with notification by mid-March.

Subduction Zone Geodynamics Conference (1/10/07)

SUBDUCTION ZONE GEODYNAMICS CONFERENCE-THIRD ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR REGISTRATION

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to visit the updated website of the Subduction Zone Geodynamics Conference: http://www.dstu.univ-montp2.fr/SUBCO/

The web site is now ready for registration. Please note that the DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION is JANUARY 31, 2007.

Those who have already pre-registered must confirm their registration by filling again the new definitive form. Sorry for the unavoidable inconvenience.

We remind you that the meeting will be held from June 4 to 7, 2006, at the Montpellier Convention Centre, Le Corum, Montpellier, France.

Note for US Participants: Limited travel support is being provided for US participants by NSF via the MARGINS program. For details, see: http://www.nsf-margins.org/subco/ or contact Clint Conrad (conrad@jhu.edu).

Please, do not hesitate to contact the organizers if you need more information.

Looking forward to seeing you in Montpellier,

The Organizing Committee
•Serge Lallemand (lallem@dstu.univ-montp2.fr)
• Francesca Funiciello (ffunicie@uniroma3.it)

Two Sessions at EGU (1/09/07)

EGU General Assembly 2007 Session TS8.3: Tectonics and magmatism during continental rifting and break-up

Marta Perez-Gussinye, Institute of Earth Sciences (Spanish Research Council), mperez@ija.csic.es
Ritske S. Huismans, Bergen University, Ritske.Huismans@geo.uib.no
Donna J. Shillington, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, djshill@noc.soton.ac.uk

The EGU General Assembly will be held in Vienna, 15 – 20 April 2007. This session will focus particularly on the interplay between magmatism and extension during continental rifting. The abstract submission deadline is 15 January. Invited speakers will include Wilfried Jokat (AWI), Jason Phipps Morgan (Cornell University), and Gezahegn Yirgu (Addis Ababa University).

The processes involved in thinning of the continental lithosphere and the emergence of new steady-state oceanic spreading systems are not well understood. Similarly, the reasons for the lack of magmatism in some margins and excess magmatism in others are still the matter of much debate. In this session we propose to join observations and models which help describe and understand the processes of continental thinning, break-up and emergence of new ocean lithosphere. Key points which we propose to discuss include the mechanisms of thinning, the symmetry/asymmetry of continental margin pairs and magmatic systems, and the variations in mantle thermal and chemical properties leading to the observed variations in rifting to drifting styles. Researchers working in magmatic as well as amagmatic rifts, onshore and offshore, as well as those working in modern analogues of ancient continent-ocean transitions are invited to participate.

Further details at http://www.cosis.net/members/meetings/sessions/information.php?p_id=255&s_id=4554

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

Cretaceous-Tertiary plate kinematics, continental breakup and sea-floor spreading history of the northern North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean
Nick Kusznir (n.kusznir@liverpool.ac.uk)
Jean-Claude Sibuet (jcsibuet@ifremer.fr)
Jim Chalmers (jac@geus.dk)
Erik Lundin (erlun@statoil.com)

EGU 2007 will be held from 15-20 April in Vienna. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 January 2006.
New data and concepts have recently emerged which are leading the scientific and industrial communities to rethink the Cretaceous and Tertiary plate kinematics of the northern N. Atlantic. Recent observations and concepts are impinging not just on the pattern and timing of plate kinematics but also on our understanding of the geodynamic processes occurring during continental breakup and sea-floor spreading.

Some examples of important questions that are in need of answers are:
•Is magma-poor sea-floor spreading and mantle exhumation pervasive in many parts of the Cretaceous N. Atlantic ocean basin?
• How much of the Labrador Sea is underlain by oceanic crust and what is the timing of its formation?
• What are the linkages (in space, time and process) between sea-floor spreading in the Eurasia Basin (and perhaps also the Amerasia Makarov Basin) and sea-floor spreading processes occurring in Baffin Basin and the Labrador Sea?
• What are the processes that formed the Rockall Trough - is it underlain by thinned continental crust, oceanic crust or exhumed mantle?
• How does the Tertiary development (including aborted sea-floor spreading and ridge jumps) of the northeast N. Atlantic relate to mantle plume development? For instance can we reconcile the very thin Aegir ocean crust with Tertiary mantle plume history?
•Contributions are invited from both academia and industry addressing observations of the crustal structure and composition of both oceanic and rifted continental margin lithosphere, plate reconstructions, geodynamic processes and models.

Further details available at: http://meetings.copernicus.org/egu2007/
We look forward to seeing you in Vienna!

Workshop to Integrate Subduction Factory and Seismogenic Zone Studies in Central America (1/08/07)

Workshop to Integrate Subduction Factory and Seismogenic Zone Studies in Central America, June 18-22, Heredia, Costa Rica. Visit http://www.nsf-margins.org/CostaRica2007/index.html for workshop information and application (due March 20).

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. These studies 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:

1) Links between processes occurring in different parts of the subduction system, e.g. relationship 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;

2) 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;

3) The temporal and spatial evolution of the subduction system;

4) 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).

Call for IODP Workshop Proposals (1/08/07)

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is the premier international research program conducting scientific investigations of Earth through ocean drilling. IODP invites short proposals for workshops to be held tentatively in 2008 and 2009, on topics either derivative of the IODP Initial Science Plan (download at www.iodp.org/isp), or on other globally important problems that can be addressed during the next phase of IODP ocean drilling.

Proposals should not exceed four pages of text and must include:
•Overall scientific or technical objectives, and their relevance to the ISP;
•Rationale for drilling as a means of addressing scientifi c questions;
•Scope of topics to be covered by the workshop;
•Potential for interactions with other international science programs;
•Targeted audience/workshop participants (individuals or research groups);
•Proposed conveners and steering committee members;
•Suggested timing and location of workshop; and
•Preliminary budget (potential for funding from other organizations is highly desirable).

Expected deliverables will likely include an EOS meeting report, a detailed workshop report, and an article for Scientific Drilling. Please include a 1-2 page curriculum vitae for each workshop convener (maximum of 5). Submit proposal in pdf format by 1 Feb. 2007 to Kelly Kryc (kkryc@iodp.org).

Submission Deadline: 1 February 2007

Workshop at EarthScope National Meeting (1/05/07)

Multidisciplinary Workshop: Projects in Cascadia and the Walker Lane/Salton Trough

Portola Plaza Hotel, Monterey, California, March 27, 2007

Organized by: Geoffrey Abers (MARGINS) and Basil Tikoff (GeoSwath)

This workshop explores potential joint efforts between MARGINS and EarthScope/GeoSwath in the Cascadia subduction zone and the Walker Lane/ SaltonTrough extensional corridor. Geophysical measurements are currently ongoing in the area by the Earthscope Transportable and Flexible Arrays and by the Plate Boundary Observatory, and all are relevant to MARGINS initiative goals.

A one-day workshop will explore the synergies between the programs, immediately preceding the 2007 EarthScope National Meeting in Monterey, on March 27. We seek to bring together geoscientists interested in multidisciplinary research in these two areas, to discuss future plans.

Limited travel support is available; to apply and find other information, visit the workshop web site: http://www.nsf-margins.org/Geoswath07. Applications due on February 15.

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