2015 Newsletter
Welcome to the Jackson School of Geosciences Newsletter.
A tradition since 1950, the Newsletter highlights research, news and achievements by Jackson School faculty, students, scientists and alumni.
Features
The Man Behind the School
When Jack Jackson decided to leave his fortune to The University of Texas at Austin, it forever changed the face of geosciences at the university,...
Volcano Forensics
Millions of visitors flock to Yellowstone National Park each year to see its steaming geysers, iridescent pools and carved, rugged landscape. For the last five...
Understanding the Shale Boom
Research at the Jackson School of Geosciences Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) into U.S. shale oil gas production and reserves is widely considered to be...
Sorting Science from Dread
New research shows that risk of serious pipeline accidents overestimated.
Exploring Europa
Jackson School scientists play a key role in NASA's quest to find life-supporting environments on Jupiter's moon.
Slow Slip
Undetected by humans, slow motion earthquakes are happening all over the world. Understanding them could help predict when destructive quakes are coming.
Drought & Deluge
Water is the most precious resource on Earth, but there always seems to be too little or too much of it in Texas. Research at...
Briefs
- Drilling into Dinosaur Extinction
- Partnership with Mexico Boosts Research Exchange
- Ocean may be Melting Glacier
- Tapping Coral for Evidence of Earthquakes
- Nature’s Fury Fouls Drinking Water
- Argentina Turns to Texas for Shale Advice
- The Future of the African Monsoon
- Jackson School Talks Energy at UT Energy Week
- Welcome to the Laser Show
- Catching Carbon in China
- Invertebrate Fossils Go Digital, Get Adopted
- Genetic Toolkit for Feathers Existed Long Before Dinosaurs
- Tons and Tons of Fossils
- Sharing Water with Mussels
- Tracking Earthquakes in Texas
- A Meteorite Under the Microscope
- Measuring Volatiles in a Core
- Ice on Mars
- Tectonic Explosion of Life
- A 3-D View of the Greenland Ice Sheet
- A New Method for Tracking Glacial Melt
- First Peer-Reviewed Eaglebine Play Study
- Two-Thirds of the Earth is Covered by Water – and the Jackson School is there
- Coring the Gulf
- Driving Curiosity
- Slowing Greenland’s Ice Sheet from Below
- Regional Seismic Variation
- UT Pitches in $7.5 Million for Bureau Modernization
- The Fate of CO2
Program Spotlight
Field Experiences
- A Sedimentologist at Sea in the Indian Ocean
- Amazon-Andes Interactions
- Andean Basins and Tectonics
- Laramide Rocky Mountains and Rio Grande Rift
Summer Field Camps
Presentations
- Piers Sellers: a Revolution in Earth Science
- Sean Solomon: Messenger Finds Ingredients for Life on Mercury
In the News
Awards & Honors
- Awards 2014-2015
- President Obama Honors Jackson School of Geosciences Mentoring Program
- Milliken Honored with AAPG Research Award
- Kerans: Pettijohn Medal
- Whitney Behr Named Outstanding Woman in Science
- Scanlon: AGU Fellowship
- UTIG Researcher Selected for International Scientific Leadership Role
- Five Graduate Students Receive NSF Fellowships
- Austin Geological Society Celebrates 50 Years
- Research symposium showcases world-class knowledge
- SEG Awards Sen Honorary Membership
- Fisher Receives Alumni Achievement Award
- Ellins Receives Fulbright to Teach in Jamaica
- Two Undergrads Selected for Prestigious NSG/USGS Internships
- Hall of Distinction Adds Two New Members
Alumni Notes
- Alumni Notes 2014-2015
- Alumnus Matches Gifts to Scholarship Fund in Honor of Professor John Maxwell
- Jackson School at a Glance 2014-15
Library Report
Donors
Geology Foundation Advisory Council
Memorials
Late Memorial
Dean's Welcome
Time certainly has flown by. It has been 10 years since the Jackson School was elevated to a college-level school, and I can think of no better way to commemorate the milestone than recognizing Jack and Katie Jackson’s visionary investment in this school and the future of Texas.
You will find several touches on the theme in this year’s Newsletter. The cover features the Jacksons and the Wise County gas fields Jack helped pioneer. There’s also a story on page 60 detailing Jack and Katie’s journey from their youth to becoming founders of one of the largest and most prestigious schools of geosciences in the world, and a story on page 34 about Katie being inducted into the Jackson School Hall of Distinction.
I hope you can attend the 10-year symposium on Jan. 22, where we will showcase some of the school’s accomplishments. But even as we take some time to look back, we need to focus firmly on the future. The last 10 years have been great. I think we all share the goal of making the next 10 years even better.
We are currently working on a new five-year strategic plan to help guide the school in the coming years, and I look forward to sharing the details with the Jackson School community soon. My vision is to continue to integrate research and education, especially interdisciplinary, transformative research that advances the geosciences and benefits society.
You will find great examples of exciting research with a positive impact on society throughout the Research Highlights and rest of this issue. I’ll mention just a few — a feature on water resources on page 56, a story on pipeline safety on page 74, and a story on slow slip tectonic research on page 68. All highlight work that holds tremendous value for Texas and the world.
I think it is important to point out the aspect of social relevance because the emphasis fits in perfectly with the Jacksons’ vision. Jack and Katie chose to invest in Texas geosciences and education because of its critical importance to the citizens of Texas. With your continuing support, we will carry on that legacy and continue the mission of making the Jackson School the best school of geosciences in the world.
Sharon Mosher, Dean