2016 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
TexNet: Getting to the Bottom of What’s Causing Quakes in Texas
Alexandros Savvaidis had never been to Texas before starting his new position at the Bureau of Economic Geology. Since arriving in January 2016 though, the...
Drilling into Dino Doomsday
About 15 miles offshore of Progreso, a beach town near the Yucatán Peninsula’s capitol city Mérida, a black and yellow boat called Myrtle stands still...
Cracking the Tectonics Question
Plate tectonics is the dominant geological process on Earth, explaining phenomena as diverse as mountain building and megathrust earthquakes, to the distribution of fossils and...
Unlocking the Potential of Methane Hydrate
Buried deep beneath the world’s oceans and Arctic permafrost is a mysterious substance that holds the promise of an enormous amount of energy.
Mapping Texas Then and Now
From its humble origins as little more than a visual guide to surface rock formations, the geologic map has evolved into a rich, multilayered tool...
Looking Inside: The Jackson School’s World Famous CT Lab Gives Us a Peek into Some of the World’s Most Precious Artifacts
From scanning moon rocks and Martian meteorites to helping solve what killed Lucy, the world's most famous fossil of a human ancestor, the Jackson School's...
Gulf Basin Data: Current Events Spark New Life For Decades-Old Research
In 1972 The University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) began acquiring and processing seismic data in the Gulf of Mexico to better understand its...
Briefs
- Droughts Make Space for Water Storage
- Map Shows Slowdown of Ice Sheet
- Monsoon Intensity Enhanced by Heat Captured by Desert Dust
- New Class Promotes Cross-Cultural Skill Exchange for Geoscientists
- Top Energy Officials from North America Collaborate on Carbon Capture Solutions at BEG
- Texas Through Time
- Taking Questions from the Field
- Hot Science- Cool Talks Gives 100th Lecture
- Shaping the Future of Undergraduate Geosciences Education
- BEG Promoting Roadside Geology in Texas
- Promoting Water Research
- Delegation Expands Research, Exchange Programs
- Symposium Commemorates a Decade of Excellence, Looks Toward the Future
- Getting a Better Look at Shallow Subsurface Geology
- Penguin Brains Not Changed By Loss of Flight
- River Erosion Controlled by Chemical Weathering
- Wind Causes California Droughts
- Preparing for Ice Giant Exploration
- Bird Wing Shape Depends on Family More than Flight Style
- Nature Rules the River
- A Harder Look at Gas Plays
- Miles-High Mars Mounds Built by Wind
- Scientists Make Middle Crust Model
- Aerosols Strengthen Storms
- Grinding Down Mountains
- Soil Moisture Melting Ancient Ice
- Data Lacking for Human-Caused Earthquake Studies
- Martian Ice Age Record Found
- Noble Gas Detectives
- Hunting for Dinosaurs in Antarctica
- Unstable Glacier Caused Past Sea Level Rise
- Some Dinosaurs Likely Cooed
- Slow-Motion Earthquakes Detected in New Zealand
- Big Holes Found in Gulf
- Rethinking Nuclear Waste Storage
- Ancient Cold Period Could Provide Clues About Future Climate Change
Profiles
- Writer-In-Residence: Adam Papendieck
- EER Director: Richard Chuchla
- Scientist Profile: Thorsten Becker
Field Experiences
- Carbonate Geology of the Bahamas
- Jurassic Rock Hunting Abroad
- Paddling the Pecos
- Tectonics Legend Leads Newfoundland Trip
Summer Field Camps
Presentations
- Rachel Wood: Geochemical Clues Unearthed to Paleozoic Extinction
- Roland Bürgmann: Geodesists Refine Plate Tectonic Tools
In the News
Awards & Honors
- Student Research Symposium Awards
- Awards
- Mosher Honored as Distinguished Alum
- Tinker Receives Halbouty Award and Don R. Boyd Medal
- Guerrero Named Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
- Levy Named NASA Early Career Fellow
- Scanlon Elected to National Academy of Engineering
- Mohrig Elected AGU Fellow
- Steel Wins Twenhofel Medal
- Banner Chosen as 2015 Kappe Lecturer
- Ghattas Wins Prestigious Super Computing Prize
- Behr Wins Donath and NSF CAREER Award
- Oualline and Petty Inducted into Hall of Distinction
- Kerans Heads Department of Geological Sciences
Alumni Notes
Library Report
Donors
Geology Foundation Advisory Council
Memorials
Dean's Welcome
Dear Alumni and Friends,
As you look through the pages of this year’s Newsletter, I think you will agree that it’s been another exciting and productive year at the Jackson School of Geosciences.
One of the highlights for me occurred this summer when I was fortunate enough to travel to Newfoundland with graduate students on an amazing trip led by John Dewey—a giant in the field of plate tectonics, and someone I have known since my student days. The picture on the Newsletter cover and the photos on this page are from that trip. You can see more and read the students’ thoughts on the trip on page 52.
Going to Newfoundland exemplified the foundational geology experience that we provide students. But as we continue this tradition, we are also leading the conversation on the knowledge, skills and experiences that geosciences students need to succeed in the future. In January, I hosted an NSF-sponsored national summit for department heads and chairs on this issue. I also travelled to Mexico in a delegation
with UT Austin President Greg Fenves to discuss strengthening research ties. You can read about both events in the Outreach section (starts page 28).
Our 10-year symposium was also in January. It was a fun and informative gathering that allowed us to look back on what we’ve accomplished and discuss our vision for the future. We heard from distinguished speakers and a group of Jack Jackson’s old friends who discussed how he helped create one of the most prestigious geosciences programs in the world. You can read about the event on pages 28 and 29, and watch it on the Jackson School YouTube page.
I appreciate the positive feedback I received from an external visiting committee that evaluated the school in April, and I’m looking forward to incorporating their advice as we finalize the five-year strategic plan.
The Jackson School was behind many important and high-profile research projects this year—you may have heard about some of them in the news. These include the expedition to take core samples from the crater left by the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs (page 62); and our CT-lab helping solve the mystery of what killed Lucy, the world’s most famous fossil (page 85). On a statewide level, our BEG is leading the
investigation into what’s causing earthquakes in Texas (page 58).
I am very proud of the accomplishments of our students, researchers and faculty.
Thank you for the support that makes it possible. Enjoy the Newsletter.
Sharon Mosher, Dean