Recognizing the 2015 AWG Award Winners at GSA in Baltimore, MD By Blair Schneider

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1 WINTER QUARTERLY 2016 GAEA PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN GEOSCIENTISTS As a global community, AWG will provide leadership, inspiration, and encouragement to recognize and support females in the geosciences. Vol. XLII Recognizing the 2015 AWG Award Winners at GSA in Baltimore, MD By Blair Schneider This year the 2015 AWG award winners were recognized at the annual AWG awards breakfast ceremony, held in conjunction with the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. Each of these individuals has contributed greatly to the geoscience community as a whole, and in particular are great champions and examples of women excelling in the geosciences AWG Service Award Recipients The 2015 AWG Exchange award went to Dr. Suzanne O Connell (pictured right), who has been an active participant for the AWG Outstanding Educator award for many years now. Suzanne is a past winner of the Outstanding Educator award, and is co-editor of the recently published book Women in the Geosciences: Practical, Positive Practices Toward Parity. The 2015 AWG Enhance award went to Dr. Eve Sprunt (pictured left). After over 35 years working in the Petroleum Industry, Eve is now trying to help female professionals and members of dual career couples. One of initiatives for which she was recognized and praised for this past year was promoting gender pay transparency through shareholder proposals requiring corporations to release an annual report on the percentage of women at different percentiles of compensation. Eve is currently a distinguished lecturer for the Society of Petroleum Engineers speaking on managing dual careers. Also, she is finishing a manuscript on Career Optimization for Couples, Guidance for Maximizing the Career Potential of Both Partners and is in contract negotiations with a publisher. Continued Page 6 Inside this issue: President s Letter AWGF Letter AWG 2015 Awardees 2015 New AWG Members Field Trip Report Mentor Moment GeoGirls Rocks Report WISE Event Recap AWG Awards and Scholarships Announcements/Advertisements GAEA Winter Quarterly 2016

2 ETHICS STATEMENT From the AWG President By Blair Schneider AWG members shall conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner. GAEA (pronounced Jee-ah) is named after the Greek goddess of Earth. GAEA is published four times a year by the Association for Women Geoscientists. Subscription is included in annual dues. Non-members may subscribe for $60/yr. Editorial Information Views expressed in GAEA do not necessarily reflect official AWG positions unless stated as such. Please submit manuscripts, news releases, and letters to [email protected] Advertising Classified and display advertising is avail - able in GAEA, AWG News, and the AWG website. For more information, please contact Ad Coordinator, at: [email protected] AWG Publicist To disseminate news about your professional accomplishments, contact the AWG Publicist, at [email protected] Association Office All other correspondence, such as change of address or chapter affiliation, should be directed to: Association for Women Geoscientists N. Washington St., Suite 285 Thornton, Colorado Phone: Fax: [email protected] Website: Association for Women Geoscientists Materials in GAEA may be reprinted if appropriate credit is given. Greetings AWG! Wow, this first quarter has really kicked off with a bang. Since my last letter, a lot has happened to catch up and reflect on. The starter was AWG s presence at both the GSA 2015 annual meeting in Baltimore and the AGU 2015 annual meeting in San Francisco. First and foremost I want express special thanks to Michelle Sutherland and Dennise Templeton, who organize and coordinate the AWG booth each year for GSA and AGU. We are incredibly grateful to them for this service. At GSA, AWG had several events, beginning with the Fall Board Meeting that met Saturday and Sunday before the conference began. Many important topics were discussed, and once the notes have been approved by the Board we will make them available to you. Next was the AWG Awards Breakfast ceremony, which had a fantastic turn out see the article below in this edition of GAEA for more details on the winners. Finally, AWG helped to co-sponsor the Women in Geology Mentor Program, which had a panel of women leaders in geoscience including our very own Rocky Mountain Alternate Delegate, Nancy House. AWG helped to sponsor two events at the AGU conference. First, we co-sponsored the network reception for Early Career Female Scientists and Students, which also had a great turn out. I actually met a fellow early career scientist who attended the same high school and undergraduate program as I did; we were only a few years apart! That was a real treat. I love when worlds collide at networking events such as these. Secondly, AWG co-sponsored the town hall discussion session titled Forward Focused Ethics What is the Role of Scientific Societies in Responding to Harassment and Other Workplace Climate Issues? This session included invited speakers Meg Urry, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Yale University and President of the American Continued Page 3 GAEA Winter Quarterly

3 More from the AWG President Continued from Page 2 Astronomical Society; Christine Williams, Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin and an expert on gender, race, class inequality, and harassment in the workplace; and Mary Anne Holmes, Professor Emerita of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and past Program Director of the NSF ADVANCE program. This town hall discussion is one of the first of what AWG hopes will be many public discussions on the problem of sexual harassment in the sciences. For more information on where this conversation is headed for future events, check out the following on Eos.org from ESWN President Erika Marin-Spiotta, AWG President Blair Schneider, and Mary Anne Holmes ( Now that the New Year has begun, we have several events to look forward to. Past-president Denise Cox will be attending the Sociologists for Women in Society meeting in Memphis, Tennessee to meet with the Discrimination Committee so that AWG can continue this important discussion brought forward at AGU. We will once again be co-hosting a short course and networking reception event at AAPG in Calgary this year (June 19-22) with the AAPG Prowess group and the SEG Women s Network Committee. Lastly, don t forget that we have our annual elections coming up this summer. Positions that will be open on the ballot include: President-elect (three-year term) Treasurer (two-year term) North Central Delegate (three-year term) North Central Alternate (three-year term) Pacific Region Delegate 1 (three-year term) Pacific Region Alternate 1 (three-year term) South Central Regional Delegate 2 (three-year term) South Central Regional Alternate 2 (three-year term) International Regional Delegate (three-year term) International Regional Alternate (three-year term) Please note that the International Regional Delegate and Alternate are NEW positions open to the Board, which were voted and approved by the Board at the 2015 Fall Board Meeting. If you have any questions about duties involved with these positions, please contact me at [email protected]. AWG OFFICERS Vol. President Blair Schneider University of Kansas 1475 Jayhawk Blvd, Rm 120 Lawrence, KS [email protected] (past, current, elect) President-Elect Roxy Frary 1001 Noble Energy Way Houston, TX Past-President Denise M. Cox Storm Energy 702 Bunkers Cove Road Panama City, FL Secretary Molly Long WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Dulles Technology Dr., St. 300 Herndon, VA [email protected] Treasurer Bevin Bailey Chevron 1500 Louisiana Street Office Houston, TX [email protected] Editor Dr. Monica Ramirez Vice President of Instruction Morgan Community College Colorado [email protected] GAEA Coordinator Shawn Blaesing-Thompson [email protected] On a personal note, my husband and I are expecting our first baby this summer and just found out it s a girl. Here s to a future AWG member on the way Cheers and happy winter! Blair Schneider GAEA Winter Quarterly

4 AWG FOUNDATION OFFICERS President Jennifer J. Thompson 1504 Sandman St. Houston, TX Vice-President Vacant Volunteer today! Treasurer Kate M. Johnson 652 Glimmerglen Road Cooperstown, NY Secretary Emily Browning BP America Inc. 200 Westlake Park Blvd. Houston, TX Past-President Charlene Sundermann th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN Director Stacey Quarles Softoq Geoscience Consulting London, England Two Vacant Director Positions Volunteer today! AWGF President s Letter By Jenny Thompson Winter Greetings from the AWG Foundation President I hope this finds you enjoying all that life has to offer as we embark on This is my first letter to the membership as President of the AWG Foundation. I have a fantastic Board of Directors, and the Foundation is supporting many wonderful projects with the dollars that many of you have so generously donated. At the AWG Breakfast at the GSA Annual Meeting on November 2, 2015, supporters and members of AWG contributed $13,000 to help AWGF fund AWG s programs; that s about 17% of the annual cost of these programs. If you were among these generous donors, we thank you! If not, won t you join us now? As a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation, the AWG Foundation funds AWG projects that encourage women to study and to pursue careers in the geosciences. The benefits to women geoscientists are substantial, at all stages of their careers. And your contributions are what make this all possible. My term as President began January 1, 2016, but I have been active with the AWG Foundation since the fall of 2008 when I became secretary followed by a term as the Vice President starting in the fall of I became active in the AWG Foundation because I really care about the outreach and projects that the AWG Foundation supports. If you read your GAEA newsletters you will find stories about many of those projects and hopefully you will be inspired to contribute either your time or money to become part of the efforts. I am particularly fond of the outreach projects such as science fairs, Girl Scouts, Earth Science week, and the Geo- Girls project that exposed middle school and high school girls to geology in the field. I think exposing students to the geosciences will help to feed the pipeline leading to more women in geoscience careers. As a student in high school I was interested in math and the physical sciences, but I still did not know what field of science I wanted to study in college. I joined an explorer scout troop that was sponsored by the Colorado School of Mines exposing me to different fields of engineering including geophysics. Continued Page 5 GAEA Winter Quarterly

5 AWGF President s Letter Continued from Page 4 I found my passion in geophysics, blending my love of math and the geology that I saw as a child camping in the national parks. The exposure to geophysics in high school introduced me to a career that has been rewarding in so many ways. There are AWG projects that support women at all stages of their career enhancing their professional growth. The Foundation provides funding to AWG scholarships of many kinds, awards to honor excellence, awards to fund travel expenses for presentations at professional meetings, and the Distinguished Speakers program sending excellent female speakers to colleges and universities around the country. I think you can all find an AWG project or projects that you identify with and would like to support. Please join me in supporting AWG through the Foundation. You can donate to the AWG Foundation online ( and select Donate from the upper right), or use the form below (our dirty little secret, mailing the form directly to the treasurer puts your money to work faster ). I want to take a moment to thank Rhonda Lindsey Jacobs, our outgoing treasurer, for all the outstanding work she has done for the Foundation. The job of treasurer is a particularly tough job and Rhonda has done excellent work, including completing an audit on the AWG Foundation in Thank you Rhonda!! As always, we thank you for your support of the AWG Foundation, and we will keep right on asking for more. Wishing you a good year in Jenny Thompson AWG Foundation President SUPPORT AWG PROGRAMS DONATE TODAY! Enclosed is my contribution of $ Please use my contribution for: AWGF General Fund (supports greatest need) Other: Name: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone or Mail to: Kate Johnson, AWGF Treasurer, 652 Glimmerglen Road Cooperstown, NY Or donate online at GAEA Winter Quarterly

6 Award Winners Continued from Page 1 The 2015 AWG Encourage award went to Jeffrey Ross (pictured below right ). Jeff is an active member of the AWG Osage Chapter, and is an enthusiastic supporter of professional women at every stage of their career. He was recently elected as their president-elect for the year and helped to organize and lead the AWG field trip to Puerto Rico in August The 2015 AWG President award went to Dr. Luis Gonzalez (pictured below middle) of the University of Kansas and Rhonda Jacobs (pictured below left), former AWGF treasurer. Luis is recognized for his dedication and support of both the local Osage Chapter and the national organization as a whole. Dr. Gonzalez led the 2015 AWG field trip to Puerto Rico and has funded the AWG Professional Excellence awards for two years through the University of Kansas, Department of Geology, and has also funded local Osage scholarship awards for students. Rhonda Jacobs is recognized for her incredible guidance and leadership of AWG and the AWG Foundation in recent years during the rebranding phase of the program. Her vision and energy have been momentous in improving the Foundation as a whole. The 2015 Distinguished Service award went to the Minnesota Chapter. The Minnesota Chapter of AWG celebrates 30 years of enhancing the status of women in the geosciences, encouraging girls to go into the geosciences and exchanging technical and professional information. In April of 1985, Minnesota became an AWG Chapter with Jane Willard serving as its first local president. Today, the Minnesota Chapter of AWG remains dedicated to this mission. The Chapter is active throughout the year with participation in outreach and networking opportunities, a quarterly newsletter to keep membership informed as well as sponsorship of women geoscience speakers. The Chapter also strives to host an annual field trip to visit local geology and collect specimens. In response to its award, the Chapter told us, The Minnesota Chapter humbly receives the Distinguished Service award which is certainly a testament to the dedication and efforts placed by the many individuals who have helped shape our local Chapter over the years. The longevity of this Chapter further reinforces that the mission of AWG continues to be a valid goal. Photo: Minnesota Chapter Board (above right) Continued Page 7 GAEA Winter Quarterly

7 Award Winners Continued from Page 6 The 2015 Chapter Excellence award was presented to the newly reactivated Laramide Chapter. In its first year back, the Laramide Chapter presented its Outstanding Student awards on May 8th, 2015 at the Denver University Campus. They honored 21 students from 12 different universities and three different states. Twelve of those students attended the awards ceremony (pictured below) with almost 50 attendees including family and friends. The Chapter also received additional gift donations from Henderson Mining to give to these students. It was an incredible event. For upcoming activities visit their new Facebook page : AWG Professional Awards The 2015 AWG Outstanding Educator award was presented to Dr. Jo Laird of the University of New Hampshire for inspiring earth scientists, fostering an appreciation for all things geological, and for being a powerful role model and mentor for women at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Laird is pictured to the right with her students at the awards ceremony. The 2015 AWG Special Recognition awards were presented to Dr. Corinne Myers and Dr. Erin Saupe (pictured left). Cori and Erin stepped up as co-chairs of the Winifred Goldring award last year. Since then, the award amount has been raised from $250 to $2000 for female graduate students; in addition there is an additional $1000 award for female undergraduate students interested in pursuing paleontology as a career. Cori and Erin have helped connect AWG with the Paleontological Society in recognizing rising women in paleontology. The 2015 AWG Professional Excellence award winner in industry was Janell Edman (pictured left). The depth of Janell s professional accomplishments and the emphasis she has placed on outreach and service activities during her career make her a true role model for women in geoscience. In response to receiving this award, Janell wrote us to say, I would like to thank all of the members of AWG for honoring me with the 2015 Professional Excellence award in the Industry/Consultant category that recognizes me for the distinguished contributions I have made throughout my career. To receive such an award from my peers is a tribute that I will always remember and treasure. It is deeply rewarding to have my work acknowledged in this manner. Finally, special thanks are due to Jeanne Harris who nominated me for this award. Continued Page 8 GAEA Winter Quarterly

8 Award Winners Continued from Page 7 The 2015 AWG Professional Excellence award in government was given to Dr. Joan Gomberg of the USGS (picture below right). Joan was especially noted for her ranks among the top earthquake seismologists active today. Her research publications have provided important new insight into the triggering of earthquakes, and most recently, of slow earthquakes and earthquake tremor. Joan has been strongly motivated to educate the public about earthquake hazards: she has also performed exceptional public outreach of earthquake hazards in the New Madrid seismic zone, and now, in the greater Seattle area. The 2015 AWG Professional Excellence award in academia is Dr. Cathy Whitlock (pictured above left) at Montana State University. Cathy was praised for her distinguished contributions in academia, reaching highest merits in the international research community. Her research interests lie in understanding the consequences of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems over time scales of decades to millennia. Research undertaken by Professor Whitlock and her students in North America, Europe, Australia, South America, and Asia has provided invaluable knowledge about the history of temperate vegetation during the last 130,000 years. Cathy has an outstanding publication record with over 150 reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and other publications over her career. Congratulations to all of the 2015 awardees! AWG Sand Student Research Presentation Travel Award The Sand Student Research Presentation travel award is named after Virginia (Ginny) Sand, an awardwinning geoscience teacher, strong supporter of AWG, and world traveler. The award provides support for women geoscience students to present their research at the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. There is one competition each year, and the award is given to two students annually. Each awardee receives $500 to help cover expenses associated with the presentation of the awardee s research. To learn more about the award, go to 20Research%20Presentation%20Travel%20Award%20pdf.pdf. Continued Page 9 GAEA Winter Quarterly

9 Award Winners Continued from Page 8 AWG Sand Student Research Presentation Travel Award: The 2015 Award Recipients The Association for Women Geoscientists takes pride in announcing Rachel Cajigas and Kaydee Jo West as the recipients of the 2015 AWG Sand Student Research Presentation travel awards. Rachel Cajigas Rachel is a fourth year Ph.D. student at the University of Arizona specializing in geoarchaeology. Her interests range from soil and sediment analysis to shallow subsurface imaging, all with a focus on understanding the ways that ancient people adapted to and interacted with the environment. At the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America in Baltimore, Maryland, Rachel gave an oral presentation in the Frontiers in Geoarchaeology session on her recent work using geophysical techniques to locate irrigation canals at La Playa in Sonora, Mexico. La Playa is one of the largest identified archaeological sites from the Early Agricultural period. Cultivation at La Playa modified the land in a number of ways, but severe erosion over the years and the soil properties have made it difficult to determine the extent to which humans modified the land. Rachel s work has shown that magnetic radiometry can be used to successfully map the extent of the irrigation canal system. In addition to giving a talk, Rachel participated in the meeting as the student representative for the Archaeological Geology Division in the newly formed GSA Student Advisory Council, and, during the meeting, she received the Claude C. Albritton, Jr. award from the Archaeological Geology Division. Rachel appreciated the many opportunities for networking at the meeting, which led to many fruitful discussions about her current research and possible future projects. Kaydee Jo West Kaydee s presentation at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America in Baltimore, Maryland, was her first at a national meeting. Kaydee, who is in the second year of her Ph.D. program at the University of South Florida, presented the results of her research on the ways in which predation has changed in the Gulf of Mexico from the late Pliocene to the present. She collected proxy data for predation intensity, direct and indirect competition, and optimal foraging from a large number of fossil and modern bivalve and gastropod specimens. The patterns that emerged from the data revealed an unprecedented level of intensity of biotic interactions in the Anthropocene. Her results provide key information for conservation managers in their work to restore and preserve marine ecosystems. Before this project, Kaydee s research focused primarily on the use of isotope geochemistry in paleoecological studies. Kaydee broadened her skill set with this project as it required expertise in data management and advanced statistical methods. She also mentored an undergraduate student, who was second author on the abstract. The meeting was a great confidence booster for Kaydee, and she is looking forward to following up on opportunities developed at the meeting for collaboration and to working on the preparation of a manuscript discussing her work on predator prey interactions among benthic invertebrates in the Gulf of Mexico. Continued Page 11 GAEA Winter Quarterly

10 AWG in Calgary, Alberta By Jean Hsieh and Victoria French In 2015, with the encouragement of AWG President Denise Cox, the small AWG community in Calgary, Alberta, began the process of establishing an AWG Chapter. Our plan was to build awareness of AWG and establish a small core network. Thoughts were to grow the community to formalize a chapter. We launched our first meeting in August The inaugural meeting was an informal networking event to organize and plan upcoming events. Advertising was done by word of mouth. I ed my personal network and told everyone to forward the information to as many colleagues as possible. After starting with about 15 names, we ended up with a distribution list of over 100. Attendance at this event was about we had so many conversations going that I couldn t get a good headcount. The event started with an introduction to AWG based upon the talk given at the 2014 AWG Breakfast at GSA. Afterwards, we opened up the event to networking. The original event was scheduled from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M., but there was a sizable contingent that stayed until 8:00 P.M. The result was a small, but sizable number of volunteers who were willing to assist with future events. The second event was held in October. We had two speakers, Kimberley Bell (University of Calgary) and Naomi Miles (CNRL) who spoke to us about their graduate research. This was followed by another informal networking event in late November. Each time, there were new attendees as well as a core group of supporters. We are going to have our fourth meeting this February with a speaker, Merilie Reynolds, from the University of Alberta. We are also tentatively trying to put together a website (thanks to Naomi Miles) who can help us to get organized. We ve also created an for the Calgary Chapter and will be trying to manage the distribution list through that . Hopefully, these will be available to show you at the Calgary AAPG in June at the AAPG PROWESS-AWG-SEG networking event sponsored by Schlumberger. Other events that are in the works include a summer hiking club (initiative led by Amanda Wu) and a mentoring program. We are aiming to become a formal non-rebate earning Chapter (since we are in Canada). With the number of enthusiastic volunteers from the student population, as well as the newly working crowd, I believe that the Calgary AWG Chapter will be on the books this summer! Check out our new AWG Member Highlight Blog AWG is starting up a new member highlight blog that you can find on our webpage as well as in our E- newsletter. Check it out each month to see the awesome things AWG members are doing. If you are interested in being featured, or know someone who should be, please Mackenzie Cremeans. GAEA Winter Quarterly

11 Award Winners Continued from Page 9 AWG Takken Student Research Presentation Travel Award: The Fall 2015 Award Recipient The Association for Women Geoscientists takes pride in announcing Wendy Kordesch as the recipient of the fall 2015 AWG Takken Student Research Presentation travel award. The Takken Student Research Presentation travel award is named after Suzanne Takken, a petroleum geologist and avid traveler who advanced women geoscientists through her leadership roles in both AWG and AWGF. The award provides support for women geoscience students to present their research at a national or international professional geoscience meeting other than the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. There are two competitions each year, and the award is given to one student per competition. Each awardee receives $500 to help cover expenses associated with the presentation of the awardee s research. To learn more about the award, go to AWG_Takken_Student_Research_Pres.pdf. Wendy Kordesch This past fall, Wendy traveled to San Francisco, California, to present the most recent and most exciting results of her research at the 2015 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Wendy is in the final stages of completing her Ph.D. at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom where she has been studying paleoclimatology and paleoceanography. Wendy is particularly interested in using data from deep-sea sediments and microfossils to reconstruct Earth s climate during periods of global warmth. Her attention has focused on the understudied Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum, a short-term global warming event that occurred about 40 million years ago. Wendy s data has helped to solve the Eocene conundrum a discrepancy between data and models by showing that the event was caused by multiple small carbon dioxide injections rather than one long carbon dioxide injection and by showing that ocean acidification was nearly twice the size as previously thought. During the meeting, Wendy took the time to attend a lively talk about climate science policy and to hear former Vice President Al Gore s address as part of the Earth from a Million Miles panel discussion on Earth observation. These served as reminders of the importance of making science research accessible to the public. Wendy also enjoyed visiting the AWG booth where she received fun swag and a member pin straight from the hands of AWG President Blair Schneider. GAEA Winter Quarterly

12 AWG Field Trip Report AWG 2015 Puerto Rico Field Trip - By Jeffrey Ross The AWG 2015 Puerto Rico Field Trip took place from August The trip began with participants arriving in San Juan on the 8th and receiving a general geology overview by field trip leader Luis Gonzalez from the University of Kansas. The group departed on the 9th to visit El Yunque Rainforest National Park with several stops along PR-66 to observe rock formations of the Northern Igneous Province. Along the way, stops were made at La Coca Falls and Yocahu Tower before making the final stop at the La Mina Trailhead to go on a short hike through the rainforest. The next leg of the field trip took the group south from San Juan across the Central Igneous Province and into the Southern Igneous Province on the way to the hotel in La Parguera. The third day of the trip began with a morning boat ride led by graduate students from the Marine Sciences program at the University of Puerto Rico to introduce common marine life living along the coast. This was followed by a snorkeling stop within the mangrove islands. In the afternoon the group drove a short distance to the southwest corner of the island to visit the salt flats of Cabo Rojo and to enjoy some leisure time at Los Morrillos Lighthouse. On day four, the group departed La Parguera and made their way north along the west side of the island. Stops were made to examine carbonates and ophiolites before the final stop on the north side of the island where the group took a walk onto the fossilized dunes of Playa Jobos. On the final day of the trip, the group visited the Arecibo Observatory to see the radio telescope before ending the trip at Camuy Caves Park to tour an active cave system. Thirteen people, including the trip leader, participated in this field trip. Three of the participants were students, two of whom were just starting their college careers. During this trip we were also lucky to have Professor Lysa Chizmadia from the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez join us for a couple of days as she helped lead instruction on several outcrops. The geologic history of Puerto Rico is complex, and the participants asked interesting questions which made the trip extremely valuable. Many of the participants knew each other from previous encounters, and they made everyone feel welcome with their relaxed and friendly attitudes. It was a pleasure to have been part of this field trip with its wonderful people. We would like to thank Dr. Luis Gonzalez of the University of Kansas, Department of Geology for leading the trip. We would also like to thank Marcia Knadle, Sue Finstick, and Blair Schneider for their help in organizing the trip together. Lastly, we were very fortunate to receive a corporate sponsorship from Bill Reetz and A Better Earth to help support the field guides for the trip. We look forward to seeing what fun awaits on the 2016 field trip to Maine from September Please contact Sue Finstick if you are interested. Continued page 13 Pillowed lavas of the Lapa Lava Member of the Robles Formation along PR-52 heading south towards Ponce. GAEA Winter Quarterly

13 AWG Field Trip Report cont inu ed fro m p ag e 1 2 (left): Dr. Gonzalez showing an outcrop along PR- 66. Rocks along this route include late Cretaceous to early Tertiary basaltic andesites, sheets and dikes of diabase, and volcanic sandstones and breccias. (below right): Members of the AWG group, and other spectators at La Coca Falls in El Yunque Rainforest National Park. Due to lower than nor- mal rainfall this year, the falls were a mere trickle of the normal flow. (below): View from PR-139 of the Cerrillos Dam site. Faulting can be seen here that is associated with the Great Southern Puerto Rico Fault Zone which is located a few kilometers north. (Right) Group photo taken at Arecibo Observatory. GAEA Winter Quarterly

14 Mentor Moment By Denise Cox Modified from Build Your Network for Results R.K. Prescott The University of Alabama Women in STEM (WiSE) Symposium Networking is a value exchange. It is not a one-sided promotion of yourself or a product you represent. It is communication that mutually benefits the individuals involved. You are not just making connections, you are building relationships. Networking can happen anywhere at any time so be prepared. Networking is body language or how you are perceived; the tone of your voice; and content of what is said. Maximize your networking by being open, upbeat, and memorable. Good Networking Manners Know the appropriate attire and arrive on time. Drink in moderation and focus on people, not the food. Say thank you to the event planners they have the best connections. Preparation Have your social media information including your picture up-to-date. Print business cards on the best quality paper within your budget and have a pen to take notes and/or have V-card ready to share. Practice a few sentences that provide information on who you are and what you do that will lead to further conversation. Know the organization or people and be up to date on topics pertinent to the event. Wear clothing with pockets or have a handbag that allows easy access to cards and allows your hands to be free. Tactics Maximize networking time early in the event when groups are smaller. Locate in high traffic areas or and move through the room. Introduce yourself and lead into conversation about a mutual topic of interest. Have 3-5 conversation starters. If you are shy, bring a colleague who can make introductions but be prepared to make conversation after the introduction. Maintain eye contact, listen, and ask questions. Give out business cards if you ve made a connection and ask for a business card only if you plan to follow up. Know when and how to end the conversation and move on with a polite closing statement and handshake. Invite another person into the conversation and excuse yourself. When you leave the event, record notes on your mobile device or write down notes on the back of business cards. Continued Page 15 GAEA Winter Quarterly

15 Mentor Moment Continued from Page 14 Follow-Up Write a personal note, , or phone call as soon as possible. Thank them for a great conversation and comment on something discussed. Provide any information you mentioned you would provide. If appropriate set up a follow-up meeting. Request to connect on social media sites appropriate for your career. Announcements AWG Field Trip 2016 Join AWG for a field trip to Maine and the Maritime Canada September 5-15, 2016 For more details contact Sue Finstick at [email protected] GAEA Winter Quarterly

16 2015 New AWG Members The year 2015 came to a close with 1442 AWG Members and 709 new members for the year. AWG has members in forty-eight states in the U.S., two U.S. provinces and twenty-four countries. Welcome to all our new members listed below, and thank you to all our current members who continue to support AWG efforts to enhance, encourage and exchange. Total Membership by Type Number Percent Chapter Corporate Membership (includes 5 individual memberships) Honorary Member Membership Institutional Membership Int'l Low Income Country-Professional Member Int'l Low Income Country-Student Lifetime Member Membership Professional Membership Reduced Income Membership Student Membership Sustaining Professional Membership Total Membership % New 2015 Institutional Members Range Resources, University of Washington Tacoma Int'l Low Income Country-Professional Member - Patricia MÃnica Alvarado Int'l Low Income Country-Student Amanda L. Porto, Maria Ignacia Abarca, Paula A. Guerra, Rosas Sotomayor Florencia Lifetime Member Membership - Jane Willenbring Sustaining Professional Membership Dr. Andrea E. Brookfield, Barbara A. Tillotson, Nikki B. Powers, Sasha W. Gumprecht, Beth A. Isern, Valentina Vallega, Olfa Zened, Errin Bryner, Evan K Franseen, Ms. Alycia A McCord, Dr. Hillary Hamann, Rebecca L. Freeman, Ph.D., Ms. Elizabeth A.E. Johnson, Paula Jefferis- Nilsen, Ms. Michelle Vitale, Jamar Bynum, Dr. Eleanour Snow Reduced Income Membership - Melissa A. Magno, Sydney Weitkunat, Shelly Alexander, Miss. Bianca Palombi, Ms. Justine Overacker, Jane A. Francis, Megan Hudak, Ramona Scott, Dr. Elaine Savageau Godfrey, Allan Ashworth, Rachel Beise, Miss. Samantha Elizabeth Snyder Continued Page 18 GAEA Winter Quarterly

17 WiSE Symposium Building an Impact By Denise M. Cox - AWG Past-President, UA WiSE Board The 4th Annual University of Alabama Women in STEM Experience (WiSE) Symposium was held January ( The theme of the program, Building an Impact was chosen to give students, faculty, and professionals a platform to build a support community, exchange ideas, and discover opportunities. Dr. Cori Perdue, WiSE Director and Hillary Sletten, AWG member and Geoscience, Ph.D. candidate, organized and hosted the symposium. The success of the WiSE program reflects their vision and leadership. Free Childcare was provided by The University of Alabama s Sitters for Service for the entire Symposium. Opening Events Saturday January 22 Geocache Facilities Tour and Networking Reception The Symposium began Friday evening with a Geocahe Tour of the University of Alabama s (UA) Science and Engineering Facilities. Participants collected caches as they viewed UA s state-of-the-art STEM facilities; a very creative and entertaining way to tour university facilities. The tour was followed by a casual networking reception to make new connections or re-connect with WiSE participants. WiSE Symposium Saturday January 23 Professional Head Shots The UA Career Center provided free professional head shots before the start of the day s program. This is an overlooked aspect of visual communication for anyone starting his/her career. As a bonus, the head shot opportunity crowd sourced the attendees version of professional attire and the basic black pants suit or black pants and sweater set were clear winners. WeAreWiSE The symposium effectively used the #WeAreWiSE tag to communicate with social media. The organizers provided a photo booth and STEM equipment for attendees to post the face of STEM to social media outlets with the #WeAreWise tag. An inspiring slide show of the diversity of women in STEM was shown during the lunch break. Poster Sessions The WiSE Symposium featured 72 STEM research posters. The posters were judged by STEM professionals to award six scholarships ranging from first place of $1000 to Honorable Mention at $50. Participants were also encouraged with door prizes to visit five posters and turn in a card listing interesting facts learned. Opening Remarks UA s Dean of the Graduate School, Dean Francko, opened the symposium with the attendance statistics. 456 registered attendees from 21 schools representing seven states in the southeastern U.S. The global citizenship of the participating schools highlighted the cultural diversity of STEM. Continued page 22 GAEA Winter Quarterly

18 2015 New AWG Members Continued from Page 16 Professional Membership - Alexandra Caruso, Andrea Stanley, Angela K Baker, Ph.D., Ann M. Youberg, Ph.D., Anna V. Spears, Annie Bourbonnais, Antonia E. Hansen, Ashley Cott, Beatriz Garcia-Fresca, Ph.D., Belinda E. Jacobs, Benjamin L. Clausen, Ph.D., Bethany Overfield, Brenna Tuller-Ross, Bridget M. Tescher, Caitlin J. Moore, Carmela Cuomo, Ph.D., Carmen T. Agouridis, Ph.D., Catherine Nicole Yuill, Chelsey M. Jones, Chi Xu, Christine Gammans, Corinne Disenhof, Cortney A. Crouch, Daisy Pate, David P. Moecher, Ph.D., Deana Sneyd, Delanya Trammell, Diane L. Pressel, Dr. Abigail Mary Semple Domagall, Dr. Alan E. Fryar, Dr. Amy Fox, Dr. Anna D. DeJong, Dr. Aubrey L Hillman, Dr. Carla E. Rosenfeld, Dr. Catherine M Corrigan, Dr. Emily Frances Smith, Dr. Emily Johnson, Dr. Jennifer A. Roberts, Dr. Jennifer Ann Wadsworth, Dr. Jennifer Sliko, Dr. Julia Bryce, Dr. Katherine E. Johanesen, Dr. Lysa Joice Chizmadia, Dr. Martha Growdon, Dr. Michael McGlue, Dr. Michelle Cooper Fleck, Dr. Michelle Harris, Dr. Olimma Alison Ufuoma, Dr. Rowan C Martindale, Dr. Sally McGill, Dr. Sian Proctor, Dr. Suzanne Hand, Ph.D., Dr. Tania-Maria Anders, Dr. Thomas Mark Brocher, Dr. Tiffany Rivera, Dr. Tiffany Yesavage, Dr. Timothy J. Brock, Dr. Tina Roberts-Ashby, Dr. Zeynep Baran, Elisabeth Widom Elizabeth Avery, Erik L. Gulbranson, Ph.D., Erin McGlenn, Gephen R Sadove, Gerald A. Weisenfluh, Ph.D. Holly A. Schreiber, Ph.D., Ileana M. Tibuleac, Ph.D., Jane M Willard, Jeanette L. McCracken, Jennie Folger, Jennifer Barr, Jennifer M. Micovic, Jesse White, Jessica Jaramillo, Jingbo Wang, Joanna J. Doummar, Ph.D. Johanna L. Kovarik, Ph.D., Judy Andrews, Kathy L. Emme, Katrin Monecke, Kelly K. Falkner, Ph.D. Kelsey J. Vance, Kelsey M. Tucker, Kerry C. Workman Ford, Kevin E. Nick, Ph.D., Kimberly D Norris-Jones, Kirsten S. Hofmockel, Ph.D., Kirstin R. Johnson, Kory Michelle Espinoza, Krista Brundridge, Kristen McCall, Kristy H. Whitaker, Ph.D., Laura Savalli, Lexi W. Marsh, Linda D. Morse, Liz Percak-Dennett, Lydia Tackett Marcile E. Sigler, Margaret T. Glasscoe, Maria-Luce Frezzotti, Ph.D., Mark Falk, Mark Shreve, Marla K. Kula Matt M. Crawford, Meena Balakrishnan, Ph.D., Megan L. Crocker, Meghan Curtis, Meghan Graham Mac- Lean, Ph.D., Melissa N. Alcorn, Michele Cooney, Michele Wiechman, Michelle Hone, Miss. Ashton Barragar Miss. Chelsea E Anderson, Miss. Julia Aide Avila, Mr. Damon Bassett, Mrs. Allison Ramsey, Mrs. Amanda Jo Zimmerman, Mrs. Anne Teachout, Mrs. Casidy R Lee, Mrs. Erin L Benford, Mrs. Jade Erin Urash, Mrs. Jaquelin Ambler Fields, Ms. Alexis Thompson, Ms. Ali Kayla Steullet, Ms. Jamie Marie Persico, Ms. Karen Maureen Bridges, Ms. Katherine Schwarz, Ms. Robyn E Kurz, Ms. Sheila Alfsen, Ms. Stephanie M Lukowski, Nichole Buckner, Olivia P. Woodruff, Paula R Wamsley Penny King, Racha El Kadiri, Rebecca Boon, Rebecca S. Olsen, Rebekah L. Rhodes, Rex Buchanan, Sandy Pratcher, Sara King, Sarah Byram, Sarah Heger, Sarah L. O'Brien, Ph.D., Sarah Obermeier, Sarena N. LaRobadiere, Shannon Babb, Sophia Giglioth, Stefanie Massignan, Stephanie Ewald, Stephen F. Greb, Ph.D., Steven Clawson, Susan D. Anderson, Susan DeYoung Lundmark, Susan G. Stover, Susan Kite, Tess A. Russo, Ph.D., Vivian Mae Spiess, Whitney Blanchard, Yanez Citlali Perez, Yaraixa Perez Continued Page 19 GAEA Winter Quarterly

19 2015 New AWG Members Continued from Page 18 Student Membership Aaron C. Musselman, Aatisha Mahajan, Abigail L. Morris, Acacia S. Pepler, Adam Jackson, Adrienne L. Guest, Aims L. Bennett, Alex D. Quesnel, Alexa F. Barber, Alexa R. Moore, Alexandra B. Walczak, Alexandra Horne, Alexandra Oppelt, Alexandra R. Harper, Alexis Blair, Alexis L. Howard, Alice Westin Teixeira, Alicia T. Solomon, Alla Skaskevych, Allison Richards, Alta E. Howells, Alysia S. Korn, Alyssa Forsythe, Alyssa M. Charsky, Alyssa Manis, Ph.D., Alyssa R. Leidel, Amalys J. Pena, Amanda Hamby, Amanda L. Meacham, Amanda L. Wescott, Amanda N. Lupardus, Amber J. Liggett, Amber K. Lacy, Amy L. Brown, Ana M. Martinez, Andrea C. Gallegos, Angelica J Calderon, Ann Hislop, Anna F. Whitaker, Anna Rasmuson, Annastacia L. Maynard, Anne E. Longar, Anne Hayden- Lesmeister, Anne M. Wilce, Anne V. Wrobetz, Arisa Deasy, Aro Terrell, Ashleigh N. Boyd, Ashley B. Ramsey, Ashley K. Quigley, Ashley M. Bald, Ashley R. Walsh, Ashley V. York, Audre Sylvester, Aurora Obembe, Austin J. McGlannan, Ayari De La Rosa-Perkins, Bailee N. Hodelka, Behnaz Balmaki, Berkeley Almand-Hunter, Bethania Chagas Tosta Siviero, Bethany A. Royce, Bram A. Komaromi, Bridget Lee, Bridget Solana Pettit, Brittany H. Curry, Brittany L. Kime, Caitlin Colleary, Caitlin M. Fogaren, Caitlyn A. Floyd, Cari Roughley, Carla A. Valdes, Carleigh B. Lider, Carlene Gilewski, Carlos D. Gomez, Caroline Amelse, Carolyn M. Page, Cassidy N. Jay, Catherine Kuhn, Cathleen Doherty, Charelle S. Trim, Charlotte I. Lee, Chelsey Hay, Chelsey L. Kipper, Cheyenne Haverfield, Chiara Tornabene, Chilisa Shorten, Christen E. Helov, Christie E. Torres Rosa, Christina A.D. Wasem, Christina Gray, Christina M. Andry, Christina Marie Jasso, Christina Maschmeyer, Christina S. Chu, Christine Rosalynn Cano, Christine Y. Chen, Christopher M. Johnson, Christy Y. Liang, Chynna Jean Spangle, Claire H Bailey, Claire L. Sotelo, Claire Messner, Claire Pless, Claudia. B. Quinteros Cartaya, Clayton D Schultz, Colleen Cassidy, Courtney A. Melrose, Courtney Stallman, Dahlia Taha Khalifa, Danielle K. Moyer, Danielle Oberg, David Riera, Daynia C. Jacob, Debasree Chatterjee-Dawn, Debra S. Brice, Deirdre J. LaBounty, Dewi Syavitri Husein, Ph.D., Diamond K.M. Tachera, Diana L. Thatcher, Diana M. Miller, Diane M. Carrico, Dina Peoples, Dorine R. Bower, Doris J. Rivera-Santiago, Dr. Debra Tillinger, Dr. Maria Tzortziou, Ph.D., Dr. Marion L. Lytle, Dr. Michelle L. Ozarowski, Ph.D., Dr. Risa Madoff, Dulci Avouris, Dusty Ann Gutierrez, Eider Hernandez Bilba, Eleanor F. Jones, Elena Steponaitis, Elisabeth A. Gallant, Elisabeth A. Schlaudt, Elizabeth Aislin Reynolds, Elizabeth Frank, Ph.D., Elizabeth Gant, Elizabeth P Wilson, Elizette Viramontes, Ellen E. O'Neil, Elova F. Avana, Elsa D. Saelens, Elyse Rector, Emily A. Bistran, Emily Bunse, Emily C. Pease, Emily E. Salings, Emily Elliott, Emily Joynt, Emma A Larkin, Emma Carolyn M. Kazeze, Emma J. Fillingham, Emma J. Hunt, Emma Kuster, Eric A. Barefoot, Eric Janssen Orphys, Erica Loza, Erika Johanna Zocher, Erika L. Smith, Erin Bessette-Kirton, Erin E. Bulson, Erin Fitch, Erin R. Johnson, Estefania Martinez Tavera, Evelin A. Flamenco, Faye Lynn Moser Visco, Gabriel J. Poduska, Gabriela P. Leyton-Nolan, Gabriela Serrato Marks, Garima Lohani, Gemma M. Beck, Giselle Conde, Halley A. Keevil, Hannah E. Cutts, Hannah M. Morgan, Heather Judd, Heidi L. Needham, Helemle Vital, Helena Manuel, Hunter Manlove, Iliya Smithka, Imogen M. Browne, James C. Ryan, Janine Roza, Jean M. Eichhorst, Jeffrey Tucker Steen, Jenica Guidry, Jenna Louise Lente, Jennifer Bower, Jennifer C. Warren, Jennifer Holley, Jennifer L. Lamp, Jessica A. Williams, Jessica Davey, Jessica L. Axson, Ph.D., Jessica Marie Robinson, Jessica N. Leesburg, Jessica N. Tashman, Jill Park, Jody B. Wyrech, Joleigh Q. Pier, Jose A. Velez Gonzalez, Joshua R. Flathers, Joy Buongiorno, Julia C. Rausch Lemaster, Julia C. Salevan, Julie Cains, Julie Floyd, Justine Carstairs, Kaitlin Lento, Kaitlyn S. Chow, Kalli Alyse Dubois, Kara E.R. Prior Continued page 20 GAEA Winter Quarterly

20 2015 New AWG Members Continued from Page 19 Students Karimor Ledesma-Maldonado, Karra T. Stout, Kate D. Musgrave, Ph.D., Kate Hurlbut, Kate M. Gigstad, Katey Bueltmann, Kathee Elliott, Katherine A. Guns, Katherine C. Bolles, Katherine Dvorak, Katherine Robinson, Katherine S. Morgan, Katheryn T. Abbott, Kathleen Compton, Kathryn E. Teague, Kaydee Jo West, Kellie A. Donaghue, Kelly L Rose, Kelly R. Sokolosky, Kelly Sanks, Kennedy C. Payne, Keri J. Younger, Kimberley L. Dunn, Kimberly A. Miles, Kimberly C. Brumble, Kimberly Carothers Cumella, Kimberly Gottschalk, Kimberly M. Morales, Kira Timm, Kristen E. Welsh Unwala, Kristen Lorenz, Kristen Marie Whitney, Kristin N. Johnson, Kristina Marie P. Agoncillo, Kyle A. Olsen, Lan Ma, Lanie Nicole Meridth, Larisse Ferreira da Silva, Laura A. Schachter, Laura A.T. Markley, Laura Craig, Laura E. King, Laura Elizabeth Speir, Laura Haynes, Laura J. Herren, Laura M. Cappio, Laura Sugano, Lauren Cross, Lauren Henderson, Laurie S. Chong, Ph.D., Leah D. Grant, Leanne M Tingley, Leia A. Gaten-Slahor, Leila M Joyce Seals, Lena R. Capece, Leslie Anne Valentine, Leslie M. Montoya, Ligia Carolina Mayorga Gonzalez, Lilianna E. Christman, Lillian Soto-Cordero, Lily Serach, Lindsey C. Belliveau, Lindsey M. Kenyon, Lindsey V. Shanks, Lisa C. MacKenzie, Lisa Kant, Logan Byers, Lorelei G. Curtain, Loren P. Albert, Lucila J. Houttuijn Bloemendaal, Luisa Aebersold, Mackenzie L. Fannon, Maia Davis, Margaret G. Irwin, Margaret Mae Upton, Margarita M. Solares Colon, Margot Ferencz, Maria A. Gutierrez Azuaje, Maria Magdelena Sandoval Donahue, Mariana B. Bonich, Marie C. Cooper, Marie J Potter, Marilyn S. Page, Martha T. Perdomo-Figueroa, Mary A. Cameron, Mary C. Weber, Mary Canchola, Mary E. Lupo,Mary Lee King, Matilda E. Huber, Matt Edgin, Matt Mulheran, Matthew H. Peppers, Maxwell Pommer, Meagan Leduc, Megan A. Mave, Megan K. Clevenger, Megan L. Krusor, Megan Torpey, Meghan C. Horgan, Melissa E. Readon, Michele N. Gandee, Michelle E. Jimenez, Michelle L. Gevedon, Michelle Morefield, Mikael Anderson, Mikayla M. Thomas, Mimi Do, Minda M. Monteagudo, Mindi L. Curran, Miquela Ingalls, Miss. Brenda Rodriguez, Miss. Carley Marie Cavanaugh, Miss. Carson Cameron MacPherson-Krutsky, Miss. Dana Michelle Yakabowskas, Miss. Ellen Jayne Reat, Miss. Jennifer L Murphy, Miss. Kelsey Morgan Robinette, Miss. LetÃcia Freitas GuimarÃes, Miss. Madison Marie Curtis, Miss. Malia Foster, Miss. Marsha K. Allen, Miss. Melissa Boyd, Miss. Morgan Pellegran, Miss. Obianuju Ivana Ugwu-Ojum Miss. Sarah B. Montgomery, Miss. Shelby L Isley Miss. Silvandira dos Santos GÃes Pereira de Jesus, Misty Porter, Morgan Helfrich-Dennis Mr. Austin William Krehel, Mr. Peter Jensen, Mrs. Emilia R. Belia, Mrs. Jameelah R Rodriguez Mrs. Janet E Smith, Mrs. Kristin Kennedy, Mrs. Naoma Kay Leonard, Mrs. Priscilla Stone, Ms. Rachel Marie Thornton, Mrs. Sara Lindsay Poluga, Mrs. Stephanie Ann Sparks, Mrs. Theresa Maye, Ms. Allison Karp, Ms. Amanda Ostwald, Ms. Anna F Vaculik, Ms. Anna Kathleen Hissem, Ms. Aria Linares, Ms. Ashley Lorraine Worthy, Ms. Bethany L Kile, Ms. Brittiny Paige Moore, Ms. Carla Harper, Ms. Christina Marie Verhagen, Ms. Courtney Kurtz, Ms. Elizabeth Regan Hollingsworth, Ms. Emily Bogdan Cahoon, Ms. Fabiane Barato Santos Neto, Ms. Gabrielle S Sasseville, Ms. Jensen McConnell, Ms. Jonelle Isaac, Ms. Julia Wood, Ms. Kathleen Anne Graham, Ms. Kelsey Anne Mason, Ms. Kylie Larson-Robl, Continued Page 21 GAEA Winter Quarterly

21 2015 New AWG Members Continued from Page 20 Students Ms. Lauren Huffman Kahre, Ms. Leah Newman, Ms. Lerato Priscilla Ramphaka, Ms. Logan Gerber-Chavez, Ms. Magali Barba, Ms. Michelle Juliana Jimenez, Ms. Mireya Berrios, Ms. Natalie R Leibovitz, Ms. Raya G Berman, Ms. Rebecca C Dorward, Ms. Shellie Habel, Ms. Stephanie M Clark, Ms. Tai Antonia Subia, Ms. Terri Bannister, Ms. Terrisse Arete, Ms. Wendy Kordesch, Ms. Yanet Cuddus, Naomi F. Henry, Natalia I. Ramirez-Irizarry, Natalie Jones, Nayani T. Ilangakoon, Nick Geyer, Nicole M. Ritchie, Nicole Noonan, Noel Turner, Novella E.H. Greer, Olivia G. Thurston, Oludamilola Adesiyun, Pantjanita Hartami, Ph.D., Pawan Budhathoki, Prisca Ibiyemi, Rachael L. Wood, Rachel C. Carter, Rachel Cajigas, Rachel E. Bowes, Rachel Edie, Rachel M. Adams, Rachelle A Kernen, Rana S. El Ghoniny, Rebecca F. Unger, Rebecca Lenz, Rebecca M. Kickett, Robina Shaheen, Rose E. Palermo, Ruby V. Patterson, Sahar Mohammadi Dehcheshmehi, Samantha Burk, Samantha N. Lynch, Samiah Moustafa, Sandra R. Waresak, Sara C. Edinberg, Sara J. ElShafie, Sara Mazrouei, Sarah A. Fitzpatrick, Sarah A. Maithel, Sarah A. Vitale, Sarah J. Kitchen, Sarah K. Vines, Sarah L. Lizarraga, Sarah M. Lavin, Sarah S. Benjaram, Sarah Tynan, Sarah Weeks, Sasha L. Garcia, Sean J. Fischer, Serena Dameron, Shannon M. Langille, Shelby C. Sanders, Sheriee R. Parnell, Shirin Leclere, Sierra N. Keller, Sonal Khanolkar, Souyeon Nam, Stacey R. Petrashek, Staci L. Lehue, Stephanie Cobbe, Stephanie Heath, Stephanie M. Mager, Stephanie M. Nale, Stephen Schwarz, Summer R. Weeks, Sunny Grunloh, Susan Cheng, Sushmita Hossain, Sydne Alexa Workman, Sydney L. Bolin,Tania G. Villasenor,Tarini Bhatnagar, Taryn Serwatowski, Tashina Taylor, Tayor M. Coxon, Terra Hess, Tessa S. Hermes, Thomas C. Neal, Thu A. Nguyen, Tyler L. Spano, Valerie Finlayson, Victoria A. Young, Victoria Desjardins, Victoria E. Coraci, Ying Cui, Ph.D., YoLani N. Martin, Yuri K. Rupert, Zuri M. Brooks Thank you and welcome to all the 2015 new AWG Members. Total Membership by Region Percent International 6 North Central (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI) 12 Northeast (CT, DE, DC, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT) 14 Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA) 18 Rocky Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, ND, NM, SD, UT, WY) 16 South Central (AR, KS, LA, OK, TX) 24 Southeast (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV 10 GAEA Winter Quarterly

22 WISE Symposium 2016 Continued from Page 17 Keynote Speaker Dr. Nan Boden Google Director of Engineering, Technical Infrastructure An inspiring talk was given by a woman who grew up in a small, rural town in northern Alabama. With persistence and vision, Nan Boden attended UA, was accepted into a highly competitive program at Caltech, became CEO at Myricom, and is now a Director at Google, responsible for developing Google s nextgeneration data centers. Dr. Boden offered the perspective that Technology is the best way to help people; millions and billions at once. She summed up her STEM journey with the quote that her career has been a long preparation for something I could not to see. Build Sessions I The Build Sessions provided a range of topics for attendees to identify innovative ways to make a positive impact on their careers. Professional Image and Communicating Complex Ideas Dr. Alexa S. Chilcutt, UA Associate --Professor and Director of the Public Speaking Program. The session focused on professional communication and impression management with tips for strategic nonverbal and verbal communication. Women in STEM need to understand it is not only what is said, but also how they are perceived that can affect communication of their research. Take Charge of your STEM Career Jackie Blakley, General Manager, Southern Company. Blakley addressed how to have a voice and methods to develop effective networking skills in predominantly male STEM professions. She concluded with the very important message of individual responsibility and the need to support other women in male-dominated work places. Start Smart: A Glimpse into Salary Negotiation Paige Miller, UA Women and Gender Resource Center. The presentation included an overview of the American Association for University Women s (AAUW) research on salary discrepancies and an introduction to tips to negotiate for the salary you deserve. Negotiating tips included 1) know your value, 2) identify a target salary based on the company and your personal budget, 3) know your communication strategy, and 4) don t settle out of fear. Build Sessions II Panel Discussions How to Find and Stay in a STEM Career Denise Cox, Storm Energy, moderator. A panel of four STEM professionals shared their very different STEM career pathways and life lessons. The common themes that were expressed were to find your passion and not settle; expose yourself to a wide range of jobs; take risks; and to be observant and fill an unoccupied niche. Four of the five women had left secure technical jobs to take management positions or start their own niche companies. All panelists have a high degree of job satisfaction and personal happiness in their current jobs. Continue the Path Graduate School The panel consisted of a faculty member, administrator, Ph.D. student, and M.S. student. They discussed the logistics associated with applying to graduate school, fellowship opportunities, and STEM jobs from their perspective points of view. Continued Page 23 GAEA Winter Quarterly

23 WISE Symposium 2016 Continued from Page 22 Faculty & STEM Professional Round Table Dr. Fred Andrus, UA Geological Sciences Department Chair, moderator. A discussion from UA faulty representing physics, electrical and computer engineering, social science, and library sciences on topics including: productivity in diverse student research groups; how to generate sponsored scholarships for minority STEM students; and how to address unconscious gender or cultural bias. Impact Sessions Professional Networking 101 Tips to Improve Your Skills A role-playing exercise to practice networking skills. Participants were assigned a personality type and played that role with participants in their group to learn what behaviors work and do not work in a business social setting. This is a great exercise AWG Chapters can use to help develop networking skills. Networking tips from this WiSE session are summarized in the Mentor Moment. Aspire to Lead Price Waterouse Coopers hosted a session to bring awareness to the topic of women and leadership as well as support women in their transition from campus to career. Redefining Work-Life Balance What Does Having it All Mean to YOU? Participants assessed the priorities in their lives to define their individual balance equation. Topics of discussion included healthy imbalance, benefits of stress, how connecting with people and changing perspective can increase life quality, job performance, and balance. Closing Panel Impact Call to Action Six panelists shared information about STEM initiatives and support programs at the University of Alabama. One of the notable UA programs administered through the Women and Gender Resource Center is The Delta Initiative: Capstone Women in STEM. This program is a media campaign highlighting the innovation and societal impact of work done by women in STEM at the University of Alabama. By showing the diversity of women engaged in STEM fields and demonstrating the importance of their work, the campaign allows young women to see STEM majors and opportunities as accessible and rewarding. The Delta Tree team interviewed STEM participants and filmed their stories throughout the WiSE Symposium. To get your AWG Chapter, University, or Business involved with the University of Alabama WiSE program contact Dr. Cori Perdue [email protected]. GAEA Winter Quarterly

24 AWG Awards and Scholarships 2016 AWG Awards for Professional Excellence AWG is calling for nominations for three annual Professional Excellence awards. The awards will go to women who, throughout their careers, have made distinguished contributions in one of the three following categories: Government/regulatory agencies Private industry/consulting Academia/research Nominations are solicited from the AWG membership at large Professional excellence is broadly defined and may include: Breadth and depth of professional accomplishments Mentoring of other geoscience professionals Outreach and service activities Leadership in professional societies Nominees need not be members of AWG. Non-member awardees will receive an honorary one-year membership with their award. Award recognition will be made at the GSA Annual Meeting, as well as in the Winter GAEA and AWG E-News nomination deadline is August 15, To nominate, please submit the following items as electronic files (pdf preferred): Send a one- or two-page letter summarizing the nominee's most important accomplishments in professional areas that demonstrate multidisciplinary geologic accomplishments within her realm of expertise The nominee's CV Two letters of support, which can be from non-members of AWG, with a maximum of five letters Specify which of the three awards (see categories above) is being nominated The nomination files can be ed to: [email protected] or mailed to: ATTN: Professional Excellence Awards Association for Women Geoscientists N. Washington St., Suite 285 Thornton, Colorado GAEA Winter Quarterly

25 Awards and Scholarships Continued from page 24 AWG Outstanding Educator Award Is there a woman geoscientist professor who made a difference in your life? Please take the time to honor her with a nomination The Association for Women Geoscientists established the Outstanding Educator award in 1988 to honor well-established women college or university teachers who have played a significant role in the education and support of geoscientists within and beyond the classroom, in advancing the persistence of females and underrepresented minorities in geoscience careers, and in raising the profile of the geosciences by teaching to and for the broadest audience of students. The deadline for nominations is April 1. The committee will review nominations for women educators with at least 20 years of service to the international geoscience community who have made outstanding contributions in at least two of the three categories of mentoring, instruction and curriculum, and outreach. Nominations must include a current vitae and at least six letters of recommendation from professional colleagues, former students, and current students (male or female). Nomination materials are encouraged to directly address the review criteria (available online at ( All documents must be compiled in one pdf file. Nominations must be ed as attachments to Chair of the AWG Outstanding Educator award selection committee Dr. Kelsey Bitting at [email protected]. GAEA Winter Quarterly

26 2017 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science Theme: Perturbations of Natural Systems in the Anthropocene Prize: $250,000 USD Deadline for submissions: May 31, 2016 The Franklin Institute seeks nominations for the 2017 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science of individuals who have made significant contributions to understanding and quantifying perturbations of natural systems within the biosphere, atmosphere, or hydrosphere in the age of the Anthropocene. Nominations should recognize fundamental contributions that emphasize largescale modeling or synthesis of observational data in order to provide insights into these systems within the recent past and into the near future. Such insights may come from investigating time scales of minutes to millennia and study across multiple disciplines. Nominations must clearly indicate the scientific impact of the nominee s work, whether conceptual, technical, or integrative. Eligibility This is an international competition for individuals who have made significant contributions to understanding and quantifying perturbations of natural systems in the age of the Anthropocene. This award and prize must be presented to an individual, as specified by the will of Henry Bower. Candidates for the award must be living, and the winner must participate in The Franklin Institute Awards Week programs, to be held April 24 28, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Self-nominations are accepted. Nomination Procedures: An of intent to nominate sent to [email protected] by April 30, 2016 is appreciated. Nominations must be submitted in English and must include: Name, occupational address, phone, and of nominee Name, occupational address, phone, and of nominator Nominee s curriculum vitae and bibliography of significant and relevant publications Proposed citation limited to 50 words Narrative statement describing the nominee s qualifications for the award Four confidential letters of support requested by the nominator, sent directly to The Franklin Institute Awards Office Deadline for completed nominations is May 31, 2016 See Website for Complete Details : GAEA Winter Quarterly

27 Introducing the AWG Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology award The Association for Women Geoscientists is pleased to announce the 2015 AWG Undergraduate Paleontology Award. The award, which consists of a $1000 cash prize and membership in the Paleontological Society and AWG for the tenure of the awardee s schooling, will be presented to an outstanding female undergraduate student pursuing a career in paleontology. This award was made possible by the generous donations of David Watkins and MaryAnne Holmes. All application materials must be received by April 15. The winner will be notified in May and the award will be distributed in early summer. Qualifications Applicants must be women pursuing education as an undergraduate student in the paleontological and affiliated sciences at a degree-granting institution. Applicant must be enrolled as a student during the period of the award. Proof of student status in the form of transcripts (official or unofficial) must be provided. Successful applicants will exhibit exceptional motivation, professional potential, outreach, and longterm commitment to goals. Students may receive the Undergraduate Paleontology Award only once during the tenure of their undergraduate careers. No prior AWG or PS membership is required. National or international students are allowed to apply, with the exception of sanctioned countries. For more information about application requirements, visit the AWG awards and scholarships webpage at and click on the AWG Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology award. GAEA Winter Quarterly

28 AWG Winifred Goldring Award The Association for Women Geoscientists is pleased to announce the 2015 Winifred Goldring award competition. The award, which consists of a $2000 cash prize and membership in the Paleontological Society and AWG for tenure of the awardee s schooling, will be presented to an outstanding female student pursuing a career in paleontology. The award is named for Winifred Goldring, a pioneering woman paleontologist, who became State Paleontologist of New York State in 1939 and the first female president of the Paleontological Society in This award was made possible by the generous donations of David Watkins and MaryAnne Holmes. All application materials must be received by April 15th. The winner will be notified in May and the award will be distributed in early summer. Qualifications Applicants must be women pursuing education as a graduate student in the paleontological and affiliated sciences at a degree-granting institution. Applicant must be enrolled as a student during the period of the award. Proof of student status in the form of transcripts (official or unofficial) must be provided. Successful applicants will exhibit exceptional motivation, professional potential, outreach, and longterm commitment to goals. Students may receive the Winifred Goldring Award only once during the tenure of their graduate school careers. No prior AWG or PS membership is required. National or international students are allowed to apply, with the exception of sanctioned countries. For more information about application requirements, visit the AWG awards and scholarships webpage at and click on the AWG Winifred Goldring award. GAEA Winter Quarterly

29 The Association for Women Geoscientists Chrysalis Scholarship Deadline to apply is March 31 What is the Chrysalis Scholarship? The Chrysalis Scholarship provides degree-completion funding for women geoscience graduate students whose education has been significantly interrupted by life circumstances. Awarded funds are intended to cover costs associated with completion of her thesis/dissertation, beyond what is traditionally covered by primary research funding. Costs may include drafting expenses, child-care, defense travel, late-stage research and analyses, or anything necessary to assist a candidate during those critical, final days. Award Amount Up to $2000 and a one-year student membership with AWG Eligibility A qualified applicant must be: A graduate student who has had an interruption in her academic progress due to life circumstances. Approaching the completion phase of her geoscience degree. Someone who has contributed to, and will continue to contribute to, both the geosciences and the larger world community through her academic and personal strengths. Required Application Materials A letter of application in which the applicant describes her background, career goals and objectives, how the scholarship will be used, and the nature and length of the interruption to her education. Letters of reference from the applicant's thesis/dissertation advisor and another scientist of he choice. Both letters should specifically address the eligibility criteria and the topics in #1 above. All application materials should be clearly labeled with the applicant's name, physical mailing address, and phone number. Application materials, or questions about the Chrysalis Scholarship, should be sent to [email protected], with "Chrysalis Scholarship" in the subject line. The Chrysalis Scholarship is sponsored by the AWG Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and the Chrysalis Scholarship Committee. GAEA Winter Quarterly

30 AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS Continued from page 29 Sand Student Research Presentation Travel Award The Sand Student Research Presentation travel award provides women geoscience students with support to present their research at the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. This travel award is named for Virginia (Ginny) Sand ( ), an award-winning geoscience teacher and world traveler. Ginny graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in geology, and she spent three decades teaching geoscience at Kent State University after obtaining her M.A. Her many activities supporting AWG included serving as editor of GAEA ( ). Her travel destinations ranged from the Galapagos Islands to Iceland and, at the age of 76, included a journey to Antarctica. The award is to be used to help defray travel, lodging, registration fee, and other expenses associated with the presentation of the awardee s research at the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. The application deadline is August 10, Visit for more information. Takken Student Research Presentation Travel Award The Takken Student Research Presentation travel award provides women geoscience students with support to present their research at a national or international professional geoscience meeting other than the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. This travel award is named for Suzanne Takken ( ), an avid traveler and strong supporter of women in geoscience. Suzanne spent a long career in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as a petroleum geologist for a major petroleum corporation and as a consulting geologist after her retirement. She served terms as president of AWG ( ) and director of the AWG Foundation ( ) and was awarded the AWG Distinguished Service award in She especially enjoyed traveling to countries in Asia and the Pacific region. The award is to be used to help defray travel, lodging, registration fee, and other expenses associated with the presentation of the awardee s research. The application deadlines are February 10, 2016 and August 10, Visit for more information. GAEA Winter Quarterly

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33 AWG Membership ENCOURAGE participation of women in the geosciences Scholarships Girl Scout Activities Congressional Visit Days Student Awards for Geoscience Excellence (SAGE). Outstanding Educator Award Geoscientists in the Park, Women in the Geosciences Day ENHANCE professional growth and advancement of women in the geosciences Free Resume Review Service Domestic & International Networking Exciting and Informative Field Trips Mentoring EXCHANGE educational, technical, and professional Information GAEA and Newsletters Distinguished Lecturer Program Conventions Technical Programs JobWeb Networking with Affiliated Societies RENEW Online: or mail / fax the form below Name: Mailing Address: Work Phone: Enclose U.S. Funds, payable to AWG Payment by: Check VISA/MC Exp. Date: Card Number: Signature: MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL / APPLICATION Dues (new reduced membership costs): Life Member:...$1500 Sustaining Professional:...$60 Professional:...$30 Retired:...$15 Student (valid student ID required)... $15 International Rates...$30 P $15 S International Reduced:...$10 P $5 S Institutional:...$200 For a paper copy of GAEA: Please add the appropriate postage ($12 US/ $15 Outside North America) AWGF Donation: $ TOTAL: $ Please mail or fax application to: Association for Women Geoscientists North Washington Street, Suite 285 Thornton, Colorado FAX: Tax Disclosure Statement Contributions or gifts to AWG are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Dues payments are deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. Contributions to AWGF (501c3) are tax deductible. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE! GAEA Winter Quarterly