2007 News Archives
Geophysicist Robert Coe honored by American Geophysical Union
December 20, 2007
Robert Coe, professor of Earth and planetary sciences, was selected by the American Geophysical Union's (AGU) Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism section to receive the 2007 William Gilbert Award.
Francis Nimmo awarded Macelwane Medal from AGU
December 12, 2007
Francis Nimmo was awarded the 2007 James B. Macelwane Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on 12 December 2007 in San Francisco, Calif. The medal is “for significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by a young scientist of outstanding ability.”
UCSC geologist probes undersea seismic zone as part of new deep-drilling experiment
December 11, 2007
The first effort to drill into an undersea zone where massive earthquakes and tsunamis are generated has yielded new data on the stresses that build up there, according to UCSC geologist Casey Moore.
Graduate alumna Brooke Crowley wins a campus photography prize
December 10, 2007
This year the Chancellor's Office and acting arts dean Margaret Morse sponsored an on-campus photography contest, open to all students, staff, and faculty. The entries show the stunning physical beauty of the campus--its meadows, valley vistas, ranch buildings, old oaks, and striking architecture.
Study by visiting researcher Simon Day finds that oral traditions effectively warn people about tsunamis
December 10, 2007
According to tsunami expert Simon Day, they had heard stories passed down from their elders about how to recognize a tsunami and how to respond.
UCSC hydrogeologist Andy Fisher provides expert advice on Pajaro Valley's water supply
November 18, 2007
When a community forum was held in Watsonville on November 1 to discuss the future of the Pajaro Valley's water supply, organizers needed experts to describe the state of the region's ground water. They turned to Andrew Fisher, professor of Earth and planetary sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Graduate Student Peter Lippert receives ARCS Foundation Scholarship
October 15, 2007
Peter Lippert, a UC Santa Cruz Earth & Planetary Sciences graduate student, has been selected to receive an Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation scholarship for 2007-2008. This award carries with it honors for Pete's work on tectonics and the biogenic origin of anomalous magnetic minerals, as well as a scholarship in the amount of $10,000.00.
Quentin Williams appointed chair of UCSC Academic Senate
September 24, 2007
Quentin Williams, professor of Earth and planetary sciences, has been appointed chair of UCSC's Academic Senate.
Alumna Judith Totman Parrish elected president of the Geological Society of America
July 9, 2007
The University of Idaho professor of geological sciences has followed her passion for geology and paleoclimatology through coursework, doctoral studies and research, and as a member and fellow of the Geological Society of America. Parrish earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology and her doctorate in earth science from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Climate change and green technology the focus of June 8 forum at UC Santa Cruz
May 25, 2007
Climate change expert Lisa Sloan and green technology proponent Steve Westly will be the keynote speakers during the sixth annual Foundation Forum at the University of California, Santa Cruz, on Friday, June 8, at 4 p.m. in the Music Center Recital Hall.
Scientists reconstruct prehistoric behavior and ecology of northern fur seals
May 21, 2007
A team of researchers has documented major changes in the behavior, ecology, and geographic range of the northern fur seal over the past 1,500 years using a combination of techniques from archaeology, biochemistry, and ecology.
Frictional heating explains plumes on Saturn's moon Enceladus
May 16, 2007
Rubbing your hands together on a cold day generates a bit of heat, and the same process of frictional heating may be what powers the geysers jetting out from the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus.
UC Santa Cruz research team sheds light on diet of early human ancestors
May 01, 2007
The diet of early human ancestors probably included bulbs and rhizomes, according to researchers at UC Santa Cruz who have shed new light on a conundrum that has puzzled anthropologists for eight years.
Seismologists discover complex structure in Tonga mantle wedge
April 12, 2007
The subduction zones where oceanic plates sink beneath the continents produce volcanic arcs such as those that make up the "rim of fire" around the Pacific Ocean. A new study finds that the structure of the mantle wedge above the subducting plate may be f
Francis Nimmo awarded Urey Prize in Planetary Science
March 28, 2007
The Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society has awarded the 2007 Harold C. Urey Prize in Planetary Science to Francis Nimmo, associate professor of Earth and planetary sciences. Nimmo will receive the prize and give an invited lecture at a meeting of the division in Orlando, Florida, in October.
New technology shows old faults are smoother than young ones
March 12, 2007
A new study by UCSC geologists finds old earthquake faults are smoother than young ones, worn smooth over time by friction like the brake pads of an old car.
Gary Griggs gives Ricketts Memorial Lecture at Sanctuary Currents symposium
March 5, 2007
Gary Griggs, professor of Earth and planetary sciences and director of the Institute of Marine Sciences, was chosen to give the Ricketts Memorial Lecture at Sanctuary Currents 2007, the annual symposium of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The invitation to give this prestigious lecture recognizes "lifetime achievement in the field of marine science, based in part on studying natural history and excellence in teaching."
Quentin Williams named chair of the Executive Committee of COMPRES
January 1, 2007
Quentin Williams has been elected to a three-year term as Chair of the Executive Committee of COMPRES, the Consortium for Materials Properties Research in Earth Sciences. COMPRES is a community-based consortium that supports research in the materials properties of Earth and planetary interiors with particular emphasis on high-pressure science and technology and related fields.
Graduate alumnus Ian Howat receives AGU Young Investigator Award in cryospheric science
January 1, 2007
Dr. Howat's interest in ice sheet dynamics and basal mechanics brought him to a PhD program under Slawek Tulaczyk at UCSC. While there, he became interested in the sensitivity of alpine glaciers and snow pack to climate changes and, specifically, the combination of empirical observations and regional climate model results to downscale and enhance predictions.
