The College of Geosciences is co-hosting a visit by Mr. Caleb Pungowiyi, an Yup'ik Eskimo, with students at Allen Academy and  Cypress Grove Middle School in College Station on Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov. 13/14). Pungowiyi, a noted spokesperson and advocate for Native Alaskan concerns, will talk to the students about the effects of climate change on coastal communities of northern Alaska. Dr. David Cairns, associate professor of Geography, and Oceanography graduate student Chrissy Wiederwohl will accompany Pungowiyi. He will also be a guest lecturer for a Geosciences 489/689 International Polar Year 2007-2008 course while he is here.

The Advisory Council for the Department of Geology & Geophysics at Texas A&M hosted three hundred former students, faculty, and current students for the first Greater Houston Aggie Social, held at the Houston Petroleum Club on October 4th. The theme of the night was “reconnecting,” referring to reconnecting the Department of Geology & Geophysics with the Oil and Gas Industry which is so prevalent in Houston. The event was sponsored by Mr. Dan A. Hughes ’51 and Mr. Dan Allen Hughes ’80.

Discusses Challenges, Goals for Future

Dean Björn Kjerfve presented distinguished service awards to several faculty and staff in the College of Geosciences at the College’s annual Fall Meeting held Friday, November 02, in Room 501 Rudder Tower. Recognized were Dr. David M. Cairns, Dr. Donald R. Collins, Dr. Matthew K. Howard, Mrs. Margaret “Peggy” Foster, Ms. Rhonda Simmons-Fulton, and Ms. Debra Stark. Two faculty members, Dr. Craig Epifanio and Dr. Debbie Thomas, were presented College Level Teaching Awards by the Association of Former Students, and recently retired Professor Worth Nowlin was recognized for being named Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Oceanography.

Dr. Sarah Brooks, an assistant professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M, received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) on November 1, 2007 at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Fellowships Formally Awarded at Geosciences Banquet

Conference Focuses on Development, Energy, and Security

Several faculty in the College of Geosciences joined other University officials and faculty as key participants in The George Bush China-U.S. Relations Conference: Development, Energy, and Security held in Washington, D.C. October 22-25. The meeting was the third in a series of such conferences. The first conference was held in 2003, and a second conference was held in Beijing in 2005. The conferences are named for President George H. W. Bush because of his strong support for the efforts. The 2007 conference schedule consisted of three days of meetings with keynote addresses and other speakers and two days of forums and research roundtable sessions.