New York | Pacific Earth & Environmental Sciences

ZZYZX, CA – We are so fortunate to have the chance to conduct research in collaboration with some truly talented people. One of the highest points of this year’s trip to the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Charlotte, NC, was that Dr. Kurt Burmeister and Nikki Mainwaring (’13) were fortunate to be coauthors on an excellent undergraduate research presentation by Melissa Gundersen from the Department of Geology at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Melissa did a truly amazing job presenting research that she conducted under the advisement of Dr. Fred Vollmer. In recognition of her outstanding performance, Melissa chosen to receive the Austin A. Sartin Best Poster Award by the Sigma Gamma Epsilon National Honor Society. Melissa’s presentation was unanimously ranked first of 97 qualifying posters by a panel of 6 professors. We are all very proud, impressed, and inspired by her work.

Group shot in front of Melissa Gundersen’s poster shortly after she was awarded Sigma Gamma Epsilon’s highest honor for student research presentations at GSA. From left: Dr. Fred Vollmer and Melissa (SUNY New Paltz), Dr. Kurt Burmeister, Dr. Steve Marshak (Univ of Illinois), and Dr. Yvette Kuiper (CO School of Mines)

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences had a truly amazing week at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America! The entire faculty (Drs. Rademacher, Burmeister, Fox, & Pearson) and three majors (Nikki Mainwaring ’13, Kat Rawhouser 13′, & Brittany Klemm ’14) were lucky enough to be able to join the ~6,000 other academics, professionals, and students in attendance. During the week, we had our choice of hundreds of research presentations, where we could learn the latest and greatest developments in every conceivable sub-discipline within the Earth sciences. At the meeting, the students had unparalleled opportunities to network with potential employers, graduate school advisors, and peers from around the world. We were also able to present the following results of our research and curriculum development efforts (Pacific authors in bold):

Kinematic analysis of the Rosendale thrust fault, northernmost central Appalachian fold-thrust belt, new york: Gundersen, M., Vollmer, F.W., Mainwaring, N.E., Burmeister, K.C., Walker, J.R., and Kuiper, Y.D.
Nucleation of growth faults along dewatering structures within the Namurian Tullig Formation; Killard Bay, western County Clare, Ireland: Burmeister, K.C., Nittrouer, J.A., Phillips, A.C., and Bryk, A.B.
Preliminary finite strain and fabric analysis of conglomerate from the Shawangunk Formation; northern Appalachian fold-thrust belt, Hudson Valley, New York: Klemm, B.M., Vollmer, F.W., and Burmeister, K.C.
Compiling digital geo-referenced geologic maps: a method for the non-specialist: Sen, P., Carrell, J.E., Burmeister, K.C., and Marshak, S.
Using informal collaborations between residential learning communities and k-12 schools to foster student learning and support earth science curriculum standards: Rademacher, L.K., Burmeister, K.C., McIntosh, P.J., Brown, C.J., and Hargrave, K.L.
Microbial assemblages in a small, urban reservoir impacted by acid mine drainage, Oakland, CA: Wu, C., Faul, K.L., and Rademacher, L.K.
Metal cycling through an ephemeral acid mine drainage impacted urban reservoir in oakland, CA: Stitt, C.R., Faul, K.L., and Rademacher, L.K.
“Water is for fighting over”: water and the California delta as a theme for a capstone seminar: Fox, L.K.

In addition to the research-related activities above, Brittany Klemm (’14) and Dr. Burmeister also attended the 42^nd Biennial Convention of the Sigma Gamma Epsilon National Honor Society. During the SGE Convention, Klemm and Dr. Burmeister participated in society governance and contributed to discussions regarding chapter membership, insignias, and rituals. While in Charlotte, Dr. Burmeister was invited to become a Member of the Management Board and Committee Chair in the Structural Geology & Tectonics Division of the Geological Society of America.