Hot Topics
Sunday through Wednesday, 16-19 October, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Salt Palace Convention Center, 250 AB
Join your colleagues for spirited lunchtime discussions and debates on several burning issues for the professional geologic community. Chili and beer will be available for purchase outside the meeting room.
Sunday, 16 October
From Yucca Mountain to beaches to global change:
Are mathematical models damaging our society?
Mathematical models are increasingly used to predict the outcome of human interaction with earth surface processes. Societal trust in models may be misplaced however because they have failed to produce predictions of requisite accuracy in many critical applications.
| Moderator | Panelists |
|---|---|
| Vic Baker | Orrin Pilkey (beaches), Robert Moran (water quality) Thomas Chase (global change) |
Monday, 17 October
Emerging Issues in the Nation's Earth Sciences — A Governmental Perspective
Natural hazards, ecosystem health, land surface change, resource availability, and earth observation are some of the hottest topics in our profession. Each presents opportunities for scientists and policy makers to interact. Join our panel of Earth and ocean scientists and Agency leaders as they look at these and other earth science issues that affect society.
Tuesday, 18 October
From Outer Space to Inner Space to the Underground … From the Governor's Mansion to Capitol Hill to the Power of the Press: Non-Academic Careers in the Geosciences
In view of current trends in science research funding, the relative scarcity of permanent positions in academia, and the broadening interests of career-seekers trained in the sciences, a "hot topic" on non-academic careers in the geosciences is timely.
Speakers will talk about career opportunities in areas other than traditional academic research and teaching fields. Such non-academic fields as science policy; science journalism; environmental management; energy and other resource exploration and development; science teaching; geological consulting; and federal and state government will be explored.
Information about non-traditional geosciences career paths is often difficult to find. The speakers, geoscientists who have pursued non-traditional careers, will talk about their experiences, and offer advice to those seeking to explore similar options. Presentations will be followed by time for questions-and-answers, and discussions of how best to find opportunities in various non-academic geosciences fields.
| Moderator |
|---|
| Cheryl Dybas, Office of the Director, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, National Science Foundation |
| Speakers |
| Lee Allison, Director, Science & Energy Policy Office, Office of the Governor of Kansas Cynthia Evans, Earth Scientist, NASA Space Shuttle and International Space Station Missions, NASA Johnson Space Center Stephen Greenlee, Vice President, ExxonMobil Exploration Corporation Johannes Loschnigg, Geoscientist, Professional Staff Member, U.S. House Science Committee Jeffrey Payne, Deputy Director, NOAA Coastal Services Center |
Wednesday, 19 October
Kansas, Intelligent Design, and the National Attack on Science
Kansas is once again the battleground over teaching evolution, with a well-funded, sophisticated political movement testing a campaign to re-define science to include the supernatural and demonizing scientists. If successful, they plan similar attacks on science and scientists nationwide."
Hot Topics Chair:
Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.