Summer 2012 - eDisk - Franklin & Marshall College

DSUMMER NEWSLETTER2012Summer Field ResearchJulia Signorella ‘12, Sea cliffs, Chain of CratersRoad, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HawaiiChris Williamsco-directed a jointF&M/LafayetteCollege, Keck Geologyproject. Hereare the Keck studentsnear PortageGlacier in WhittierAlaska, includingF&M student MollyReynolds ‘13 (farleft).Andy de Wet viewing andesite lava flows from the LaPoruna vent, San Pedro Volcano, Chile.F&M student MollyReynolds ‘13 lookingfor another early Eocenefossil leaf bed inthe Chickaloon Fm. inAlaska. Molly workedwith Chris Williamson an F&M/LafayetteCollege joint KeckGeology project.Candace Grand Pre and ENE students drilling avibracore into the ground at Great Marsh, PA. Clockwisefrom far left: Amy Moser ‘14, Jordan Appleyard‘13, Candace Grand Pre, Aaron Myers ‘13.Students paddling down river and collecting samplesat Great Marsh. Left to Right: Jordan Appleyard,‘13, Aaron Myers, ‘13, Amy Moser, ‘14, andXinyu Deng ‘15.

Summer 2012 Page 6Independent Studies - Spring 2012Ishmael Buckner ‘12Advisor: Jim StrickThere is More to Healing Thanan M.D.: An Historical andQualitative Guide to Careers inHealingKaitlyn DelDuca ‘12Advisor: Dan Ardia (BIO)Impact of Competition on IntraspecificInteractions of CarolinaChickadees During WinterAmalia Handler ‘13Advisor: Rich PepinoEnvironmental FactorsContributing to Elevated BloodLead Levels in Berks County andin particular theCity of Reading, PAJameson Jolles ‘12Advisor: Stan MertzmanContact and Hydrothermal Metamorphismat Silver Hill Quarry,Eastern Lancaster County.Conor Neal ‘12Advisor: Roger ThomasQuantifying the Role of BioerodingMicroorganisms affectingthe Condition of Coral Reefs inMarine Protected Areas on St.John, US Virgin IslandsPeter Rippberger ‘12Advisor: Stephanie ShepherdWatershed Analysis using ArcGISJulia Signorella ‘12Advisor: Andy de WetVolcanic or Fluvial Channels onAscreaus Mons: Focus on theSource Area of Sinuous Channelson the Southeast Rift ApronEliot Symanski ‘12Advisor: Sarah DawsonStudent Opinions of Sustainabilityat Franklin & MarshallCollegeAri Whiteman ‘13Advisor: Sarah DawsonFlight Distance and UrbanComfort in Red-tailed Hawks inLancaster, PAF. Christian Zinkhan ‘12Advisor: Tim Sipe (BIO)Alternate Annual Growth Expressionsfor Tree Species’ Sensitivityto Climate over a 50-Year Intervalin West Central Indiana

Summer 2012 Page 7Earth & Environment 2012 HonorsAakash Ahamed ‘12Advisor: Candace Grand PréGravel Transport in a Floodplain Wetland RestorationExperimentElizabeth Albright ‘12Advisor: Dan Ardia (BIO)Effects of microclimate on feeder preference of Poecilecarolinensis in a forest fragment2012 Departmental AwardsGeology Award:Matthew Slowinski ’12Nancy Juerges Geomorphology Award:Aakash Ahamed ‘12Richard A. Shepherd ‘56 Award (formerly Allen M. Alboum Prize):Jameson Jolles ‘12Wise-Beutner Structural Geology Award:Jory Lerback ‘13Lloyd S. Yeakel Memorial Award in Geology:Conor Neal ‘12Environmental Science Award:Elizabeth Albright ‘12 & Peter Rippberger ‘12Environmental Studies Award:Katlyn May ‘12 & Scott Rownd ‘12Enviroscan Geophysics Award:Andew Tsang ‘132012 Field CampFredy Aguirre ‘13 - Idaho State UniversityJory Lerback ‘13 - field experience in AfricaTheresa O’Reilly ‘13Andrew Tsang ‘13 - University of Houston, YBRA Geophysics Field CampMichael Zoeller ‘13 - New Mexico Tech

Summer 2012 Page 8Summer ResearchWith Roger Thomas:Katie Oxman ‘14 (Hackman)Katie is a Geosciences major, long interested in paleontology. As a Hackman Scholar, she has been continuingto build a database, now nearly complete, of descriptions and images of organisms preserved in the localKinzers Formation. This important record of the “Cambrian Explosion” has never been studied comprehensively.Katie will work on new material found by a local collector in her senior year. Meanwhile, she has departedfor New Zealand where she will study in the fall.Callie Maron ‘14 (Hackman)Callie, a Geosciences major who is also interested in physics and astronomy, has been working as a PaleobiologyResearch Assistant. She has been gathering and analyzing quantitative data documenting unusual patternsof variation in the Pliocene bivalve Glycymeris americana from the southeastern U.S. This variation is significantbecause its sudden and brief appearance in otherwise unremarkable shells coincided with a marked shift inAtlantic Ocean currents, following final closure of the Isthmus of Panama.With Bob Walter:Jordan Appleyard ‘13, Aaron Myers ‘13, Xinyu Deng ‘15 (Cargill Summer Scholars)Projects: Water quality and de-nitrification potential of restored valley bottoms in the Big Spring Run and LititzRun Watersheds (Lancaster County), in comparison to a functioning wetland ecosystem at Great Marsh (ChesterCounty). What they do: Surface and groundwater sampling for water quality analysis, measuring these samplesfor dissolved nitrate, phosphate and other constituents, conducting in-situ measurements with a multi-probefor T, pH, ORP, DO, and Specific Conductivity. Designing experiments to measure the de-nitrification potentialof restored wetland ecosystems, including to develop methods to measure N 2O with gas chromatography (GC)and GC-mass spectrometry.With Candace Grand Pré:Amy Moser ‘13 (Hackman scholar)Amy is working in Central PA - She is working on high-resolution Holocene/Pleistocene climate and environmentalreconstruction using diatoms from vibracores collected at Great Marsh in PA. This is a unique study thatwill offer insight into how the local and regional environment has changed since the last glacial maximum, theYounger Dryas, and the Holocene.Amalia Handler ‘13, Carla Freund ‘15, Apoorva Mathur ‘13 (Cargill Summer Scholars)Amalia, Carla, and Apoorva are all working on water quality and real-time environmental monitoring at bothMillport Conservancy and Big Spring Run. Amalia will be using diatoms as proxies for water quality and assessingthe health of Lancaster streams and restoration efforts. Carla will be looking at the local temporal andspatial variability in diatom communities at Millport and Big Spring Run and the implications for using diatomsas biological proxies of water quality. Apoorva is looking at cost-benefit analyses for various models of streamrestoration/conservation and comparing the models to the restoration/conservation efforts occurring at Millportand Big Spring Run.Julia Fiala ‘13 (F&M summer travel award)Julia is doing research in Great Britian and Washington, D.C. to compare and contrast the history of climatescience, sea level science, and environmental policy in the UK and the US. She will try to understand howscientific discoveries, legislation, politics, and people have shaped current national and international climate andenvironmental policy.Steve Clipman ‘13 (Mellon Environmental Studies award)Steve is in the Galapagos exploring the social, philosophical, and environmental implications of current “ecotourism”practices in the Galapagos. He is conducting interviews with the Ecuadorian Minister of Tourism,scientists, locals, and tourists to understand the pros and cons of ecotourism in the Galapagos Islands.

Summer 2012 Page 9Yellowstone National Park, 2012During their spring break vacation, Professor Sarah Dawson and eleven members of ENV 374 “WildlifeConservation” class traveled to Yellowstone National Park, accompanied by Professor Andy de Wet. Thegroup was led by a guide as they traveled around the park in search of wolves and other wildlife. Thewolves of Yellowstone are well known as an example of a successful reintroduction of a predator intoan ecosystem. At one point they witnessed a pack of wolves unsuccessfully attempt to attack a herd ofbison. The class also studied the wide variety of geological features in the Park and received informativetalks from local experts on a variety of topics. Although cold at times, the trip to Yellowstone was inspiringand informative.Hot News!Karen Mertzman ‘96 and Prof. Stan Mertzman consulted for two days this summer at the ArmstrongWorld Industries “magma-making” facility in Millwood, West Virginia.

Summer 2012 Page 10Homecoming 2012~ highlights especially for our alumni ~Friday, October 19, 2012Noon - 1:15 pm, Light Lunch - Hackman 119Join us for our weekly colloquium. Lunch will be provided.Speaker: Stephen Noel ‘75The Local Hydrogeologic Conditions in the Phoenix Basin, Arizona (or how a Fummer Historymajor became a hydrologist)”.12:30 - 3:30 pm, Student Research Fair - Frey Atrium, Barshinger Life Sciences and PhilosophyBuilding. Stroll through the poster presentations and speak with students as they describe theirsummer research experiences.3:30 - 5:30 pm, special screening of SWITCH & Panel Discussion - Adams Auditorium, HackmanAddition. Join students, faculty and alumni in this special showing of the definitive newfilm about global energy issues. “Realistic, pragmatic, balanced”, a research-based look at issuesthat impact us all, this film by Scott Tinker, director of the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology,is being shown on campuses and special venues around the US this fall. After the film, studentsand alumni will host a group discussion to talk about renewables, oil, natural gas extraction, andour energy future.Saturday, October 20, 20128:00 - 9:00 am, Geoscience Founders Society Annual Meeting - Hackman 119. This is open toall alumni and friends of the department. Please come to sing the Alma Mater, get an update onthe Society and the Department, hear from our student Research Award winners, share ideas andenjoy breakfast with faculty, current students, and fellow alumni.We hope to see you at all of these special events! Please come by and be part of the departmentagain!Calling All TeachersWe would like to do a story on our department alumni who teach, any subject, any grade (Kgraduateschool). Please send us a paragraph or two about what you do and how your experienceat F&M may have been useful to you. We’d love a photo as well. Please send it by November 1st,2012 for inclusion in the Winter Newsletter.

Summer 2012 Page 11Exclusive GearPlease make checks payable to: Franklin & Marshall CollegeWrite your order request on the giving envelope and add the gear amount to your dues/gift total.Earth & EnvironmentStudent SocietyT-Shirt(plain front,design on back)$12 00available inForest Green or Navy Blue50/50 poly/cottonSizes: S, M, L, XLProceeds benefit the Student Society.Geoscience Founders Society Cap$15 00one sizeProceeds benefit the Founders Society & ENE department.Free to a good home (first request)ONE Short-Sleeve Polo ShirtSize: XL - 100% cotton

Franklin & Marshall CollegeDepartment of Earth & EnvironmentP.O. Box 3003Lancaster, PA 17604-3003Non-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDPermit 901Lancaster, PAThe F&M ScientistF&M has established a new magazine to disseminate scientific research or reviews in scienceand medicine, The F&M Scientist. Articles are written by F&M alumni and are aimed at theeducated layperson. We encourage submissions on any topic in the sciences, including mathematicsand computer science.For further information, see www.fandm.edu/fandm-scientist, or contact the Editor, ProfessorClaude Yoder (Chemistry Dept.) claude.yoder@fandm.edu or Associate Editor, ProfessorCarol de Wet (Earth & Environment Dept.)cdewet@fandm.edu. The first issue will bepublished this fall, both in print and online. Annual issues will be available each fall. Pleasesubmit an article and maintain that pattern of lifelong learning you began as a Fummer!Send your ENE news updates to: diane.kadyk@fandm.eduVisit us on the web: http://www.fandm.edu/earth-and-environmentLike us on Facebook!“F&M Department of Earth & Environment”Printed onrecycled paper