ALUMNI NEWSLETTER - Earth Sciences - University of Minnesota

Honors and AwardsJake Bailey received an NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award,which supports junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars throughoutstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education andresearch within the context of the mission of their organizations.Larry Edwards was elected as a National Academy of Sciences Fellow in 2011. Thedepartment is honored to have three NAS Fellows among the faculty, Larry, DavidKohlstedt (2009) and Herb Wright (1977).The National Academy of Sciences selected Larry Edwards to receive theprestigious Arthur L. Day Prize and Lectureship honoring his scientific contributionsto the study of the physics of the Earth. Larry is only the 14th recipient of theDay Prize since its inception in 1972 and the first from the University of Minnesota.He is best known for his development of extremely precise methods for measuringthe ages of rocks, using these methods to date rocks found in caves in China todocument climate change patterns in history.The American Associate for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) selected LarryEdwards and David Kohlstedt as 2012 AAAS Fellows.Our two junior faculty members, Josh Feinberg and Jake Bailey, were awardedMcKnight Land-Grant Professorships for 2012-14 and 2013-15, respectively. Thisprogram is designed to strengthen University of Minnesota faculty members forthe future and to advance the careers of the University’s most promising juniorfaculty members.Marc Hirschmann, Tom Johnson (UofM-Duluth), and Bill Seyfried were electedas Fellows of AGU in 2011.Chris Paola was honored by theGeological Society of London withtheir 2011 Lyell Medal, named forperhaps the 19 th Century’s most influentialEarth scientist, Sir CharlesLyell. Chris’ research was citedfor stretching from the dynamicsof bedforms and braided rivers toquantitative understanding of largescalestratigraphic sequences acrossentire sedimentary basins; distillingessential simplicity from the rich and complex brew of nature’s complexity. Hiswork has not only been of academic importance – it has also impinged cruciallyupon petroleum geology, river hydrology and engineering.Tony Runkel (BS’83), MGS Chief Geologist and Adjunct Professor, has appearedon TPT’s Almanac at the Capital and other news reports explaining the value ofMinnesota’s sand for the hot topic process of ‘fracking’.Martin Saar was named a 2011 Institute on the Environment Fellow. The University’sIonE pursues research-based solutions to global grand challenges in five keyareas: energy, food and land use, freshwater, population and development, andwhole systems. Also in 2011 Martin received the College of Science and EngineeringCareer Development Award in recognition of exceptional contributions toteaching by a candidate for tenure. Martin was successfully promoted to AssociateProfessor with tenure.Donna Whitney and Marc Hirschmann were selected as Distinguished McKnightUniversity Professors, in 2010 and 2011 respectively. These professorshipsare elected based on the level of distinction their scholarly work brings to theOn November 1, 2012, University ofMinnesota School of Earth Science founderNewton Horace Winchell was inductedinto the Minnesota Science and TechnologyHall of Fame by the Minnesota HighTech Association (MHTA) and the ScienceMuseum of Minnesota.The Hall of Fame web site (www.msthalloffame.org) now indicates “NewtonHorace Winchell was one of the mostrenowned natural scientists in Minnesotain the late nineteenth century. As the firstdirector of the Geological and Natural HistorySurvey of Minnesota, now known asthe Minnesota Geological Survey, Winchellwas responsible for many pioneering studiesof Minnesota geology. He also studiedand estimated the rate of recession of theFalls of St. Anthony. Winchell was morebroadly known among archaeologistsfor his insistence on the presence of earlyhumans in the Ice Age.”The induction occurred at the galaTekne Awards ceremony at the MinneapolisConvention Center. The MinnesotaScience and Technology Hall of Fame isnow featured in an exhibit at the ScienceMuseum of Minnesota. The Tekne Awardshonor companies, innovations and individualswith technological breakthroughsthat positively impact the lives and futuresof people living in Minnesota and all overthe world.Margaret Anderson Kelliher, presidentof MHTA, said “The 2012 recipients epitomizetechnology and innovation leadership.”The gala evening was hosted byDon Shelby, and Winchell was representedby Harvey Thorleifson – Professor in theDepartment and Winchell’s successor asMinnesota Geological Survey Director.Page 6Department of Earth Sciences