|
AGU Elections: Candidates for 2010–2012 Union Officers, Board of Directors and Sections Officers
Candidates for Tectonophysics
Greg Hirth—President–elect, Tectonophysics
Sean Willett—President–elect, Tectonophysics
Tim A. Stern—Secretary, Tectonophysics
Carolina R. Lithgow-Bertelloni—Secretary, Tectonophysics
Section Officer Roles and Responsibilities
Biographies and Statements
Greg Hirth—President–elect, Tectonophysics
Research interests include rheology of the crust and mantle, deformation mechanisms, structural geology, and relating mineral physics and rheology to geophysical observations and geodynamic models. B.S., Indiana University (1985); M.S., Brown University (1987); Ph.D., Brown University (1991). Associate professor, Brown University, 2007 to present; assistant scientist, associate scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), 1993–2007; postdoctoral research associate, University of Minnesota, 1991–1992; graduate research assistant, Brown University, 1985–1990. Member, Mineralogical Society of America. Sixty-four journal articles, 25 in AGU journals/monographs. Hirth, G., and J. Tullis (1992), Dislocation creep regimes in quartz aggregates, J. Struct. Geol.; Hirth, G., and D. L. Kohlstedt (1996), Water in the oceanic mantle: Implications for rheology, melt extraction and the evolution of the lithosphere, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.; Boettcher, M., G. Hirth, and B. Evans (2007), Olivine friction at the base of oceanic seismogenic zones, J. Geophys. Res.; Warren, J., G. Hirth, and P. Kelemen (2008), Evolution of olivine lattice preferred orientation during simple shear in the mantle, Earth Planet Sci. Lett. Honors include Geological Society of America Best Paper Award in Structural Geology and Tectonics (Dunlap et al., 1997); Fellow, Deep Ocean Exploration Institute, WHOI (2003–2006); Fellow, Mineralogical Society of America (2006); Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2008). AGU service: convener, special sessions, 1993, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009; Steering Committee, Physical Properties of Earth Materials, 1995–1997; Program Committee, Tectonophysics, 1996–1997; Mineral and Rock Physics Focus Group, 2000–2002; vice chair, Mineral and Rock Physics Focus Group, 2002–2003; secretary, Tectonophysics section, 2004–2006; Mineral and Rock Physics Executive Committee, 2008 to present.
Statement: Tectonophysics remains the cornerstone of the solid Earth geophysics in AGU. From grain scale to planetary scale, scientists in Tectonophysics use multidisciplinary approaches to investigate the dynamics of the Earth and planets through experimental, theoretical, and observational studies. We have seen remarkable growth in many areas of AGU, with new focus groups providing leadership and communication opportunities in Mineral and Rock Physics, Nonlinear Geophysics, Study of the Earth's Deep Interior, and Natural Hazards, to name a few; Tectonophysics remains the section "home" for many of these scientists. The multidisciplinary aspect of Tectonophysics remains a fundamental part of all AGU meetings. As a reflection of the current state and vitality of the section, a perusal of the 2009 Fall Meeting shows that the 36 Tectonophysics sessions attracted 7.8% of all abstract submissions; these sessions highlight cosponsorship with five different sections (Geodesy; Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism; Hydrology; Seismology; and Volcanology, Geology, and Petrology) and eight different focus groups (Study of the Earth's Deep Interior; Earth and Planetary Surface Processes; Global Environmental Change; Mineral and Rock Physics; Natural Hazards; Nonlinear Geophysics; Near-Surface Geophysics; and Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology). Furthermore, 51 other sessions note Tectonophysics cosponsorship. Tectonophysics also provides the critical link between geophysics and geology/tectonics/structural geology. From personal experience I have come to appreciate how much can be learned by integrating field studies with both geophysical observations and constraints from modeling and rock physics. As president of Tectonophysics, I will work to preserve the integrated aspect of our science at AGU and collaborate with colleagues to foster continued communication between Tectonophysics and its allied sections and focus groups. I look forward to working with the AGU Council and the Tectonophysics officers to evaluate and discuss how Tectonophysics can continue to provide a leadership structure that facilitates growth and innovation, both within the section and through collaboration with our allied focus groups. In this context, I support the new governance structure that should promote Council leadership that focuses on science, education, and discovery.
Sean Willett—President–elect, Tectonophysics
Scientific interests include numerical modeling of deformational processes in orogenic belts including the role of surface and climatic processes. B.S. in geology (honors), B.S. in geophysics (honors), Ph.D. in geophysics (1988), all from University of Utah. Postdoctoral fellow, Dalhousie University (1989–1994); assistant professor, Pennsylvania State University (1994–1998); assistant and associate professor, University of Washington (1998–2006); visiting professor, University of Bologna (2004–2005), and current position since 2006. Member, Geological Society of America, European Geosciences Union, Swiss Geological Society. Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Author of over 50 publications, seven in AGU journals. Notable publications include mechanical model for bivergent orogenic wedges (Geology, 1993); demonstration of regional climate influence on orogenic structure (Journal of Geophysical Research, 1999); and a quantitative mechanism for formation of forearc basins (Geology, 2006). Served as Tectonophysics representative on Spring Meeting (1994–1995) and Fall Meeting (1995–1996) program committees, and Sullivan Award Committee (1997–1998). Convened approximately 10 special sessions at AGU meetings.
Statement: This is an interesting time for AGU. The newly adopted changes to the AGU charter and bylaws provide an opportunity for the AGU Council, including our section leaders, to focus on our science and the communication of that science through high-quality meetings and publications. These remain the core responsibilities of AGU and are the most important functions of AGU for the membership.
As an American living and working abroad, I have gained a new appreciation of the international role served by AGU. It is truly an international society with tangible value to all members throughout the world, but it also serves as an exemplary professional society to its international counterparts such as the European Geosciences Union (EGU). This is particularly important to large, broad sections such as Tectonophysics where subdisciplines within our section may develop different relationships with specific international societies. On the Union scale, we must deal with the reality of an EGU spring meeting whose attendance is nearing 10,000. Rather than trying to compete directly, we must find a way to cooperate or complement this and other large general assemblies, all of which benefit our community as a whole. To do so requires coordinating the timing, sponsorship, and function of meetings at the section or union scale.
Public outreach and communication are also at a critical time. With important societal decisions coming on cap-and-trade, alternative energy, and carbon emissions, it is crucial that AGU continue to play an active role in disseminating scientific information.
Tim A. Stern—Secretary, Tectonophysics
Major interests are in crustal and mantle structure of the continents, vertical motions of the continents, isostatic processes, and seismic imaging methods. Ph.D. in 1983 from Victoria University, scientist in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1983–1992. Research associate at Cornell University (1987), Stanford University (1987–1988), University of Southern California (1998), and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at University of Colorado (2006). Co–principal investigator of joint U.S.-N.Z. programs to seismically image the Transantarctic Mountains and the Alpine Fault of South Island, New Zealand. Authored or coauthored 84 refereed articles, 23 in AGU journals. Member of editorial board of Geology (1993–1995), Passcal Review Panel (2008), and elected Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 2007.
Carolina R. Lithgow-Bertelloni—Secretary, Tectonophysics
Major interests are in Earth's interior structure and dynamics, surface deformation, and tectonics. B.S., geology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, 1987. Ph.D., geology, University of California, Berkeley. U.S. National Science Foundation and Carnegie postdoctoral fellow, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1995–1997. Assistant and associate professor of geophysics, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, 1997–2007. At University College London since then. Member of the Geological Society of America and American Physical Society as well as the editorial board of Geology. Author of 40 refereed publications, 12 in AGU journals, and two book chapters, one in an AGU book. Received the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Physics in 2001 and the David and Lucile Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering in 2000. Previous service at AGU includes membership in the Tectonophysics Early Career Award Committee in 2009; member of the Meetings Committee, 2006–2008; chair of the Tectonophysics section Nominating Committee, 2002–2007, and member, 2000–2002; member of the Studies of Earth's Deep Interior Committee, 1996–2000.