News of the Association

In this issue…

Bill Roman, Content Editor he editors welcome you to the final issue of AEG News for 2020, a game-changing year for sure. With this issue, AEG News is intro-T talc. We are also pleased to feature a member profile by Dorian Kuper, pay homage to Gunner Schlieder, and provide a recap of the Annual Meeting. ducing some changes too. We are excited to In News of the Profession, Dale Elifrits present the debut of Deborah Green’s column chronicles the development of geology degree

“Field Notes.” In her first column, Deborah program accreditation and explains how the addresses the topic of diversity in the geo- process works, Charles Livingston provides a sciences. In Visty Dalal’s Q&A segment, Cynthia colorful history of licensure in Georgia, and we inform

Palomares responds to questions on social media you of AEG member Patricia Bryan’s selection for a and future annual meetings. The News of the Association sec- prestigious award. tion features the inaugural reports by the four members of Finally, our professional contributions section features a the Executive Council, who assumed their new roles as Presi- description of two dam failures in Michigan by Thomas dent, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary at the annual Oommen and a delightful exploration by Isaac Pope of meeting. Sarah Kalika updates us on methods to better opportunities for reaching new heights in multiple fields via identify asbestos in talc and consumer products containing research in the Cascade Volcanoes.

HEADER HERE NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Making Up for That Lost 2020 Vision

William Godwin, 2020–21 AEG President l am honored to be your President of the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists. I’d like to say that even though the title of the AssociaQualities of good leadership include surrounding yourself with a strong supporting staff, listening to your constituents more than telling them what you tion is all inclusive of the professionals, students, think they want to hear, and being clear about teachers, and retirees that make up our member- your message. I have a lot to learn and will strive ship, this is not really the case, as we have a lot of to not sweat the small stuff, but to implement to work to do to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion to the best of my ability my vision of what I see as our membership, daily practices, and professional goals for making the Association stronger and more outlook. In addition to supporting our new Diversity, vibrant. As I shared during the recent Annual Meeting

Equity, and Inclusion Committee, one of my goals this year is my vision includes: to visit three or four elementary or junior high schools in disad- 1. Continue Strategic Plan Implementation by supporting: vantaged neighborhoods to enlighten students on what geo- a) Professional Forums, b) Leadership and Succession science means, specifically how it is important, that it is a real Plans, and c) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion science, is a profession that pays wages, and allows travel and 2. Webinars (National) to continue the successful series work outdoors. While this might sound like an oversimplification of what geologists do, I can speak for myself when I say that a one-semester Earth Science class in my eighth-grade year made a big impression on me. I am requesting ideas from AEG News readers on how and where I might make this happen. I lament the fact that due to the pandemic I will not immediately be able to visit the AEG Chapters and Schools that are spread across the United States. I will say, somewhat selfishly, that one of the reasons I wanted to be on the Executive Council (EC) was to be able to travel to and speak with members and geoscientists and share in our collective experiences. My plans may change early in 2021 based on responsible implementation of travel, meeting, and socialization protocols so that I can make that happen. In the meantime, I will carry on in a virtual mode to fulfill my commitment to the Association. 3. Build on professional relationships and connections 4. Make AEG relevant to a younger generation To use a geotechnical analogy, the stability of any organization is based on the foundation on which it rests. That foundation is strong in part by the hard work and dedication of the AEG Past Presidents, and most recently the devotion showed by the immediate Past President Cynthia Palomares. I learned from Cynthia that adversity and challenges can be overcome with the right attitude and skillset. I am lucky that Cynthia will be on the EC this year. Lastly, I’d like to say that I am especially proud that this year the EC is made up of more women than men. I believe that this may also represent a sea change of leadership to a younger generation, which I think is good for this Association.

Committees = Community

Ahuge thank you to the members of this association who have bestowed on me the great privilege to serve on the interested and want to be connected with a committee chair. Yes, everyone is busy. The folks who curMaddie German, 2020–21 AEG Vice President

Executive Council as their Vice President/ rently volunteer also have jobs, families, and

President-Elect. AEG is an incredible organization other social obligations. Surprisingly, most AEG with members and volunteers who work tirelessly committees do not require an extensive time to serve one another in the incredible profession commitment; they only meet for one hour, once we all share. This year, as I get to interact more a month. You can definitely fit that into your closely with members through the committees, I look schedule—especially when it is fun; you are interforward to hearing your individual stories about AEG and how acting with and making new friends, plus you are making this association fits into your world. a worthwhile investment in your career and AEG.

One of my duties is to support our AEG President Bill Sure 2020 was an odd year, but wouldn’t you like to

Godwin, more specifically, to help him complete our next assert some control over the future? The committees are round of key initiatives from our strategic plan, to maximize one way the membership can influence the direction of the our membership engagement, resolve any residuals from the organization. Regardless if you agree with the present course year of clarity, and (of-course) make it all fun. we are traveling or not, you make a difference by attending

Additionally, I am afforded the opportunity to work with and contributing. the operational committees, supporting their individual under- We do have an urgent need. The K–12 committee is in takings and promoting AEG’s overall mission. For anyone desperate need of members. If reaching out to younger looking to develop their leadership skills or those interested in generations and teaching about the geosciences is important having a larger role in the association, the committees are to you, please reach out and become involved in that group. an excellent place to start. Anyone can join a committee— This group will play a critical role as AEG strives to develop student members, new members, retired professionals, information and expand knowledge of the geosciences to if you have an interest, you are welcome. For the folks new to increasing numbers of children in the next generation. Plus,

AEG’s committees, here is a list: who doesn’t want to spend an afternoon doing science ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Advocacy Awards Chapter Support Communications Continuing Education Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Finance For anyone looking to develop their leadership skills or those interested in having a larger role “ projects with a bunch of eager and interested kids? If 2020 taught us anything it is that there can always be some extraneous situation that no one expects to throw a monkey wrench into our best-laid plans. However, I can’t stress enough the incredible community of geoscientists that makes up this association. Each person brings their own unique story to share and educate the rest. Join in community with your fellow geoscientists to support yourself and AEG. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Governance K–12 Education Licensure Meetings Advisory Strategic Initiative Student and Young Professional Support 2021 Annual Meeting in the association, the committees are an excellent place to start. ” AEG Executive Council Statement on Diversity AEG supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Geosciences profession and in our organization. AEG leadership plans to further our efforts in promoting these values by challenging ourselves on what we can do better to encourage underrepresented populations to consider and obtain careers in the Geosciences and to foster a wel-

This list with descriptions for each of the committees coming and inclusive environment within our Association can be found on AEGs website, and you can check the and the Geosciences profession. We welcome and calendar to see their next meeting time. If you don’t see encourage you to join us as we strive to take meaningful, your personal interest on that list, please reach out to me; positive action. Please contact Bill Godwin AEG President,

AEG is always seeking enthusiastic members to build at president@aegweb.org if you would like to help further committees and expand our reach. You can email me at develop these efforts.

VP@aegweb.org or HQ at manager@aegweb.org if you are

Out of Adversity…

lam thankful for your trust and continued support as I step into the role of AEG Treasurer. In this role, I have the responsibility to maintain a full two. Or three!). If you know someone with a shared interest in applied geosciences, invite them to join you at your next Chapter meeting (or virtual event), Nathan Saraceno, 2020–21 AEG Treasurer and accurate record of AEG’s financial transac- or start forwarding them the invitations to tions and accounts, and to report to the Finance upcoming webinars and encourage them to join if Committee and AEG Board of Directors (BOD) on they think they could benefit. a regular basis. I would be remiss to end this report without At the BOD meeting in September, the operating mentioning that our transition to our new association budget passed by the Board included a proposed management company, J&M Business Solutions (J&M), in $597,675 revenue and proposed total expenses of $625,520 February 2020 revealed numerous inconsistencies and missing for a net deficit of $27,845 for the 2021 calendar year. This is paperwork within AEG’s financial records managed by the prior the third deficit budget in a row for AEG, which the BOD and management company. Unfortunately, this also meant that our Financial Committee is rightfully concerned about. However, accounts from 2018 through the beginning of 2020 did not there is good reason to be optimistic about next year. reconcile year to year, which had a cascading effect on our The 2021 budget is based on several conservative financial reporting and audit requirements. assumptions, not least of which is the uncertainty related to the To deal with this, J&M hired a bookkeeper who began to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how that will play a role with respect to membership, planned conferences, and the Annual Meeting next year. Generally, many of the surpluses we hope to see were kept low or net zero, but the typical expenses that weren’t used this year due to travel restrictions were kept in the budget. For example, the Karst Forum and Dams Forum are projected to be net zero surplus. Despite the conservative budget, we have good reason to believe that AEG will come out ahead next year. A good measure of this is the fact that we anticipate our 2020 yearend financial balance (revenue vs expenses) to be significantly less negative than originally budgeted, even after the unexpected impacts of the pandemic. Further, as you’ll read within other officer reports, AEG is successfully implementing online webinars, for which we have begun charging a nominal fee to non-members. We also are looking at ways to increase revenue through sponsorship of webinars and publications. Across the Association, AEG is renowned for exceptional completely rebuild the financial records within the Quickbooks financial software used by J&M. This process has consumed the majority of 2020. As I write this article in October, we now have the 2018 records reconciled and are working on the 2019 records. The 2020 records are already upto-date, but need to be reconciled with the 2019 ending balance before we have final “actuals” for the 2020 calendar year. By the time you read this, I am hopeful this paragraph may have been more informational than summarizing ongoing efforts, and that we now have all financial records current and reconciled. Across the Association, AEG is renowned for exceptional networking. …the greatest means of maintaining networking and the financial health of AEG (and our continued future success) is to increase membership. “ ” networking. While the above methods are helpful, the A major “Thank you!” is in order for Maddie German who, as greatest means of maintaining networking and the financial the 2019–20 Treasurer did the lion’s share of the work to see health of AEG (and our continued future success) is to this through! increase membership. Since last year, our Full Membership Now that December is here, we’re all looking forward to category has decreased by almost 100 members. This is putting 2020 behind us and have our eyes (and hearts) set on likely due in part to widespread financial uncertainty in a a successful and positive 2021. While this year had its adversipandemic year, but also follows a longer-term trend of ties, let’s not forget where we thrived and carry that with us as decreasing membership observed by AEG and many other we move forward. “Out of adversity comes opportunity.” I look professional organizations. Most initiatives undertaken by the forward to seeing where we go from here and taking advantage BOD and our committees are focused on providing and of the opportunities afforded to us! improving member benefits. AEG is committed to providing you, our members, and the greater geoscience community with high-quality technical and AEG News Disclaimer professional resources. We are working to better promote Authors alone are responsible for views expressed in signed articles. technical forums, webinars, and publications as a means to Advertisers and their agencies are solely responsible for the content of all attract new members and maintain our existing membership. One thing you can do as an existing member to support the advertisements printed and also assume responsibility for any claims arising therefrom against the publisher. AEG and AEG News reserve the right to reject any advertising copy. long-term success of AEG is to bring in a new member (or

Grateful for My Latest AEG Volunteer Role

s I begin my term on the Executive Council (EC) as Secretary, I am reminded of the many volunteers in our long history who have led Commission in 2019. Although definitely not a prerequisite for joining the EC, I am thankful for my years serving on various committees and collaborating Sarah Kalika, 2020–21 AEG SecretaryA this great organization. I am thankful that you have with all of AEG’s awesome volunteer leaders, as elected me to join in their ranks and grateful to this experience has well prepared me for this begin my term with a fantastic group of volunteers next phase of leadership. on the EC and within the Board of Directors (BOD). In 2020, AEG successfully pivoted from an in-

As your Secretary, my primary goal is to capture and person Annual Meeting in Oregon to our first-ever virkeep a record of discussions and decisions that are tual Annual Meeting! The virtual meeting was an made by the BOD and EC during our meetings. Due to the outstanding opportunity for members across the world to parongoing COVID-19 travel and meeting restrictions, these meet- ticipate from their homes or offices and an excellent opportuings have been held during most of 2020 as conference calls nity to include those who are usually unable to travel due to and we will likely continue to conduct meetings this way for the airport proximity, health restrictions, or finances. AEG is looking near future. While we are not meeting in person, rest assured into incorporating some kind of virtual format within future that the Association’s business is being completed using confer- Annual Meetings. ence calls with plenty of opportunities for interaction. I see COVID-19 as both a challenge and an opportunity for

My history with AEG does not begin on the EC. In fact, AEG. I am excited to see that many Chapters have embraced when I joined AEG eleven years ago as a fired-up profes- the virtual Chapter meeting concept and continued to host sional geologist with a freshly minted PG license, I was speakers. This is a fantastic opportunity for Chapters to be excited to have found such a fantastic group of people and creative and host speakers who would otherwise be unable to ready to be involved in Chapter leadership. I was soon travel to a Chapter meeting. Consider hosting a speaker from elected as the Vice Chair of the San Francisco Section (now across the country or outside the US, the possibilities are end-

Chapter) and became the Chair two years later. While repre- less! I have participated in several events this Spring and senting San Francisco on the BOD, I served on several AEG Summer that were hosted by Chapters that I would otherwise

Operational Committees (Governance, Meetings Advisory, be unable to attend if not online.

Chapter Support, Communications, and Finance). Just nine Additionally, AEG’s successful webinar series will continue years after attending my first Annual Meeting, I co-chaired into 2021 and feature presentations by prominent members of the 2018 AEG Annual Meeting/IAEG Congress in San Fran- the Association on varied Engineering and Environmental cisco. As if that were not enough to fill my time, in 2014 Geology topics—all at no charge for members.

I co-founded the Technical Working Group on Naturally I am looking forward to seeing what’s in store for AEG in

Occurring Asbestos, which expanded and became an IAEG 2021, and I hope you are too!

Virtual Events and More

Sheri Maskow, Association Manager s the COVID-19 pandemic continues, so do virtual meetings and webinars. Our Virtual Annual Meeting was a success, and A We are currently in the process of updating committee lists and call schedules. Committee volunteers are needed to assist with projects in we look forward to hopefully seeing everyone in 2021. If you are interested in helping to move person in San Antonio, Texas, in 2021. AEG forward and create additional value for the The Association has been holding at least AEG membership, please let us know at two webinars each month, with many of the Chap- manager@aegweb.org and we’ll help find a place ters hosting their own as well. Members are invited for you to get involved. to attend all webinars, even those outside of their own It’s that time of year to submit your AEG membership

Chapter. Recordings of past webinars are available at renewal. Current members should have received communicaaegweb.org/webinars. Please invite your coworkers and tion with instructions on how to renew. You’ll visit the link in the professional colleagues to a Chapter event and encourage email, select your membership type and proceed by logging on them to join you as an AEG member. and completing the form. Need assistance with your renewal or login? Contact our office at contact@aegweb.org or 844-331-7867.

Recognizing the Foundation Scholars

he AEG Foundation would like to thank everyone who participated in the Virtual Donor’s Reception and the Silent Auction during the Virtual Annual Meeting. The Samantha Farmer – Samantha is a student at East Tennessee State University earning a master’s degree Nichole Vetter, AEG Foundation Director & Communications Chair T

Silent Auction raised $576 for the Johnston Operations Fund. in geosciences (concentration in

Lemke Awards BS in geology (concentration In envi-

The AEG Foundation was proud to select seven students to receive Lemke awards during the Virtual Annual Meeting. This fund was created by a bequest received in 2007 from the estate of Richard W. and June T. Lemke and is intended to help students who present their research defray the costs of ronmental and engineering) from Radford University (2019). Her career interests include geotechnical asset management, utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for geologic applications, and geologic field mapping. attending the meeting. The following are the 2020 recipients. Sarah Harris – Sara is a senior at East

Emily Smoot – Emily is a graduate of Portland Community College and Portland State University (PSU) with an inspired love for learning and curiosity of the physical world stemming from her untraditional educational background as an “unschooler.” She is currently a graduate student at Western Washington University. In Tennessee State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geosciences with a concentration in geology and environment, and a minor in GIS. She has a 12-year-old son named Zack and enjoys playing Minecraft with him, reading, and traveling. her free time, Emily enjoys foraging Kara Kingen – Kara for wild edibles in the forests of the is currently pursuing Pacific Northwest. Emily hopes to one her MSc in geology at Portland State day pursue a doctoral degree in hydro- University, with a focus on geomorgeology and use her education to improve phic processes. She loves being and promote the understanding and use of our outside and appreciating the natural environment and the resources it provides for us amazing landscape (hiking, camping,

Margaret Kroehler – Margaret Kroehler is a master’s student at Kent State University studying engineering geology with a primary interest in slope stability and geologic hazards. She etc.), and hopes to use her education to preserve it in the best way possible. earned her BS-Geology at the College of William and Mary and Luke Weidner – Luke is a PhD

MS-Geological Sciences at the University of candidate at the Colorado School of

Texas at Austin, with research in tec- Mines studying rockfall hazards and tonics of the Blue Ridge and eastern machine learning. Outside of work

Caribbean, respectively. She worked he enjoys exploring the outdoors in the oil and gas industry in and playing the piano.

Houston, TX before being trans-

geospatial analysis). She earned a ferred to Pittsburgh, PA to work on ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

Marcellus Shale development. In Pittsburgh, she developed an interest in engineering geology while attending local professional meetings and decided to pursue it as a new career. Her current goals are to graduate this year and obtain a job in the Pittsburgh area. The following scholarships were awarded during the 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting. Photos of the scholars were published in the 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting Program with Abstracts and recipient videos can be viewed on the AEG Foundation's website: https://www.aegfoundation.org/about/news.php?n=29 Iuliia Tcibulnikova – Iuliia is pursuing Carolinas Scholarship her MS in geological engineering at Established in 2015 with a gift from the Carolinas Chapter, this Michigan Tech University. She is scholarship supports geologic studies by undergraduate fascinated with the Artic and all students enrolled in a geology or geoscience program at an things frozen. She also likes accredited university in North Carolina or South Carolina. medieval history and cooking. Ciara Sailar – Appalachian State University

Marliave Scholarship Edward Fordham – Western Washington University – The Marliave Scholarship Fund was established in 1968 to Graduate Division honor the late Chester E. Marliave, Burton H. Marliave, and Tomsen Reed – Utah State University – Graduate Division Elmer C. Marliave, outstanding engineering geologists and supby his students for his passionate and insightful instruction in porters of AEG. The funds are distributed as grants, which are Norman R. Tilford Field Study Scholarship intended to support academic activity and reward outstanding The Tilford Scholarships are awarded to both undergraduate scholarship in Engineering Geology and Geological Engineering. and graduate students for the summer field season, and were Spencer Whitman – University of Nevada Reno established in memory of Norman R. Tilford, who was a leader in engineering geology and a professor at Texas A&M UniverSusan Steele Weir (Women of “Steele”) Scholarship sity. Norm died in 1997 while flying his small aircraft to meet a The Susan Steele Weir Scholarship Fund was established by the AEG Foundation in 2017 in order to create a fund that student field trip. Norm was dedicated to teaching geology in the field and these scholarships support his legacy. promotes and supports the continued development and Angelina Han – Amherst College – Undergraduate Division advancement of women in the profession of engineering geology. Lauren Herbert – Colorado School of Mines – Graduate Division Catherine Hobart – Baylor University Chad Neptune – California State University, Fresno – Christopher C. Mathewson Scholarship Graduate Division Established in 2007 as the Texas Section Scholarship, the Scholarship was renamed in 2011 to honor Christopher C. Mariliis Eensalu – Northern Illinois University – Post-Graduate Division Mathewson. Recipients of the scholarship are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in an accredited Texas college or university, or graduate students conducting field studies in Texas. Ashley Aguilar – University of Texas at San Antonio – Graduate Division West-Gray Scholarship Established in 2014 with initial funding provided as a gift from AEG Past Presidents Terry R. West and Richard E. Gray, this fund supports undergraduate and graduate geology students studying in the eastern half of the United States. Emma Fuentes – Angelo State University – Graduate Division Katrina Ferry – University of Kansas – Undergraduate Division Shlemon Quaternary Engineering Geology Scholarship Samantha Tramontano – City University of New York – The Shlemon Quaternary Engineering Geology Scholarship The Graduate Center, Queens College – Post-Graduate Division supports graduate geology students conducting Quaternary Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 year with a engineering geology research. Initial funding for the Scholarship Feb. 1, 2021 deadline and should be made online. For more was provided by a gift from Roy J. Shlemon, Honorary Member information, visit https://www.aegfoundation.org/applications/. of the AEG. James Fisher – Lehigh University Robert J. Watters Great Basin Chapter Scholarship This fund supports geoscience studies by students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Recipients of grants must be students enrolled in an accredited Nevada college or university or 2020Corporate Sponsorsstudents enrolled in an accredited four-year college conducting a substantial portion of their field studies inside Nevada. Kathleen Rodrigues – University of Nevada, Reno Glacier Peak The University of Arizona Martin L. Stout Scholarship (888) 658-2042 Dr. Martin L. Stout was Professor of Geology at California State onlineengineering@arizona.edu University, Los Angeles from 1960 to 1990. He is remembered https://online.engineering.arizona.edu/online-eng-mining/ College of Engineering engineering geology. Dr. Stout was known for his expertise on Kilauea landslides, his travels, his good humor, and his gracious manner. This scholarship supports his legacy. Lettis Consultants International, Inc. Earth Science Consultants Emma Palko – Miami University – Undergraduate Division (661) 287-9900 Ramon Antonio Richardson – Mississippi State University – 1000 Burnett Avenue, Suite 350 Concord, CA 94520 Undergraduate Division http://www.lettisci.com/

Naturally Occurring Asbestos TWG Update: Federal Interagency Working Group Presents Methods to Better Identify Asbestos in Talc and Consumer Products Containing Talc

Sarah Kalika, PG, CAC

Sarah is an environmental geologist and asbestos consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sarah serves on AEG’s Executive Council, AEG’s Technical Working Group for NOA/IAEG Commission on NOA, and is co-chair of AEG’s Meetings Advisory Committee.

In 2018, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formed the Interagency Working Group on Asbestos in Consumer Products (IWGACP), which is comprised of thirtyeight representatives of the following agencies: FDA, National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Representatives from these agencies were selected for participation because of their expertise in asbestos testing, asbestos health research, and regulation or policy creation for consumer products that contain talc as an ingredient. The IWGACP worked for a year to produce recommendations, which were published in Executive Summary, Preliminary Recommendations on Testing Methods for Asbestos in Talc and Consumer Products Containing Talc on January 6, 2020 (Executive Summary) and summarized in a FDA public hearing held on February 4, 2020.

Why are governmental agencies in the United States worried about talc, and what does this have to do with asbestos? Asbestos, a known carcinogen, is commercially defined and Federally regulated as six minerals that grow in a fibrous manner (described as “asbestiform”). The six “asbestos” minerals are the serpentinite mineral chrysotile and five amphiboles: actinolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, amosite (grunerite), and crocidolite (riebeckite), though hundreds of other asbestiform minerals (primarily amphiboles) exist and remain unregulated. The mineral talc (a hydrated magnesium silicate) often contains intergrowths of asbestos. Removal of asbestos from talc ores is difficult. Although multiple analyses of representative samples of talc ore are conducted by the mine prior to (and during) extraction, the existing laboratory analytical methods have been alleged to be insufficient to identify and properly count fibers of asbestos (primarily the amphibole variety) that occur alongside talc deposits. As a result, asbestos fibers are sometimes not detected by the mines and are included within talc source materials sold to manufacturers of commercial products.

If even a small percentage of talc contains asbestos, this becomes a problem that impacts human health. The mineral talc is widely used in beauty products including facial powders, blush, eye shadows, “baby” powders, and feminine hygiene products. Asbestos has recently been discovered within “toy” makeup products marketed to children. As reported during the FDA public hearing on February 4, 2020, the presence of asbestos has been blamed in epidemiological studies as a possible cause of ovarian cancer, linked to exposure within personal hygiene “talcum powders” that have been marketed for use since the late 1800s. Since 2017, several voluntary recalls have occurred for talc-based cosmetic products within the US, Canada, the Netherlands, and Taiwan due to the presence of asbestos.

The FDA does not allow talc-based products to contain asbestos, but methods to determine the presence of asbestos within talc have lagged behind technologies developed by the asbestos assessment, identification, and mitigation industry. According to the IWGACP’s Executive Summary, concern about the purity of talc increased in the 1970s when numerous cosmetic products were determined to contain asbestos. In 1976, the cosmetics industry implemented a voluntary testing of raw talc materials using the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) J4-1 method, which is similar to the United States Pharmacopeia’s (USP) method to determine “absence of asbestos.” Both of these methods rely on the use of x-ray diffraction (XRD) or infrared spectroscopy (IR) followed by polarized light microscopy (PLM) only if XRD or IR is positive for amphibole or serpentine minerals in talc (IWGACP, 2020). However, because of the sensitivity of this method, PLM with a magnification power of 50x-1,000x, fails to detect finely-sized particles of asbestos. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which has an increased magnification power up to 20,000x, and provides determination of mineral content by analyzing the chemical signature, greatly improves the capability of an analyst to detect and count asbestos and other fine fibers within a sample of talc ore (as well as within soil, air, and samples of manufactured products).

According to the IWGACP, in 2010, the FDA asked USP to consider revising their testing strategy for asbestos in talc, and in 2014, the Talc USP expert panel recommended an update to require electron microscopy. However, not all products are tested to USP’s voluntary standard.

In comparison, the determination of the presence of asbestos within rock or soil begins with the use of PLM as a screening approach to determine whether further analysis by TEM is necessary. In California, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) uses the strictest known regulatory approach and requires analysis that uses TEM for at least 25% of samples, if samples are initially reported below PLM’s detection limit of 0.25%. Essentially, DTSC’s approach assumes that if asbestos is present in large concentrations, it will be detected by PLM. If PLM screening reports asbestos as “not detected” or “trace,” then TEM should be implemented as a confirmation approach. The use of TEM has become more widespread and the costs for laboratory analysis more competitive than when the CTFA implemented testing for talc in 1976.

Furthermore, the IWGACP stated in the Executive Summary that “published methods for analysis of bulk materials were not intended to determine the presence of asbestos in products at less than 1% concentration.” The IWGACP additionally stated, “in contrast, the likely amount present when asbestos is a contaminant or impurity in talc or talc-containing consumer products might be orders of magnitude below 1%.” The IWGACP was created in an effort to research and report on existing analytical approaches and laboratory methods and to provide recommendations to the talc industry on a detailed approach to more thoroughly detect and count asbestos within talc ores during mining and processing.

During a hearing on February 4, 2020, the IWGACP’s subject matter experts presented their contributions to the Executive Summary. Following the presentations by IWGACP members, the hearing was opened for public comments. Commenters included geologists, asbestos laboratory professionals, asbestos researchers and industry experts, attorneys, representatives of talc producers, and a medical doctor who showed fascinating images of an ovary that had been impacted by talc. These events were simulcast by the FDA and recorded for playback.1

Colleagues of the AEG Naturally Occurring Asbestos Technical Working Group / IAEG Commission on Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA TWG / IAEG Commission) participated in and contributed to this hearing. Following the hearing, the NOA TWG/ IAEG Commission prepared a letter in support of the IWGACP’s efforts.

Specific items that we support within the IWGACP’s recommendations included:

Adoption and use of the term “elongate mineral particle” as defined as “any mineral particle with a minimum aspect ratio of 3:1” as defined originally in NIOSH Bulletin 62 published in March 2011.

Expanding the definition of “Elongate Mineral Particle” (EMP) to include all solid solution amphibole compositions, and not adopting the definition of commercial asbestos that limits reporting to the five amphiboles named in current regulations and test methods, which are crocidolite (riebeckite), amosite (grunerite), anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite.

Use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as the definitive method for the identification of asbestos and fine fibrous EMP.

Procedures to report asbestos/EMP concentrations in terms of fiber concentration (such as fibers per gram) rather than mass (percent by weight). Weight percent is related to the size of the particle (particularly width) and specific gravity, whereas fibers per gram is independent of these variables.

Laboratory counting and reporting of all mineral particles meeting clearly specified mineral type and dimensional criteria.

The NOA TWG / IAEG Commission also supports the IWGACP’s identified areas for future efforts in promoting the reliability of methods used for the analysis of asbestos and EMPs in talc and talc-containing consumer products including: Validation of analytical methods (x-ray diffraction [XRD], polarized light microscopy [PLM], transmission electron microscopy [TEM]) specific to talc and consumer products containing talc.

Research and validation of methods of sampling that maximize sample representativeness and minimize errors.

Research on methods for sample preparation, in particular, treatments (e.g. “concentration methods”) that improve test method sensitivity.

Development of talc-specific reference standards for assessing laboratory and analyst proficiency to provide for improved reliability of quantitative analysis.

The letter written by the AEG NOA Technical Working Group/ IAEG Commission on NOA in support of the work of the IWGCAP was submitted to the FDA during the public comment period.

The IWGACP is expected to produce a white paper that expands upon their recommendations within the Executive Summary and responds to comments received during the public hearing, although the shifting priorities of these agencies in response to COVID-19 might delay these efforts. The AEG NOA TWG / IAEG Commission on NOA will continue to monitor the progress of the IWGACP.

Notes

1. link: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-news-events/public-meetingtesting-methods-asbestos-talc-and-cosmetic-products-containing-talc02042020-02042020

Environmental & Engineering Geoscience

MAY 2020 VOLUME XXVI, NUMBER 2 CALL FOR PAPERS

AEG’s journal Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (E&EG) is currently seeking articles for review and possible publication. E&EG is dedicated to publishing peer-

THE JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGISTS

SERVING PROFESSIONALS IN ENGINEERING GEOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY, AND HYDROGEOLOGY

AND THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

reviewed, high quality, original research and case studies on environmental geology, engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, geomorphology, low-temperature geochemistry, applied hydrogeology, and near-surface processes. Visit https://www.editorialmanager.com/eeg, the Peer Track on-line submission platform, for Instructions for Authors, the Style Guide, and to login. Published quarterly and hosted at GeoScienceWorld (http://eeg .geoscienceworld.org/), E&EG publishes articles ahead-of-issue, as soon as they are ready. Current and past issues are available to GSA members who select the journal as part of their annual dues and subscriptions options and to AEG members as a benefit of membership. For more information or to discuss possible special issue topics, please contact a co-editor: Abdul Shakoor (ashakoor@kent.edu) or Brian G. Katz (eegeditorbkatz@gmail.com).

Rocks, Water, and AEG! Dorian Elder Kuper, Past President AEG

Dorian Kuper writes from Helena, Montana, and is a registered Engineering Geologist in Oregon and Washington. She is President of Kuper Consulting, LLC and an AEG Past President.

rowing up, I was always checking out rocks out in the Phoenix desert where I lived or on my Grandparents’ cattle ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona. I would be constantly on and off a horse picking up “cool” rocks to take home. I took an Earth G

Science class in high school and that clinched it—I knew I wanted to be a geologist.

When I told my dad I wanted to go to school to be a geologist, he said “What? You are supposed to work in an office as a secretary, or….” Needless to say, I won out and spent four years with 35 men and 4 other women in the same classes earning my Geology degree and Environmental Studies degree.

A professor I had said women shouldn’t go to field camp; women belong in the laboratory for geology. HA! I successfully completed my field camp with a smile! Now, it is refreshing to see a large proportion of women in the geological sciences and being accepted into the “field.”

Grad school provided great opportunities while working at a large geotechnical firm where I was the only staff woman geologist at the time. They had a Project Engineer who was a woman who saved me one funny time in the field. Being a staff geologist, I was mapping the geology on a large grading job in San

Diego where I instructed the grading contractor to “excavate deeper—you haven’t removed all of the compressible alluvium.”

Can you imagine a 22-year-old telling an “older” contractor what to do with his giant scrapers? He told me to call my office and have my “boss” come out to decide if this is necessary. So I did, and out came Carol Forrest, a geotechnical engineer. That got him, two women telling him what to do…but we succeeded!

As the first woman to be registered as a Certified Engineering

Geologist in San Diego County a few years ago (!), I had an entrée into a variety of networking events. I enjoyed going through the chairs of the San Diego Association of Geologists, as I interacted with senior geologists committed to mentoring us “young ones.”

These geologists were competitors and yet offered me the opportunity to come out to their job sites to see fault trenches, landslides, down hole borings, grading jobs, and more! Wow, talk about sharing. Trust was built between the professionals, including my future husband, Tom Kuper—who was a competitor while we were dating and yes, he did steal a client of mine!

I joined AEG in 1981 and attended monthly meetings in

Los Angeles. This was the best opportunity as I learned the “art” of networking and marketing, developing contacts and connecting with professionals. I observed senior geologists in competing firms sharing ideas, building trust with each other and developing long-term relationships.

I learned that volunteering with AEG and other professional organizations would allow me to expand my marketing capabilities. When Tom and I moved to Oregon, I had no clients. I joined the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), which provided a huge opportunity to meet prospective clients— primarily engineers and architects. That was the steppingstone to forming a niche clientele—aggregate mining. An architect approached me and asked if I could permit an aggregate mine site in Washington? Sure, let me take a look at it (I had never permitted an aggregate site, much less in Washington). A little homework and we got the site permitted by characterizing the rock resource, designing the mine and reclamation plans and managing the key consultants. The multi-discipline education experience geologists have makes us suited for characterizing and permitting mining projects. Thanks to SMPS connections, we jumped into the permitting of aggregate sites all over the Northwest.

I was lucky to be appointed to the Oregon State Board of Geologists where I served a seven-year term, and as a result was elected to the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG), which prepares the national registration exams for geologists. At the same time, Tom and I were attending local and national AEG meetings and overlapped with professionals across the US and internationally. In developing the ASBOG tests, I also saw the difference in the practice of engineering geology, depending on what part of the country one lived—quite an eye-opener for me.

The most rewarding phone call was from Dr. Scott Burns asking me if I would be interested in coming on the Executive Council for AEG. I was flattered and apprehensive at the same time, as I felt to be an unknown in the AEG national arena. I was

mainly involved with the Southern California and Oregon Sections—who would vote for me? I was honored to spend five years on the EC. The opportunity to meet other geologists from the US, Canada, and numerous European countries by overlapping in national and international meetings has been wonderful. To be able to attend AEG meetings and brainstorm various technical solutions with other professionals is very rewarding.

Service to our clients and solving complex issues in permitting aggregate sites is the key to our success. Referrals from clients are the best type of marketing a company can have. At the same time, being involved with AEG, getting to know members and conversely them knowing the kind of work we do has led to recommendations from AEG folks to potential clients. These relationships have afforded us projects we never would have dreamed of! Who would have thought that our two-person firm would get the opportunity to work as expert witness on the Panama Canal, as a result of a recommendation from a fellow AEG member!

I have developed some very warm and dear friends within AEG that I know I can pick up the phone to say “hi” and catch up or to say “hi, I am working in your area, can we collaborate on a project together?” We have shared lots of work stories, travel stories, and of course “some” beer and wine together with many true AEG friends. Stay involved, and have fun with AEG, as exciting work opportunities and special friendships will evolve.

Leadership Opportunities Immediately Available!

Bolster Your Resume

Practice leadership skills with your fellow geoscientists from across the US and the globe. Share ideas and manage projects while working to support AEG and promote the Geosciences.

Build Friendships

Working together for a common purpose you will build community and form relationships with like-minded individuals. The added bonus is always connecting in-person at the Annual Meeting.

Choose Your Time Committment

Operational committees typically meet once per month for one hour. (That is only 12 hours per year.) You can commit to as many activities as your schedule allows.

Interested?

Contact the committee co-chairs listed on the website or AEG VP Maddie German at vp@aegweb.org to become involved or get more information.

2020 Outstanding Volunteer Awardees

AEG News is proud to publish the names of the three AEG members who have the distinct honor to receive a “2020 Outstanding Volunteer Award” for their outstanding contributions and dedication to AEG in their respective responsibilities. Please congratulate them when you next talk to them for their outstanding service to AEG. Besides the beautiful, professional certificate that they hold in their pictures, each volunteer also received a gift card. So, the moral of the story is that there are benefits of becoming an AEG member and volunteering in any position that you feel comfortable with. So, won’t you join our beloved AEG and its various teams and Chapters!

Bill Roman

Recognized for outstanding leadership and engagement as Director of AEG’S Communications Committee and for serving as Content Editor of AEG News.

Visty P. Dalal

Recognized for his vision and work as the Acquisitions Editor of AEG News and for striving to make the News more beneficial to our members.

Niall Henshaw

Recognized for his work as co-chair of the Finance Committee and working to create a realistic budget for AEG’s 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting.

In Memory of Gunnar Schlieder

1957–2020 unnar Schlieder, a widely respected engineering geologist in Eugene, Oregon, died on July 21, 2020 from an apparent heart attack with much in life left undone. Gunnar G Gunnar collecting a soil sample during his research on the 2014 Oso Washington landslide was born to Siegfried and Eva Johanna (Werner) Schlieder on

February 17, 1957, in Göttingen, Germany. His parents brought him to the US when he was eight years old. The family returned to Germany, but Gunnar was captivated by America. After he graduated from the Technical University of Munich with a BS degree in Geology in 1978, he came back to the US to pursue graduate work. He completed a MS in Geology at The George

Washington University in 1984, and a PhD in Geology from

Lehigh University in 1989. Both his master’s degree and PhD were in Glacial Geology, a discipline that would later come to define his finest accomplishment in interpretive geology.

Following completion of his PhD in 1989, he landed in

Eugene, Oregon. After a brief time as a partner in GEM

Consulting, Gunnar established GeoScience, Inc., a geology consulting firm he led as CEO and President. Gunnar was an

Oregon Registered Geologist (RG), a Certified Engineering

Geologist (CEG), a member of the Association of Engineering

Geologists, and the Lehigh branch of Sigma Xi. Gunnar was a strong taskmaster. Few could stand up to his expectations and desire to have quality oversight and control of the company’s work. Gunnar’s belief, which is a standard in geology, was that every piece of evidence must be consistent with the final geologic interpretation, or the interpretation is wrong, and must be reformulated. This precept would guide an enviable career in engineering geology. Gunnar was the ultimate consummate professional. Throughout his career, Gunnar provided geotechnical consulting services to residential clients, developers, industry, and governmental entities; he completed more than 40 projects for the City of Eugene. He was a voice of reason and consistency in land development, forestry, and the location and design of public roads. Being located in Eugene, much of Gunnar’s professional work was in support of the forest industry’s never-ending quest to balance society’s needs for forest products, jobs for woods workers, a viable business model for forest landowners, and long-term environmental quality. At the same time, he was very active in local land use decisions where the property concerned had some level of geologic risk for the proposed use. Gunnar spent more time than he would have liked in the role of expert witness in legal disputes, working for both plaintiff and defense attorneys as the merits of the case dictated. He was a generous mentor to younger geologists throughout his career. He employed the Socratic method of teaching as a means of developing critical thinking skills in those that were fortunate enough to be mentored by him. He was universally regarded as the single most capable practitioner of determining landslide public safety risk levels from forestry operations in the state of Oregon. Many of the current professional landslide public safety practitioners in the Pacific Northwest learned the analytical techniques of that practice from Gunnar. Gunnar was a member of the Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association, an international group of volunteers who respond to geotechnical extreme events, such as earthquakes, landslides, dam failures, etc., to conduct detailed reconnaissance and document valuable perishable information that can be used to advance research and improve engineering practice. Gunnar’s most important project and contribution to society was the investigation of the Oso Landslide in Washington State. Gunnar was a member of the six-person team commissioned by the Attorney General of Washington to determine the cause of the landslide, which killed 43 people. Gunnar was the primary on-the-ground geologist and was responsible for the geologic interpretation that fundamentally changed our understanding of the glacial geology of the region. Gunnar is survived by his mother of Heiligenstadt in Oberfranken, Bavaria, Germany, his wife, Robin Jayne, and two children, Wilhelm and Sophia, just days short of their 18th birthdays. In addition, he leaves countless professional colleagues who will never again enjoy his humor, his insistence on high quality of professional practice, his love of sailing, his love of good food, his love of good beer, his restoration of old houses, and the stimulating discussions that he always brought to the table. Gunnar will be sorely missed by family, friends, and colleagues. In his memory, we all should work to bring out the better person that is within each of us in everything that we do—he would want that.

Recap Recap

or the first time in AEG’s history, we had no choice but to cancel the in-person 2020 Annual Meeting as originally planned in Portland, Oregon, due to the nation’s collecprofession is pivoting to address the challenges we all face in this unprecedented environment. The 2020 Contingency Planning Committee put together a technical program that provided Heather Clark, AEG Meeting ManagerF tive response efforts to COVID-19 and the Governor of Oregon an outstanding educational experience for attendees. PDHs and mandating that no large gatherings take place through CEU credits were available for all technical sessions. All sessions

September 2020. We replaced the anticipation of our Annual were recorded so the attendees could view them at any time.

Meeting with the same zeal for a new opportunity to adapt and Attendees had the chance to learn from the experts, all from the serve our members and the geology community. The virtual comfort and safety of their home computer! format allowed many people to attend who normally would not AEG’s 63rd Annual Meeting was held from September 16–18, be able to attend due to financial, travel, or visa restrictions. 2020. Four hundred eighty-three participants from across the

We offered the same great Technical Program with several fun US and from nine other countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Ausevents added. This was a great opportunity for everyone to tralia, Ghana, France, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, attend and get a feel for what AEG Annual Meetings have to Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, India, and Canada) offer, hear from industry leaders, and get a look at how our were in attendance.

Scott Lindvall, 2019–20 Jahn’s Distinguished Lecturer, presented “Crossing the San Andreas Fault: Improving the Resilience of the Los Angeles Aqueduct System.” Cheryl Hapke, 2020–21 Jahn’s Distinguished Lecturer, presented “Our Changing Coastlines: The Intersection of Geologic Processes & People.”

Gannett Fleming’s Brian Heinzl presented on the US Route 30 Landslide Remediation in Pittsburgh—winner of AEG’s Outstanding Environmental & Engineering Geologic Project Award. Opening Session Keynote speaker Jesse Hill presented on “Surface Rupture of the Little River fault in Response to the August 9, 2020 Mw 5.1 Earthquake near Sparta, NC.”

The meeting kicked-off with the Opening General Session featuring 2019–20 Jahns Distinguished Lecturer – Scott Lindvall speaking on Crossing the San Andreas Fault: Improving the Resilience of the Los Angeles Aqueduct System; 2020–21 Jahns Distinguished Lecturer – Cheryl Hapke presenting on Our Changing Coastlines: The Intersection of Geologic Processes & People; Gannett Fleming’s Brian Heinzl presenting on The Route 30 Landslide Remediation Project, which received the AEG Outstanding Environmental & Engineering Geology (OEEG) Project Award; and the Keynote speaker, Jesse Hill with the North Carolina Geological Survey, who spoke on The Surface Rupture of the Little River Fault in Response to the August 9, 2020 Mw 5.1 Earthquake near Sparta, North Carolina.

A new session, Hot Topics Panel, featured experts from The Walker Lane, An Incipient Plate Boundary Dissecting the American West and Potential Heir to the San Andreas Fault and Mount St. Helens Geologic, Geomorphic, and Hydrologic Context for Management of Spirit Lake, Managing a Volcanic Debris Dam Geohazard Utilizing Dam Safety Principle, and Spirit Lake Debris Blockage Explorations and Site Characterization. Hot Topics – the Walker Lane – James E. Faulds, Dr. Rich D. Koehler, and William C. Hammond discussed “The Walker Lane: An Incipient Plate Boundary Dissecting the American West and Potential Heir to the San Andreas Fault.” Hot Topics – Mt St Helens – John Sager, Jon Major and Jeremy Britton discussed a planned exploration program in 2021; geophysical surveys (seismic and GPR) of the eruption debris blockage at Spirit Lake; seismic hazard mapping; and, dam safety issues with respect to the blockage, and tunnel outlet.

More than 80 Oral Presentations and 20 Posters were presented. Technical sessions included Symposium: Engineering Geology for Tunnels and Underground Construction; Environmental Symposium 2020: RADON Occurrence and Remediation; NOA Symposium: Hindsight in 2020 and Lessons for the Future, Applied Geoscience Methods for Problem Solving – A Gallery of Practical Examples; Dams and Levees Lessons Learned Symposium; and Landslide Symposium: Seeking Stable Slopes in a Time of Rapid Change. Poster presenters sent videos of their presentations that were posted

Ed Cording opened the Engineering Geology for Tunnels and Underground Construction Symposium with a 60-minute keynote address on “Observing Ground Behavior at the Source in Underground Construction.”

Vishnu Chakrapani Lekha spoke on “Improving Satellite-Based Precipitation Using Rain Gauge Observations for Landslide Prediction in a Data Sparse Region” during the Landslide Symposium.

ongoing and planned work in the following areas: debris blockage characterization,

on each presenter’s page on the attendee website.

Isaac Pope (center), who was the meeting’s youngest presenter, discussed the Cascade Volcanoes. Isaac is shown here with Gerry Stirewalt (left), who moderated and spoke during Technical Session #4—Applied Geoscience Methods for Problem Solving – A Gallery of Practical Examples, Part I; and Pat Pringle (right), who during the same session presented on "Tree-Ring Analysis (Dendochronology), a Tool for Dating of Subfossil Forests—Victim Tree Examples from Mount Ranier Lahars and the Bonneville Landslide." See page 26 of this issue of AEG News for Isaac’s paper on the Cascade Volcanoes.

J. David Rogers (center) presented on “Site Characterization of Levee Foundations” during the Dams and Levees Lessons Learned Symposium, Part II, which was moderated by Kevin Richards and Cassandra Wagner.

During the AEG corporate business meeting, 2019–20 AEG President Cynthia Palomares announced the Carolinas and Texas Chapters as co-winners of the Outstanding Chapter Award. During the AEG Foundation awards ceremony, Foundation President Bill Flanigan announced the winners of the student poster competition. First place went to Thomas O’Shea for his poster on Investigating Risks Related to Unstable Slopes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Second place was a tie between Sarah Harris for Residential Property Annual Slope Movement Monitoring in Erwin, Tennessee and Isaac Pope for Poorly Sorted Terrace Deposits of the Cispus Valley: Glacial Drift or Mount Adams Lahar?. Fourth place went to Kara Kingen for Climatic Controls on the Kinematics of the Hooskanaden Landslide, Curry County, Oregon.

Virtual events provided a fun way for attendees to connect. Virtual Happy Hours included Women in AEG/AWG, Volunteer Recognition, Chapter Leadership, Student and Professional Networking, and a Special Event Happy Hour with Scott Burns— Wine Tasting and Terroir—that allowed attendees to escape the office for an evening for an exciting happy hour where Scott Burns led the wine tasting as he explained the importance of terroir— that is the relationship between geology, soil, climate, and wine. It was a fun and memorable evening showcasing the Oregon region’s geology and wine as well as attendee’s wines from around the world.

Another component of the Women in AEG Happy Hour was breakout groups to brainstorm ideas to introduce more girls and young women to geology.

Scott Burns hosted the Special Event—a wine tasting/happy hour during which Scott explained the importance of terroir—that is the relationship between geology, soil, climate, and wine.

Thank you to everyone that participated in this unprecedented event and a special thank you to our sponsors, without their generous support the meeting would not have been possible. The Virtual Annual Meeting was a success, achieved a small surplus, and received overwhelming positive feedback. AEG will be considering hybrid meeting options in the future.

During the Women in AEG Happy Hour, Cynthia Pridmore gave a presentation that included how she first became interested in geology and how she works to encourage other girls and young women to also take up the torch.

In this series, we present ideas, opinions, and, sometimes, ramblings of the author. The opinions are not necessarily those of the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists or any other organization or entity.

You Don’t Look Like a Geologist Deborah Green

Deborah Green has 35 years of professional experience, and has been a self-employed consultant for 25 of those years. Now, semi-retired, she’s written a novel whose protagonist is an engineering geologist working on a dam with a problematic foundation. Her website, www.geologistwriter.com, is populated with short essays on geology, the natural world, and our interactions with them. She is a long-time, active member of AEG, joining in 1982 as a graduate student. Deborah was awarded the Floyd T. Johnston Service Award in 2005, and traveled the country meeting students as the 2018–19 Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer. s a professional environmental and engineering geologist, I crisscrossed the US for 35 years investigating and remediating contaminated soil and groundwater, A and studying geologic hazards. If there’s a more fulfilling or fascinating career, I can’t imagine it. Yet enrollments in geology programs in colleges and universities are going down, just when we need the brightest young minds solving these problems, in addition to critical climate disruption issues. What does a geologist look like? Some of you know me, but if not, you may not be picturing me accurately —I’m a 115-lb woman, just five feet, one inch tall. I had just turned 24 when I took my first professional position in 1984, one of two women among more than 20 geoscientists in the Earth Sciences office of a large engineering consulting firm. It’s unlikely that the drillers I worked with my second day on the job had ever taken direction from a woman before. Not many geologists looked like me in those days. Today, women comprise more than 40 percent of the geoscience workforce, however, that only addresses some of the inequities women still face. Despite the great strides made in the field with respect to gender representation, the geosciences are, according to some studies, the least diverse of all the STEM fields. This is especially troubling since there is science that shows diverse teams do better work. It’s well known that people of color are underrepresented in science and engineering, but why are the geosciences, in particular, not attracting a wider range of students? Depending on the study you reference, fewer than 12 percent of our professional colleagues are people of color, and one study suggests only 5 to 7 percent. For the last two years, I’ve been trying to understand why people of color feel discouraged from entering this important field. I did so, in part, while touring the country as the Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer (supported by both the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists and the Geological Society of America, the lecture series is designed to promote student awareness of applied environmental and engineering geology). I learned a lot through research and reading as I prepared the talk entitled “You Don’t Look Like a Geologist,” a comment I have heard throughout my career, and I learned even more as I spoke with students and professors at more than 50 colleges and universities in 25 states. Many of those schools invited me specifically to have a conversation on the lack of diversity in our profession.

Here are some of the things I discovered. First, many college-bound students never take an Earth Science class in high school, so it isn’t even on their radar screen when they think about a major. But that problem, which we sorely need to address, crosses socioeconomic lines. There had to be more to it.

In a MiSTEM (Minorities in STEM) Student Group meeting at a small Ohio college, several first-generation college students related that their parents don’t necessarily want them to go into medicine or engineering, but they do want their children to be successful professionals, and those are the widely recognized STEM fields. Geoscientists need to educate students about our field, one in which, like medicine and engineering, they can make a living and make a difference. Students could then assure their parents of the promise of the path they are on.

And speaking of paths, we know that not all geologists spend their time out on trails with a rock hammer hanging off their belts. Though it’s true many of us wish we did, the reality is that many of us spend as much or more time in our offices as doing fieldwork, especially as we progress in our careers. On the subject of fieldwork, I was told the term itself may alienate some prospective geoscience students and their parents. At two California State University campuses in the largely agricultural Central Valley, I spoke with several Hispanic, first-generation college students, some of whose parents, literally, work in the fields. Their parents wondered why they were working so hard to send their children to college, since “fieldwork” is exactly what they are hoping their kids won’t have to do.

In many courageous conversations, students, professors, and professionals discussed the biases they held, often unconsciously until we had those discussions. Students also shared ways they felt excluded—by other students, their professors, and potential employers. For some, geology’s “beer culture” is offputting. Physical limitations can exclude students unable to shoulder a 40-lb backpack and carry it for miles over rough terrain. Others mentioned feeling intimidated prior to their first overnight field trip, because they didn’t have experience camping.

There is the economic exclusion factor of completing a degree and furthering a career by attending a six- or eight-week-long summer field camp that not only costs thousands but also keeps students away from much-needed summer jobs. And how do you make field camp work if you’re a single parent? Those are just a few examples of issues that can steer prospective geologists away from the profession—especially people whose diverse perspectives could help solve the huge environmental and engineering problems our society faces.

There are programs, particularly in academia, seeking to alleviate this crisis in the geosciences, yet so much more needs to be done, especially in the private sector where I’ve spent my career. Those of us working in the profession must do more to recognize and manage our individual biases, like choosing a job candidate because they attended a traditional field camp, rather than taking field courses that cost less and required less time away from home. But that is only a first step. We must acknowledge institutional biases and systemic oppression. Those of us in positions of power—within companies, governmental agencies, colleges and universities, and professional associations— must address those issues.

A colleague I’ve known for decades and thought was one of the more forward-thinking members of our profession, approached me after a talk and said that students should find their way to the geosciences on their own (after all, he had). I must disagree. You can’t find your way to a place you don’t know about. If established geoscientists aren’t actively opening doors and creating opportunities for diversity to flourish, then we are barring those doors.

Another colleague was offended when I closed a talk with, “If we aren’t aware of white privilege, it’s because we have it. And if you aren’t aware of male privilege, it’s because you have it.” He became defensive, as if I was accusing him of anything more than being human; too often we’re not aware of the privileges we have, they are invisible to us because we have always had them. I believe the issues that bring up defensive feelings are the most crucial to examine. Not to chastise ourselves, but to open our eyes and our minds, which is exactly what good scientists do every day.

I drafted parts of this essay early in 2020 with the hope that as we began both a new year and a new decade, we would soon see the day when whoever was doing the work— they looked like a geologist. Just a few months later, with more Americans than ever before opening their eyes to the inequities people of color face, perhaps that day is coming.

CSU San Bernardino Geosciences Chair Position

The Department of Geological Sciences at California State University, San Bernardino invites applications for a Department Chair, tenure track position, at the rank of Associate or Professor to begin service in July 2021.

The successful candidate must have a PhD in the geosciences.

The area of the candidate’s specialization is open. Preference will be given to candidates with administrative experience as a department chair or similar leadership experiences.

If you are interested in this opportunity, use the link on the Geoscience Department website to apply on the web at: https://www.csusb.edu/geology.

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is located in San Bernardino, 60 miles east of Los Angeles and the Palm Desert satellite campus is in the Coachella Valley.

Karst Hazards Virtual Forum From AEG: Recent Advancements in Karst & Karst-Like Hazards’ Investigation and Mitigation March 23–25, 30–31, & April 1, 2021 SIX LIVE VIRTUAL 4-HOUR SESSIONS beginning Tuesday, March 23, OR View Sessions anytime until Monday, April 12, 2021

The Karst Hazards Forum (KHF), a virtual meeting, will address the three broad topics of Karst, Pseudokarst, and Anthropogenic Sinkholes [karst-like erosion due to human activities]. The KHF’s goal is to bring together specialists, who will explain these features and formative processes, their professional investigations and measures to avoid or mitigate karst hazards, and provide case histories of these hazards.

Registration and Call for Abstracts Opening Soon! www.aegmeetings.org