Aurora

Employment & Opportunities

Teaching Assistant: Climate Emergency Course Material Development in EOAS First-Year Courses

The Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences seeks a highly engaged and motivated teaching assistant to help us develop new course materials on climate change and the climate emergency in 4 EOSC 1xx courses as part of a new UBC Sustainability Climate Education project. These courses collectively reach more than 2500 students per year at every year of study, and thus provide an ideal avenue for both early and late engagement with a broad student audience on climate issues.

Specific duties will include:

1. the design of the learning goals and course materials for new teaching modules in multiple EOSC courses in consultation with course instructors and Science Education Specialists in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
2. the preparation of course content for students (e.g. readings, datasets, lecture materials, worksheets and assignments)
3. the preparation of instructor guidelines to ensure teaching modules can be easily adopted my multiple instructors; and
4. the revision of course descriptions to reflect the increased emphasis on climate change.

The position is paid at a rate of $36.85/hour and includes benefits.Funding is available for an initial contract for a total of 130 hours of work with the possibility of extension. Start date and working hours are flexible. The project must be completed by the end of August 2021 to allow for the deployment of the new materials in the fall term of 2021. A timeline in which the bulk of the work is done in the months of April, May and June is preferred.

To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing why you are interested and well-qualified for the position, a CV and the names and contact information of 2 referees to Kimberly Tietjen (ktietjen@eoas.ubc.ca). Questions about the position can be directed to Dr. Stephanie Waterman (swaterman@eoas.ubc.ca). Review of applications will begin on the 15 March and continue until the position is filled.

Four Ocean-Going Researcher Positions Available - CEOAS at Oregon State University

The College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) at Oregon State University is pleased to re-open the search for four (4) research-focused, tenure-track, open rank professor positions, who maintain or have the potential to maintain sea-going research programs. Given the extensive delay in this hiring action we are inviting new applicants as well as encouraging previous applicants to update their application materials. This is a cluster hire that promotes interdisciplinary research across four focus areas: Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Physical Oceanography, and Marine Geology and Geophysics. Applications to more than one position are suggested for candidates with interdisciplinary focus.

Additional information and application procedures are available here.

Review of applications will begin on April 16, 2021 and continue until April 30, 2021. Please direct questions about the position to the search committee chairs.

Inquiries about this sea-going cluster hire may be directed to Drs. Marta Torres (marta.torres@oregonstate.edu), Byron Crump (byron.crump@oregonstate.edu), Rob Harris (robert.harris@oregonstate.edu), and Kipp Shearman (kipp.shearman@oregonstate.edu).

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Karen Edwards (karen.edwards@oregonstate.edu).

Disability and Disasters Award

The newly established Disability and Disasters Award supports people with disabilities working in disasters, as well as those who care for, study, or advocate on behalf of those with disabilities. Award funds will allow the recipient to attend the annual Natural Hazards Workshop and the Researchers Meeting that follows.

Eligibility and Application

Hazards practitioners, students, and researchers with a strong commitment to the intersection of disability and disaster management and mitigation are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside and be from an organization or academic institution based in the United States. The application deadline is March 15, 2021.

Click here to apply and for further information.

News & Events

EOAS Colloquium - Max Rudolph

Title: Evolution of large-scale structure in Earth's mantle

Date & Time: Thursday, March 4th at 11:00am

Place: Zoom Room!

Abstract:

The viscosity of the mantle affects every aspect of the thermal and compositional evolution of Earth's interior. Radial variations in viscosity can affect the sinking of slabs, the morphology of plumes, and the rate of convective heat transport and thermal evolution. I will present the results of new inferences of the depth-variation in mantle viscosity. The lowermost mantle contains two antipodal Large Low Shear Velocity provinces, which are likely to be different in composition and somewhat more dense than the ambient lower mantle. Using full-spectrum mantle tomographic models that jointly constrain shear- and compressional wavespeeds as well as density, we examine the effect of lowermost mantle density variations on inferences of the viscosity profile. We find some evidence for a reduction in viscosity below the mantle transition zone and an increase in viscosity in the mid mantle, near 1000 km depth. We show that global models of mantle circulation that include such a low-viscosity channel or 'second asthenosphere' can reproduce some observations of slab stagnation within and below the mantle transition zone.

WW Hutchinson Virtual Lecture Tour

Title: Tropical cyclones and their expressions in shallow-marine sedimentary strata

Date & Time: Thursday, March 4th at 1:00pm Mountain Time

Lecturer: Dr. Shahin Dashtgard (SFU)

Location: Zoom Room!

Abstract:

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are among the most devastating natural hazards on Earth and are predicted to increase in frequency and severity as the atmosphere warms. Assessing changes in TC frequency and severity requires tracking their prevalence through time using their preserved expressions in the rock record as a proxy. Presently, TCs are common to the world’s oceans at latitudes of 7° to 40° north and 7° and 23° south of the equator.  The processes and products of TCs have been well studied, and direct expressions of TCs in shallow-marine strata (e.g., Hummocky Cross-Stratification) are well defined. In this presentation, we will explore the depositional processes that occur during TCs and the range of TC deposits that occur in shallow-marine and shelf environments (10–150 m water depth). Two modern settings that experience regular TCs will be presented: the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Taiwan Strait. We will also evaluate TC deposits in shallow-marine strata. Together, these data provide a more complete picture of the mechanisms and processes that are active during TCs and their multiple expressions in the rock record. In turn, these results contribute to our understanding of past extreme-weather events and potentially can provide insights into future changes in TC frequencies and intensities as the Earth’s climate warms.

Energy Transitions - How do we power humanity in the future?

Date & Time: Monday, March 15th at 6:45pm

Speaker: Dr. Brad Hayes, Outreach Director at Canadian Society for Unconventional Resources

Place: Zoom Room!

Abstract:

Modern humanity needs energy to survive. Energy networks that support us today are complex, having been built up over decades, and they are foundational to key global challenges such as sustainable development, energy poverty, and climate change. In the coming decades, humanity will transition to more diverse energy sources to support prosperity and address these challenges.

How do we move forward in the Energy Transition? We will examine two competing “Realities” used by people to support their viewpoints. Reality 1 sees measured change largely governed by market forces, while Reality 2 demands urgent change driven by climate crisis concerns. Many people in developed countries identify strongly with one of these Realities, but it’s important to remember that Energy Transition is a global issue, and motivations for change are very different in different parts of the world.

And it’s equally important to realize that aspirations or goals for change need to be supported by pathways to realize that change, showing how we can conceptualize, test, plan, finance, and build new energy sources.

Whatever one’s viewpoint, the pace of Energy Transition will be driven by our ability to create diverse alternative energy sources that are reliable and affordable. Today we’ll have a look at some of the alternatives, highlighting both limitations and the exciting potential of new ideas.

Energy supply controls humanity’s future, and needs to be addressed with clear, critical, balanced thinking and action.

14th International Conference on Paleoceanography

Dates: August 29, 2021 - September 2, 2021

Please join us at the 14th International Conference on Paleoceanography to be held in Bergen, the gateway to the Norwegian fjords. The ICP gathers world experts and newcomers in the field of paleoceanography working on past climate and ocean change on a range of timescales, using climate proxies or modelling approaches. The conference provides an opportunity to present and debate ground-breaking new observations while creating the ideal environment for fostering discussions of pressing challenges and new scientific initiatives.

The first announcement is available from the conference website here.

If you would like to receive updates about the conference, please sign up for the email list on the website.