A paper by Matt Montario '01 and John Garver on the tectonic evolution of the Adirondacks has been published in the Journal of Geology. The authors present new information on the thermal evolution of the Adirondacks that suggests these rocks were affected by dramatic cooling events at about 780 Ma and 540 Ma. They arrived at this scientific finding by using a new method of dating when rocks were heated and cooled. They used Fission track dating, but developed a new technique that uses Union’s new SEM, purchased with a grant from the National Science Foundation. Montario is currently a doctoral candidate at the University at Albany. He has been working with me on the project with Garver for several years.
In addition, a paper by David Gombosi '06, Montario and Garver on the tectonic evolution of the Feugian Andes (southernmost South America) was published in Terra Nova. This paper documents the timing of tectonic activity in this area and suggests that the opening of the Drake Passage may have occurred in the Eocene (c. 45 Ma). The Drake Passage is the sea between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica. It connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and this connection is crucial for biogeography. This event is one of the most profound in the evolution of global ocean circulation.
Life Safety Officer Michael Hilton was quoted in an article on campus fire prevention in University Business, a higher education management online magazine. Hilton noted that Union is developing a new campus wide fire/life safety system with prerecorded voice directions that will help occupants pinpoint safety exits in an emergency. Hilton spoke of the College’s 15-year plan, launched in 1999, to upgrade fire safety systems in all residential, academic and administrative buildings.
Reference Librarian Donna Burton contributed an updated “Humor” section to the 17th edition of “Magazines for Libraries,” a standard reference resource. Burton has also had a review of two organizational Web sites, FAS Project on Government Secrecy and OpenTheGovernment, which advocate challenging excessive government secrecy and promoting public oversight of government activities and publications, in the July 2009 issue of Government Information Quarterly. Another Web review, this one of the Department of Homeland Security site, is included in the journal’s January issue.
Harry Marten, the Edward E. Hale, Jr., Professor of English,was quoted in a Dec. 7 Sunday Gazette article on Ebenezer Scrooge, the central character of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Martens spoke of Dickens as “an incredibly extravagant writer.”
Matt Milless, director of Student Activities, was featured in a Dec. 12 Gazette news story and a Channel 9 News segment about “Help Portrait,” part of an international effort to provide free family portraits to economically disadvantaged families. Milless was a lead volunteer for the Capital Region event, which drew about 100 families to the Christ Church on State Street in Schenectady. He is part of a Yahoo Internet group of local photographers who discovered the global effort, which included more than 420 Help Portrait events in some 55 countries. Milless and five other portrait photographers donated their time. Kenney Community Center Director Angela Tatem also helped organize the event.
An article by Chad Orzel, professor of physics, is included in the December issue of “Physics World,” a popular-audience magazine. “Measuring (Almost) Zero” details experiments using cold molecules to search for an electric dipole moment of the electron. These experiments, going on at Yale and in the United Kingdom, could shed light on some of the deepest mysteries of particle physics without needing billion-dollar particle accelerators. “Physics World” is published by the Institutes of Physics in the UK. The article is available on-line (registration may be required).
Christopher Chabris, assistant professor of psychology, reviewed the book, "Reading in the Brain," for the Wall Street Journal. To read his review, click here (registration may be required).