NATIONAL EARTH SCIENCE WEEK

Week shares
benefits of studying
the Earth

UH researchers invite the
public to learn how dangers
from tsunamis or volcanoes
are prevented

By Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

RESIDENTS are invited to the University of Hawaii on Monday, Discoverers Day, to discover how earth sciences affect their lives.

"We want people to learn that 'Geology Rocks!'" quipped Jill Karsten, associate researcher in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.

She is co-organizer of the school's activities during the first national Earth Science Week, tomorrow through Oct. 17.

Demonstrations and displays will be presented in SOEST's Pacific Ocean Science and Technology building and at the Campus Center.

Saving lives, reducing risks

Nineteen state governors have proclaimed the second week of October Earth Science Week to recognize earth scientists and their contributions to our understanding of Earth.

Earth sciences are particularly important in Hawaii, Karsten said.

"Hazards associated with volcanism, coastal erosion, mass wasting, tsunamis, hurricanes, global climate change, sea level rise and ground-water contamination are intimately linked to the long-term sustainability of our island state and its people," she said.

One of the chief goals of SOEST's Earth Science Week activities is to provide residents with information to lower their risks from the hazards, she said.

John Sinton, UH geology and geophysics department chairman, said displays featuring research in SOEST will be set up in the upper three floors of the Pacific Ocean Science and Technology building.

Displays and videos also will be shown from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Campus Center. Big Island volcanism, coastal processes and beach loss, and contamination of the Ala Wai Canal will be among subjects featured.

Federal, state links featured

Federal and state programs concerning earth sciences also will be exhibited by the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Research Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Sinton said UH enrollment in earth sciences programs has increased, particularly this year. "I think this partly reflects moving into the POST building and having facilities to handle classes."

Although the new science building opened last year with a lot of structural problems and no furniture, Sinton said, "there is no doubt the physical facility is better than what we had before.

"The manifestation is an influx of people into our classes and labs. We are able to accommodate an interest that may have been there all along, but we couldn't accommodate it."

Expanding chances to learn

One of the scientists' major complaints last year about the building was on-and-off air conditioning.

"Some rooms are real cold, some aren't; but at least they aren't threatening to turn it off anymore," Sinton said.

"Although the path is a long one, I would say things definitely aregetting better."

Sinton said the undergraduate program in geology and geophysics had 16 or 17 new majors this fall.

"We don't know if this is an anomaly, but we hope it's the beginning of a trend: those declaring a major, intending to become scientists."

Enrollment in introductory classes also is high, with 70 to 80 students in many classes, he said.

An accelerated introduction to geology and geophysics also is being offered two nights a week, Sinton said.

The course initially was to serve graduate students from fields outside earth sciences, such as physics, chemistry or math, he said.

"We're finding a number of folks, including science teachers, who might want a refresher or first-time introduction are signing up for the course."

All of the earth science courses are on Web sites, Sinton said.

Planning 'a big splash'

He said SOEST didn't have much lead time to plan for Earth Science Week this year.

"But we'll make a big splash next year."

SOEST's Open House, attended annually by thousands of students, will be held during the special week next year, he said.

More information about the school's Earth Science Week activities can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.soest.hawaii.edu.

Information also is available from the American Geological Institute at http://www.earthsciweek.org.