Student support for 2019 GSA Thompson Field Forum in Grand Canyon; September 14-21, 2019

University Of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM

Investigators

Abstract

The proposal provides support for the participation of five students and two early career professionals in the 17th Geological Society of America Thompson Field Forum on the "Age and carving of the Grand Canyon: Towards a resolution of 140 years of debate." The forum will bring together 28 researchers and scientists to discuss evidence for the age and incision history of the Grand Canyon in the context of recent advances and ongoing debates. The goal to promote the next generation of research on this subject, which is of broad interest both to the scientific community and the general public. There has been considerable interest in what seems to be like an old subject, but recent scientific advances have provoked controversy and new ideas regarding the age and formation of the canyon with high-profile publications in the journals, Science and Nature. Controversial ideas to be discussed include: 1) evidence for mantle-to surface hydrologic connections; 2) ongoing mantle-driven uplift of the Colorado Plateau; 3) the contested "bulls-eye" of erosion of the Colorado Plateau; and 4) Causes of major knickpoints as due to incision transients and/or variable strength rock layers. The conference is timely in that the community needs to examine and evaluate the evidence first hand and develop better integrated methodologies to test these and other debates. The students and early career professionals (including four women) will be supported by this activity are actively involved in Grand Canyon research and hence will be knowledgeable and receptive to the nuances of the discussions. They will also get a chance to present their new work for the general discussions. The exposure they will get to high level integrative science will be potentially transformative for their careers. A unique opportunity associated with the Field Forum will be a river trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon with opportunities to discuss scientific questions on the outcrop and at evening seminars. Society benefits from this activity include contributions to STEM education and educator development; development of a diverse, globally competitive workforce; and contributions to the broadening of participation of underrepresented groups in STEM. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.