News briefs, Quarterdeck 5.2

Quarterdeck Volume 5, Number 2, Summer 1997

News briefs

College of Geosciences and Maritime Studies gets a new dean

Mark McCann receives Support Staff Appreciation Award

Planning for our 50th birthday

Mark your calendars, the Department of Oceanography is making plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the spring of 1999. Current and former students, staff, and administrators are invited to join the festivities, which will be scheduled to coincide with bluebonnet season in central Texas. A symposium entitled "Advances in oceanography of the Gulf of Mexico" will highlight the event.

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College of Geosciences and Maritime Studies gets a new dean

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In August 1st the College of Geosciences and Maritime Studies welcomed its new dean, marine geologist David B. Prior. Before being appointed to the position Prior served as Deputy Dean under Robert A. Duce, who is stepping down to focus on research and teaching in the college.

Texas A&M University President Ray M. Bowen said that "Dr. Prior's broad knowledge of the geosciences and his wealth of experience in applying them to the problems of industry will serve Texas A&M and its students exceedingly well as we move into the 21st century."

Prior came to Texas A&M in 1996 from his position as director of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography's Atlantic Geoscience Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. As one of the directors of the Geological Survey of Canada, he was responsible for the Canadian government's Coastal and Marine Geosciences Program.

Prior is noted for his work in seafloor geological hazards and constraints to coastal and offshore development, as well as his research on river deltas and continental slopes. His international work includes technology transfer projects for developing countries and he has been chief technical advisor on two United Nations projects in China.

Recently, Prior was invited by 11 Asian countries to serve as a lifetime advisor to the Commission for Coastal and Offshore Geoscience in East and Southeast Asia, the premier international geoscience organization in the region.

Dr. David B. Prior
(Photo by Jean Wulfson)

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Cooperation with China

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This June the College of Geosciences and Maritime Studies entered an unprecedented agreement with Marine High Technology Bureau of the State Science and Technology Commission of China that calls for development of joint research projects; exchange of staff, faculty and students; development of jointly-authored publications resulting from collaborative research and the exchange of published scientific materials.

David Prior, who negotiated the agreement with the Chinese, said that China "has huge resource needs, huge environmental impact issues, issues of coastal zone management; great opportunities for the application of science and technology to real world problems. We regard this as a very exciting, unique opportunity."

Marine High Technology Bureau Director Wang Zhixiong traveled to Texas A&M University to join Executive Vice President and Provost Ronald G. Douglas in a signing ceremony on the Texas A&M campus on June 5.

Specific research areas mentioned in the agreement include application of Geographic Information Systems to natural disaster reduction and land resource management, geophysical surveys and seafloor mapping, typhoon studies, marine geology and technologies for geothermal and oil resource exploration, marine environmental monitoring technologies and pollution studies, among others.
Wang Zhixiong (left) and Ronald Douglas (right) sign the agreement, assisted by Ann Alsmeyer.
(Photo by Michael Kellett)

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The National Ocean Sciences Bowl

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Plans are coming together for the 1998 National Ocean Sciences Bowl, and the Texas A&M Department of Oceanography has been chosen to host one of the regional competitions. Teams of high school students will compete locally to determine finalists for the regional competition, to take place at Texas A&M early in 1998. Winners will travel to Washington, D.C., for the national finals in April.

The ocean sciences bowl is part of the United States' participation in the 1998 International Year of the Oceans Commemoration. Organizers hope the contest will broaden awareness and understanding of the latest ocean research and the ocean's critical impact on global climate, economic well-being, history, and culture.

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is organized and sponsored in part by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, its member institutions including Texas A&M, and the National Marine Educators Association.

For more information contact Ed Shaar (Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3146; Phone: 409-862-3290; Fax: 409-845-6331; Email: eshaar@ocean.tamu.edu).

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Mark McCann receives Support Staff Appreciation Award

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This spring the Department of Oceanography awarded the Support Staff Appreciation Award to Mark McCann, Computer Systems Manager, for his tireless efforts maintaining department computer systems and communication networks.

Excerpts from Mark's nomination and endorse-ment letters describe his dedication and expertise:

"On the numerous occasions I have required Mark's ex-pertise or consultation, he demonstrated an exceptional willingness and generous donation of his time and knowledge. Indeed, all of my contacts with Mark dealt with problem solving outside his normal job descriptionEven more exceptional has been Mark's consistent good nature and constant smile no matter what the pressures from dozens of people may be on any particular dayMark McCann exemplifies the dedication, cooperativeness, and generosity of spirit this award seeks to recognize." (From a nomination letter by Gregory S. Boland, Senior Research Associate)

"In the three years I have known Mark, I have had many opportunities to benefit from not only Mark's profes-sionalism, technical expertise, and dedication to his job, but also his patience and sense of humorMark is unfailingly courteous to everyone, and treats requests for help from students, staff, and faculty members with equal importance" (From an endorsement letter by JoAnn Lysne, 1996-1997 President, Oceanography Graduate Council)

As a reward for his work Mark received a reserved parking space for one year and a personalized desk clock commmorating his efforts.
Department Head David Brooks (left) presents the award to Mark McCann.
(Photo by Rahilla C. A. Shatto)

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Last updated September 1, 1997