KGS Staff Join Fellow Scientists at the 2019 Kentucky Academy of Science Annual Meeting
The Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) Annual Meeting was held at Berea College on November 1-2, 2019. Over 600 scientists pre-registered, and many registered on the day of the meeting. There were more than 200 posters and 145 oral presentations. Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) staff attending the meeting included Sarah Arpin, Drew Andrews, Sarah Mardon, and Liz Adams.
Dr. Drew Andrews presented an oral presentation in the Geology section titled “Updating geologic rock core information at the Kentucky Geological Survey's Earth Analysis Research Library”. He talked about the collection at the Earth Analysis Research Library (EARL) serving as the largest and most comprehensive public research repository of solid geological samples in the Commonwealth. He shared how the collection that includes rock cores, oil and gas well cuttings, limestone, soil, and coal samples is being upgraded with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In addition to describing the collection, he talked about how the preservation project that will enable people to view many of the cores online and prevent loss of samples. Liz Adams was co-author on the paper and serves as co-manager of EARL. For more information about EARL, please visit our website: https://www.uky.edu/KGS/EARL/.
Both Sarah Mardon and Sarah Arpin served as judges for the meeting. Sarah Arpin judged both the poster and oral presentations for the Geology section and Sarah Mardon judged the poster presentations for the Environmental Science section. Both undergraduate and graduate students participated in poster sessions at the meeting. During the Geology Section Meeting, Sarah Arpin was elected as Secretary for the section and will serve in that role during the 2020 KAS Annual Meeting.
The Kentucky Geological Survey was one of 20 organizations exhibiting during the meeting on Saturday. Drew Andrews, Liz Adams, and Sarah Mardon talked with meeting attendees about KGS’ research, services offered, and opportunities for student mentoring and research experiences.
Daniel Draper, an undergraduate student at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), presented a poster titled “High Resolution Stratigraphy of the Lexington Limestone (Ordovician) within Cores and Outcrop”. His co-authors, Dr. Drew Andrews of KGS and Dr. Wally Borowski of EKU, also served as his mentors. Part of Daniel’s work was conducted at EARL with Dr. Andrews and part of his work was conducted in the field with Dr. Borowski.
Sarah Mardon serves as the KAS Newsletter Editor for KAS. In addition to serving as Newsletter Editor, she posts regularly via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook on behalf of KAS. She participated in the Governing Board meeting held on Friday morning and the Business Meeting held on Saturday afternoon. Throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, she took photos of KAS Annual Meeting participants for the KAS Newsletter and for social media.
The 2020 KAS Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Kentucky Science Teachers Association meeting. Several KGS staff plan to participate in the 2020 KAS Annual Meeting held next fall. Sarah Arpin will serve as the Secretary for the Geology Section of the 2020 KAS Annual Meeting, Sarah Mardon will continue to serve in her role as Newsletter Editor for KAS, and KGS staff plan to both exhibit and present papers during the next meeting.