CZ VIDEOS AND PAST EFFORTS

From July 2022, we hosted the

"Expanding the Critical Zone Research Network" Workshop

The goal of this meeting was to bring together the next generation of outstanding scientists and their diversity of thought around big problems in earth surface processes (hydrology, ecology, atmospheric science, geology, etc.).  There were no registration costs, and we had support for travel costs for accepted early-career applicants (undergraduates through pre-tenure faculty).  This was an interactive workshop and a big part of the goal was collaboration and networking with others.  

The meeting schedule was here.

From April to May 2021, we hosted 

"critical conversations: why integrated earth and environmental science might define your future" webinar series 

In collaboration with the Critical Zone Hub/CUAHSI and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, we developed a webinar series for undergraduate and graduate students new to CZ science entitled "Critical conversations: why integrated earth and environmental science might define your future”. 

Our goals were to introduce concepts in CZ science, provide professional development for those interested in critical zone (CZ) science, build a network for the next generation of CZ scientists, and explore some big questions about how the shallow earth system works.  While this series is open to professionals and faculty, our focus was on students--especially in the breakout room conversations. We looked to be less formal than a usual webinar, with more focus on interaction among attendees and career development, with short lectures followed by breakout rooms participants could choose based on their interests.  Videos are linked below, and the full YouTube playlist is here.

Our topics were:

April 9: An introduction to CZ science (video)

Hosted by Julia Perdrial, University of Vermont

Breakout rooms: 1) Paths to interdisciplinary science; 2) Things I wish I'd known before I applied to grad school; 3) Finding purpose in your career or making your career fit what drives you; 4) Navigating white spaces in CZ and geoscience: challenges and opportunities for BIPOC students; 5) Working in collaborative teams

April 16: The interdisciplinary nature of CZ research (video)

Hosted by Lixin Jin & Diane Doser, University of Texas El Paso

Breakout rooms: 1) Applying to graduate school; 2) Thriving in graduate school and building a career; 3) Career choices; 4) Work-life balance; 5) The societal impact of CZ science; 6) Working on collaborative teams

April 23: An introduction to reactive-transport modeling in CZ science (video)

Hosted by Alexis Sitchler, Colorado School of Mines

Breakout rooms: 1) What classes should I take as an undergrad to prepare for graduate school; 2) Selecting a graduate program and advisor; 3) Learning reactive transport modeling; 4) Open-source software development; 5) Working in teams/interdisciplinary research; 6) What kinds of problems can you solve with models; 7) Modeling is more than math and computers: the design side of modeling

May 7: An introduction to LiDAR for CZ science (video)

Hosted by Adrian Harpold, University of Nevada-Reno

Breakout rooms: 1) Learning how to code; 2) Advice in the context of lidar data; 3) Learning a new technology; 4) Advice in the context of remote sensing; 5) Finding purpose in your career; 6) Advice on applying and being a grad student; 7) Working in collaborative teams; 8) Unsuccessful stories in science

May 14: Careers in CZ science (video)

Hosted by Holly Barnard, University of Colorado-Boulder

Breakout rooms: 1) U.S. Forest Service Careers; 2) Hydrology careers with U.S. Geologic Survey and National Park Service; 3) Careers in Environmental Consulting and Industry; 4) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Careers; 5) Environmental Compliance and Science Support Careers; 6) The Nature Conservancy; 7) Earth Science Careers in Education and Outreach; 8) Natural Resource Conservation and Planning; 9) Careers in Academic Research

May 21: Why dust in the CZ matters (video)

Hosted by Kevin Perry, University of Utah & Greg Carling, Brigham Young University

Breakout rooms: 1) Introduction to dust transport; 2) Introduction to dust and water chemistry; 3) Challenges of being women in STEM; 4) Things I wish I'd known before I applied to grad school; 5) Working in collaborative teams; 6) Mentoring and networking

This series was prompted by student requests for "CZ office hours" during our CZRCN Cyberseminar last summer (see below). Students sought an opportunity to learn more about key topics in CZ science from experts and to more organically interact with leaders in CZ science around these topics, many of which are new-to-early career researchers. 

On June 23-24, 2020, we hosted 

Bringing the Science Home! A Cybersymposium for Earth Surface Scientists

Our "Expanding the Critical Zone Research Network" Workshop went online due to covid-19. The goals of this cybersymposium (in lieu of a physical meeting, which we'll hold in the future) were to introduce new scientists to critical zone research and provide tools to the next generation of scientists to succeed in academia. 

We had two days of activities, including presentations on:

• critical zone science accessible to those new to the field

• group conversations for students, postdocs and early career faculty about next career steps

• a panel on non-academic positions

• tips on writing great NSF proposals from a previous program manager

• some mindful topics such as connecting your creativity with your analytical mind in left/right brain balance 

• a personal story of overcoming struggle

• as well as a bit of live music from a talented hydrologist.

The full calendar of events is below, and videos are posted below that.

Videos are linked here where they exist, and a full YouTube playlist is here.

Day 1:

• Kamini Singha (Mines) for the Conference Coordination Team: Day 1 Kickoff

• Holly Barnard (Univ. Colorado-Boulder): From roots to rocks: Forests in the critical zone

• Jorden Hayes (Dickinson College): A snapshot tour of near-surface geophysics throughout the critical zone (missing first 10 minutes )

• Roel Snieder (Colorado School of Mines): Left/right brain harmony for scientists and engineers

• Jennifer Druhan (Univ. Illinois): A model of the critical zone reactor: Water, rock and life (missing first 10 minutes)

• Joseph Kasprzyk (Univ. Colorado-Boulder): Songs loosely connected to the theme of hydrology 

• Eve-Lyn Hinckley (Univ. Colorado-Boulder): Bringing critical zone science from the forests to croplands

• Alejandro Flores (Boise State Univ.): Critical zone to climate system: Challenges and opportunities in representing critical zone processes in global land models

• Nicole Gasparini (Tulane Univ.) and Leonard Sklar (Concordia Univ.) (leads): A conversation for grad students: next steps in your career

Day 2:

• Li Li (Penn State) for the Conference Coordination Team: Day 2 Kickoff

• Julia Perdrial (Univ. Vermont): Merging the big picture with the detail: Bridging scales in CZ science using stream water carbon 

• Crystal Ng (Univ. Minnesota): Integrating ways of knowing the critical zone: Collaboration with tribal partners

• Roel Snieder (Colorado School of Mines): Are you thriving or surviving?

• Heather Golden (EPA) and Stacey Archfield (USGS): Non-academic research careers: A Q&A discussion

• Rachel Lauer (Univ. Calgary): Finding your (perhaps circuitous) path: A perspective on overcoming struggle

• Holly Barnard (Univ. Colorado-Boulder): Effective NSF proposal preparation: Perspectives from a former program officer

• Pam Sullivan (Oregon State) for the Conference Coordination Team: Meeting Wrap Up

• Kamini Singha (Mines, lead): A conversation for postdocs and early career faculty: Next steps in your career

In February of 2020, we hosted the: 

"Growing the Critical Zone Research Network" Cyberseminars

This series, hosted by CUAHSI, introduced basic concepts in CZ science to those not totally familiar with this field but interested in getting involved. The four panel series involved a number of speakers, all of whom were asked to talk about one really cool problem in CZ science and offer one way of getting involved...all in two slides.  The panels we hosted were:

Panel 1: Measuring  the critical zone (5 Feb 2020, 1-2 pm ET)

Invited panelists: Daniella Rempe (University of Texas-Austin), Jennifer McIntosh (University of Arizona), Alexis Navarre-Sitchler (Colorado School of Mines), Jorden Hayes (Dickinson College), Adam Ward (Indiana University), Jill Marshall (University of Arkansas).  Watch the video here.

Panel 2: Modeling the critical zone (12 Feb 2020, 1-2 pm ET) 

Invited panelists: Jennifer Druhan (University of Illinois), Katy Barnhart (University of Colorado-Boulder), Caroline Nash (Boise State University), Crystal Ng (University of Minnesota), Alison Anders (University of Illinois), Ying Fan Reinfelder (Rutgers University). Watch the video here.

Panel 3: Understanding change in the critical zone  (19 Feb 2020, 1-2 pm ET)

Invited panelists: Julia Perdrial (University of Vermont), Xavier Comas (Florida Atlantic University), Sharon Billings (University of Kansas), Rebecca Lybrand (Oregon State University), Francis Rengers (U.S. Geological Survey), Holly Barnard (University of Colorado-Boulder). Watch the video here.  

Panel 4: Diversity, inclusion and access in critical zone science (26 Feb 2020, 1-2 pm ET)

Invited panelists: Rick Bennett (University of Arizona), Kristina Keating (Rutgers-Newark), Kyle Blount (Colorado School of Mines), Christina Bandaragoda (University of Washington), Aisha Morris (National Science Foundation), Alejandro Flores (Boise State University).  Watch the video here.

Interested in knowing more about our plans in the big picture?  Here are the slides from a Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System (CSDMS) Webinar given on Sept 30, 2019 as part of our grant kick off: