| PRESIDENT……...……Calvin L. Cink | IMMED. PAST PRES......Rex Buchanan |
| PRES. ELECT………....Brenda Oppert | KJAS DIRECTOR…....…W. Scott Kardel |
| VICE PRESIDENT…....Lawrence H. Skelton | TRANSACTIONS ED......Daniel F. Merriam |
| SECRETARY …………Pieter Berendsen | BULLETIN EDITOR…....Lawrence H.Skelton |
| TREASURER………….Janice S. Barton |
| Volume 26, No. 2 | September 2001 |
FALL FIELD TRIP - JUST AROUND THE CORNER (depending on where you live.)
Dr. Dan Bowen of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, will lead KAS members on a tour of the Benedictine Bottoms on Saturday, 29 September 2001. Attendees are to assemble at 9:30 A.M. in room 206, Westerman Hall on the Benedictine College campus. Coffee and rolls will be provided. There, a general introduction to the area will be followed by a video and posters presented by student research assistants. Following the presentations, the group will visit the Benedictine Bottoms from about 10::30 until noon. A simple lunch will be provided. See the map and campus view to get there.
The Benedictine Bottoms is a 2300 acre site that is part of the Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Mitigation project administered by the U. S. Corps of Engineers. The project's purpose is to restore approximately 75 square miles of wetland and riparian habitat in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. The Benedictine Bottoms portion contains the mouth of Independence Creek named by the Lewis and Clark Expedition on July 4, 1804 - the first group of American citizens to formally celebrate National Independence on American soil west of the Mississippi River. William Clark, an astute observer of natural history, though not a very good speller, described the bottoms in 1804: "The Plains of this countrey are covered with Leek Green Grass, well calculated for the sweetest and most norushing hay- interspersed with Cops of trees, Spreding ther lofty branchs over Pools Springs or Brooks of fine water. Groops of Shrubs covered with the most delicious froot is to be seen in every direction and nature appears to have exerted herself to butify the Senery by the variety of flours (raiseing) Delicately and highly flavered above the Grass, which Strikes & profumes the Sensation, and amuses the mind throws it into Conjectering the cause of So magnificent a Senery in a Country thus Situated far removed from the Sivilized world to be enjoyed by nothing but the Buffalo Elk Deer & Bear in which it abounds."
Many mammals and birds recorded here by Lewis and Clark are again common on the Benedictine Bottoms. Come and see for yourself! If you are not seduced by Saturday football, shopping, yard work, etc. and have not attended a KAS Fall Fieldtrip, you are missing one of the best benefits offered by the Academy...good science in good company in Kansas.
According to the U. S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS), 51% of the households in the nation had one or more computers and more than 80% of these households had at least one member using the Intemet. There is an income divide among users. About 90% of family households with annual incomes of $75,000 or more had at least one computer and about 80% had at least one member who used the Internet at home. Among households with annual income of $25,000 or less, nearly 30% had a home computer and about 20% had Intemet access. Single-person households were least likely to have a computer (30%) or Internet access (24%). The report did not indicate the proportion of the lower income households represented by retirees or elderly persons.
Enclosed in this issue of the Bulletin is a questionnaire in which you can address the electronic Transactions question and other important issues pertinent to the operation of the Kansas Academy of Science in this, its third century of operation.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO ANSWER AND RETURN THE SURVEY.
THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS HAVE AGREED TO RUN FOR THE INDICATED OFFICES AND TO SERVE IF ELECTED. BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED WITH ANNUAL DUES NOTICES LATER THIS FALL. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VOTE AND RETURN THE BALLOT WITH YOUR DUES PAYMENT.
CANDIDATE VITAE:
For Vice President/President Elect:
Greg Liggett - Assistant Director, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Hays, Kansas. He has a wide range of professional experience in diverse areas including medical technology, civil engineering, professional land surveying, biology and geology. Liggett has authored numerous scientific publications. He is a member of the American Society of Mammologists, the Kansas Museums Association, the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, and the KAS.
James Taylor - B. A. & M. S. in biology, Emporia State University. Instructor in botany, Natural Science Department, Hutchinson Community College. In 1995, Mr. Taylor was awarded for teaching excellence by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development and was awarded the Golden Dragon Award by the Hutchinson Community College. Mr. Taylor, who has published horticultural articles, is a member of KAS, the Kansas Wildflower Society, the Kansas Association of Biology Teachers and the American Penstemon Society.
For Council Member - Class of 2004:
Lawrence Bradford - Ph.D., University of Kansas 1989.
Associate Professor of Biology, Benedictine College.
Areas of interest include microbial biodiversity in the Benedictine Bottoms and the study of cytokeratin proteins of immortalized human epidermal cells. Teaches general biology and microbiology.
Rolfe Mandel - Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography, University of Kansas. B. A. in Geography from University of Texas at Austin, M. A. in Geography from the University of Kansas and Ph.D. in Special Studies (Quaternary Science) from University of Kansas.
He is a geomorphologist with expertise in soils, Quaternary stratigraphy, landscape evolution in Kansas and adjacent araas of the Great Plains, and he specializes in applying the geosciences to archaeology. Editor-in-chief of Geoarchaeology: An International Journal. Has published papers in a number of professional journals. Currently a Distinguished Lecturer for the Kansas Academy of Science.
George Potts - Retired Professor of Biology, Friends University. Presently, Educational Consultant. B. A. in Biology and Chemistry from Friends University, M. S. E. in Science Education and Environmental Sciences from Wichita State University, Ph. D. in Environmental Education and Environmental Sciences from Kansas State University.
Taught high school science in Los Angeles and in Wichita. Taught in Biology Department at Friends University from 1976 to 1991. Chaired Natural Science Division from 1989 to 1991 and served as Dean of Admissions for five years. While at Friends University, he initiated bachelor programs in Environmental Studies, Environmental Science,. Zoo Science and a Master's program in Environmental Science. Community involvement includes membership on the Wichita-Sedgwick County Board of Health and the Wichita Ground Water Technical Review Committee. He has received the Kansas Conservationist of the Year Award (1993), Outstanding Environmental-Conservation Educator in Kansas Award (1974), Presidents Environmental Excellence Award (EPA Region VII, 1972), and the Eco-America Award for Kansas (1972 & 1973). He holds membership in KAS, Kansas Association of Biology Teachers, Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Kansas Association of Conservation and Environmental Education and several other professional organizations.
David Saunders - Associate Professor of Biology, Emporia State University. B. S. in Biology at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, M. S. at Emporia State and Ph.D. at Kansas State University. Employed at Emporia State since 1992. Research Assistant while in graduate school at ESU and KSU. Past President and past Vice President of Kansas Academy of Science. Session Chairman and Paper Competition Judge for KAS Annual Meetings. Member of KAS, American Physiological Society and the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. Named in third edition of Who's Who among America's Teachers.
The Heuer Awards recognize departments of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, mathematics and physics; interdisciplinary initiatives or other distinct science programs that have demonstrated significant impact on students, improvements in the college or university, contributions to individuals or organizations beyond the institution, or potential for wider influence within higher education.
An annual tour conducted for Kansas legislatures by the Kansas Geological Survey, based at Lawrence, has been honored as among the best practices in science communication in an international competition sponsorad by the U. S. Department of Energy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U. S. Department of Commerce. About 150 organizations competed in the competition; the top 50 were invited to make a presentation. Laboratories, museums, institutes and universities entered the competition. In addition to the Kansas Geological Survey, the field of U.S.A.-based winners included the National Academy of Sciences, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the Cornell Theory Center and the NASA Spaceflight Center.
"The purpose of the Survey's annual tours, which began in 1995, is to let policy makers see, first hand, examples of the kinds of issues they're making decisions about and to talk with people whose lives are affected by their decisions" noted Rex Buchanan, the Survey's Associate Director for Public Outreach. The tour participants usually are comprised of about one-third Kansas legislators, a third state agency chiefs and a third environmental group leaders, business people, teachers, etc. The Geological Survey will present a poster describing its tour at the "Communicating the Future: Best Practices for Communication of Science and Technology to the Public" conference in Washington, D. C. later this month.
Middle Schools:
1st - Maize Middle School, Maize, Kansas
2nd - St.Thomas Aquinas Middle School, Wichita, KS
3rd - California Trail Middle School, Olalhe, KS
High Schools:
1st - Maize High School, Maize, Kansas
2nd - Olathe South High Scho0il 0lathe, Kansas
3rd - Goddard High School, Goddard, Kansas
KJAS - The Junior Kansas Academy of Science annual meeting at Wichita State University in May culminated in more than 100 middle and high schools students presenting results of their own scientific research.
Best Research Project from a Small Middle School was won by:
Marshall Schmidt, Haven Middle School, Haven, Kansas
Cassie Chalker & Torre Parcel, Meade Grade School, Meade, Kansas
Best Research Project from a Large Middle School:
lan Lewis, Trailridge Middle 4School, Lenexa, Kansas
Best Research Project from a Small High School:
Bradley Jones, Kansas City Chdsfian Academy, Kansas City, Kansas
Best Research Project from a Large High School: (Tie)
Bethany Steichen, Manhattan High School, Manhattan, Kansas
Kristin Feeley, Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park, Kansas
Best Overall Research Project:
Leslie Smith, Trailridge Middle School, Lenexa, Kansas
GREAT GOING EVERYONE!
1. The KAS Strategic Planning Committee for 2000-2025 is formulating a list of objectives for discussion. Your advice on the following will help the committee to recommend direction for the Academy in the next 25 years.
The KAS bylaws states that the purposes of the Academy are:
"to encourage education in the sciences and dissemination of scientific information through the facilities of the Academy"
"to achieve closer cooperation and understanding between scientists and nonscientists, so that they may work together in a common cause of furthering science"
In your opinion, what is the role of the Academy?
2. In the past, the Academy has focused on:
Promoting science and science education in the State of Kansas
Serving as a forum and facilitator for interdisciplinary studies and communications among scientists in Kansas
What areas should be the primary focus of the Academy?
3. Who can benefit from Academy programs and activities, such as the Annual Meeting and Annual Field Trip?
4. Please feel free to provide other comments that will help the committee to shape the future of your Academy.
Please return to:
Pieter Berendsen, Secretary,
Kansas Geological Survey,
1930 Constant Avenue,
Lawrence, KS 66047
OR:
Email comments to: bso@ksu.edu
Please note that this survey will also be sent via the KAS listserve.
FROM DENVER VIA TOPEKA:
I-70 East, exit Gage Blvd./75 North (exit 358A), 75 North to 24 East, pass through 2 stoplights, exit Hwy. 4 East (Valley Falls/Meriden), 59 North Atchison.
FROM WICHITA VIA TOPEKA:
Kansas Turnpike (I-35) North, take first Topeka exit, stay left after toll booth on I-470, exit Wanamaker Road (Exit #1), turn right. Go 1/2 mile, turn right on I-70 East, exit Gage Blvd./75 North (exit 358A), take 75 North to 24 East, pass through 2 stoplights, exit Hwy. 4 East (Valley Falls/Meriden), 59 North Atchison.
FROM KANSAS CITY, MO:
I-29 North, Exit #20. Follow Hwy 273 to Atchison.
FROM OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS VIA ST. JOSEPH, MO:
I-29 South to St. Joseph. Exit 229 South, Exit 59 South (Atchison Street exit). Follow 59 through St. Joseph to Atchison.