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The AGeS2 (Awards for Geochronology Student research 2)

Program: Supporting Community Geochronology Needs

and Interdisciplinary Science

Rebecca M. Flowers, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA; J Ramón Arrowsmith,
Arizona State University, School of Earth & Space Exploration, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA; Vicki McConnell, Geological Society of
America, 3300 Penrose Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA; James R. Metcalf, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado
Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA; Tammy Rittenour, Dept. of Geology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322, USA; and
Blair Schoene, Dept. of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA

THE INCREASING THE AGeS1 PROGRAM: program (Flowers et al., 2014; Nadin,
GEOCHRONOLOGY DATA AND A COLLABORATIVE STRATEGY 2015). Twenty-five graduate students
EDUCATION NEEDS OF THE FOR SUPPORTING COMMUNITY were engaged deeply in AGeS1 by receiv-
EARTH-SCIENCE COMMUNITY GEOCHRONOLOGY NEEDS ing awards of US$5,300 to US$9,500 in
Geochronology is essential in the geo- The AGeS program is a collaborative 2015, 2016, and 2017 (Fig. 1A). The
sciences. It is used to resolve the dura- strategy for supporting access to geo- awards also financed “riskier” science
tions and rates of earth processes, as well chronology data and expertise. The goals ideas, some of which came to fruition
as test causative relationships among of AGeS are to (1) broaden access to (e.g., Williams et al., 2017). However,
events. Such data are increasingly geochronology; (2) educate users of geo- the impact of AGeS1 extends far beyond
required to conduct cutting-edge, trans- chronology data; (3) promote synergistic the funded projects. The AGeS1 funding
formative, earth-science research. The science by fostering new relationships opportunity provided a specific reason
growing need for geochronology is between labs, students, and scientists in for geochronology users to reach out to
accompanied by strong demand to different disciplines; and (4) provide stra- the data producers annually, amounting
enhance the ability of labs to meet this tegic, high-quality, scientifically valuable to >40–50 contacts each year between
pressure and to increase community geochronology data for projects in which students and labs regarding potential
awareness of how these data are produced both users and producers of the data are collaborative, interdisciplinary research
and interpreted. For example, a 2015 intellectually engaged. The AGeS pro- projects. A total of 135 AGeS1 proposals
National Science Foundation (NSF) gram offers support of up to US$10,000 including a diversity of geochronology
report on opportunities and challenges (typical awards ~US$8,500) for graduate techniques were submitted over three
for U.S. geochronology research noted: students to visit an AGeS lab for a week proposal cycles, each one involving new
“While there has never been a time when or more, participate in sample preparation interactions between labs and students.
users have had greater access to geo- and analysis, and learn fundamental Even for some unfunded projects, new
chronologic data, they remain, by and aspects of the methods, techniques, research proceeded because the proposal-
large, dissatisfied with the available style/ theory, and interpretational approaches writing process helped focus and articu-
quantity/cost/efficiency” (Harrison et al., used in modern analytical facilities while late the ideas and generated joint enthusi-
2015, p. 1). And the 2012 National being mentored by geochronologists on a asm for the study. Six geochronology
Research Council NROES (New Research project of joint interest. These awards fill experts (scientists from private and state
Opportunities in the Earth Sciences) an important funding gap between small universities, a small liberal arts college,
report (Lay et al., 2012, p. 82) recom- (US$1,000–US$3,000) student research and a federal agency) dedicated substan-
mended: “[NSF] EAR should explore new grant opportunities (e.g., Geological tial time to reviewing and ranking every
mechanisms for geochronology laborato- Society of America [GSA] student submitted proposal, such that all students
ries that will service the geochronology research grants) and large (>US$100,000) received feedback on their project ideas.
requirements of the broad suite of NSF grants, and can be sufficient to Between 2014 and 2018, the AGeS lab
research opportunities while sustaining acquire a publishable data set, catalyze network grew to include 73 senior scien-
technical advances in methodologies.” new collaborations, and provide the tists associated with 43 labs distributed
The AGeS (Awards for Geochronology foundation for future larger proposals. across the U.S., encompassing a wide
Student research) program is one way AGeS1 was implemented in 2014 within range of geochronology methods (Figs.
that these calls are being answered. the framework of the NSF EarthScope 1B and 1C). Any lab in the U.S. or its

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