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

Blair Schoene

Dept. of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA

Abstract

Geochronology is essential in the geosciences. It is used to resolve the durations and rates of earth processes, as well as test causative relationships among events. Such data are increasingly required to conduct cutting-edge, transformative, earth-science research. The growing need for geochronology is accompanied by strong demand to enhance the ability of labs to meet this pressure and to increase community awareness of how these data are produced and interpreted. For example, a 2015 National Science Foundation (NSF) report on opportunities and challenges for U.S. geochronology research noted: "While there has never been a time when users have had greater access to geo-chronologic data, they remain, by and large, dissatisfied with the available style/ quantity/cost/efficiency" (Harrison et al., 2015, p. 1). And the 2012 National Research Council NROES (New Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences) report (Lay et al., 2012, p. 82) recommended: "[NSF] EAR should explore new mechanisms for geochronology laboratories that will service the geochronology requirements of the broad suite of research opportunities while sustaining technical advances in methodologies." The AGeS (Awards for Geochronology Student research) program is one way that these calls are being answered.

Manuscript received 17 Oct. 2018. Manuscript accepted 20 Nov. 2018. Posted 12 Dec. 2018.

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