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>Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 11:34:56 >Subject: Kansas Geological Survey >Reply-To: ddennison@eventsmgt.com > >Dear Prof. Roy E. Plotnick, > >I am forwarding this e-mail from Dan Merriam to all members of IAMG. I urge >you to write a letter to the Provost of the University of Kansas, as Dan >suggests, protesting the firing of the Mathematical Geology Section of the >Kansas Geological Survey. The geologists in this section have been >international leaders in geomathematical research and application for nearly >40 years. It will be a great loss not only to Kansas, but to the >geomathemtical fraternity at large, if this decision is not reversed. > >Please do this soon, as the work of the review committee is already under >way. I suggest that you FAX your letters to speed things up. The relevant >numbers are: > >Dr. David Shulenburger, Provost - 785 864 4463 >Dr. Robert Hemenway, Chancellor - 785 864 4120 > >If you will be at IAMG2002 in Berlin, you can also sign a petition there. > >Sincerely > >Graeme Bonham-Carter >President, IAMG > > > >E-mail from Dan Merriam. > >29 August 2002 > > >Dear friends and colleagues > >Many of you have heard of the recent shocking event at the Kansas >Geological Survey and asked what you can do to help - one way is suggested >here. > >On Black Friday the 6th of June 2002, the Director of the Kansas >Geological Survey, with approval of the University of Kansas administration, >fired the Mathematical Geology Section of the KGS. The stated reason was >the budget reduction faced by the state, university, and survey. > >The MG group consists of our statistician/automated cartographer John >Davis, Section Chief; petrophysicist/log analyst John Doveton; >geostatistician and one of two Survey engineers Richardo Olea; >geoeconomician David Collins, hydrologist/computer scientist Goeff Bohling, >and an efficient, competent research assistant JoAnne >deGraffenreid. Spared was Gina Ross, who is head of the automated >cartography laboratory in the section. This is the same group that planned >and conducted the very successful Annual Meeting in Cancun last September. >The group is unique and is, at least, partly responsible for the excellent >international reputation of the Survey. > >In this small, renown group is 1 Krumbein Medalist, 1 Griffith Medalist, 2 >Past Presidents of the IAMG, the current Treasurer, and the Editor of the >Book Series. The Visiting Research Scientist position in the Section, last >occupied by Harald Poelchau, had been eliminated by the Director earlier. >Past VRSs read like who's who in mathematical geology and many mathematical >geologists and geomathematicians at >one time or another have visited the group in the Survey at the >University in Lawrence or cooperated on joint projects. > >There is a strong effort both in the Survey and from outside to reverse >the Director's (and University's) decision. The Chancellor was briefed on >the crisis and he has appointed a committee to review the situation; the >chairman of the committee is Dr. David Schulenburger, Provost and Executive >Vice Chancellor. The MG Section has compiled an impressive document >chronicling their contributions and accomplishments which has been presented >to the Chancellor. In addition, a list of publications by the group and >their distinguished visiting colleagues is being compiled for the >committee's consideration. > >Although the state, university, and survey are undergoing budget >reductions and constraints, many believe that there are better ways to meet >this challenge than by firing a world-class research unit with 177 years >experience. It should be noted that this drastic money-saving step would >not take place until the 2003-2004 fiscal year! > >The time is right now for those interested to voice their concern in >writing to the Provost. This concern should stress the importance of the >group, their contributions scientifically, and service work not only to the >IAMG (which probably would not be pertinent to the evaluation), but to the >science, university, and State of Kansas. Keep >in mind the Chancellor stresses the international aspects of the >university and its record of academic excellence. > >A summary of supported research and monies generated by the group >Through royalties, etc. totals almost a million and half dollars in the past >several years - not an insignificant amount. They also are responsible for >more than one-half of all the books published by Survey staff plus an >impressive list of scientific, technical, and trade >articles. The loss of this core group would severely hamper research >and service work in the Survey. > >Thus, if you are so inclined to make a statement, please address it to: > > Dr. David Schulenburger, Provost > Office of the Provost > 250 Strong Hall > University of Kansas > Lawrence, KS 66047, USA > >with a carbon copy to the Chancellor: > > Dr. Robert Hemenway, Chancellor > Office of the Chancellor > 230 Strong Hall > University of Kansas > Lawrence, KS 66047, USA > > >There may be some benefit to a letter writing campaign if enough anxiety and >trepidation is expressed by noted scientists around the world about this >unfortunate action. It would be appropriate to address the correspondence >on your letterhead with information on your position and your relation to >the group. Although things would >never be the same after this experience, if the decision is reversed, >the benefits to everyone concerned - the group, survey, university, and >state - should be obvious. > >If you send a letter, would you please send John or me a blind copy - >thanks. > >cc: John C. Davis
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