RESEARCH & PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECTS

Daniel H. LopezNew Mexico Institute of Mining &

TechnologySeptember 11, 2012

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NM BUREAU OF GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES

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• Facilitate prudent exploitation of NM’s geological resources.

• Provide information to scientists, decision makers, & the NM public regarding the state's geologic infrastructure, mineral & energy resources, & geohydrology (including water quantity & quality). 

• Create accurate, up-to-date maps of the state's geology & resource potential.

• Provide time information on potential geological hazards.

• Act as a repository for geological data. Provide convenient physical and internet access for New Mexicans to such resources.

• Education & public outreach through college teaching & advising, a Mineral Museum, and teacher & student training programs.

• Staff serve on boards and commissions within the state and the region concerned with various geoscience-related issues.

NM BUREAU OF GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES ABOUT

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NM BUREAU OF GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES WHY?• Provides unbiased scientific information on the basic

geologic resources of the state (since 1927)• Geologic mapping done is vital to continued urban &

resource development in all areas• Outreach to the people of NM and the region

– Most of the information provided is free or available at nominal cost

• Archives and Info Services are unique, irreplaceable, & in constant need & use

• The Bureau has long supported statewide education efforts on all levels

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NM BUREAU OF GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES WHAT IS NEEDED?

• Diminished base funding– Down nearly 20% from FY09 to FY12

• Lapsed/unfilled positions– In the past 7 years, 15 positions lapsed or left unfilled

• Loss of personnel vital to core functions– Currently only have one minerals person, only one

petroleum person

• Increased reliance on soft money– This affects long-term ability to maintain staff and perform our mandated

functions– When relied on so heavily, the work done is influenced by available funding

sources rather than the priority needs of the people of New Mexico

REQUESTING AN INCREASE OF $600,000

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NM BUREAU OF GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES THE IMPACT

• Oil & gas resources in NM– research in the non-producing frontier basins of

the state; producing basins; public data available– 25% of revenues from taxes and royalties from oil

& gas in NM– Gas field discovery in the Tucumcari basin

• Evaluation of NM’s coal resources• Water availability and sustainability in NM;

informing decision makers

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NM GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH CENTER (GRC)

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• Research in areas related to & affected by water (atmospheric, surface, & underground)

• Research on relationships of lightning, thunderstorms, & precipitation

• Research on earthquakes, volcanology, & environmental geophysics

• Research in basic geophysical processes & their applications to state and national issues

NM GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH CENTER ABOUT

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NM GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH CENTER WHY GRC?• Provide well educated geo-science

professionals for NM– Graduate technical professionals with advanced degrees to address NM’s

water & climate problems & for economic development

• Generate scientific knowledge & expertise in the areas specified by GRC.– Advance knowledge in hydrology, geophysics, atmospheric physics,

chemistry, & climate science

• Maintain vital & world-class geophysical research and education environment– Hands-on research experience to undergraduate & graduate students

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• Diminished base funding• Ability to fund faculty resulted

in diminished success of students– Number of MS degrees shrank– Undergraduate participation went down

• Support faculty salaries & benefits

• Need to fill more faculty positions to compete nationally

REQUESTING AN INCREASE OF $199,596

NM GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH CENTER WHAT IS NEEDED?

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NM GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH CENTER THE IMPACT• e.g., GRC support studying the diminishing hot-

water springs in T or C– Very productive group of researchers & world-wide reputation for excellence, not

common in NM

• Faculty bring in ~$20 nationally competitive dollars for every $1 of state support ($15M in 2012)– e.g., Dr. Eack, awarded $2M from DARPA in additional funding; not possible if not

GRC supported

• Creates approximately 60 FTE for staff, plus unique student research and educational opportunities (20 undergraduate, 49 graduate).

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NATIONAL CAVE & KARST RESEARCH INSTITUTE (NCKRI)

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• Conduct, support, facilitate and promote programs in cave & karst research, education & public outreach, and environmental management

• Protect the environment of cave & karst landforms, systems, and their inhabitants

• Data acquisition and sharing for public and stakeholders

NATIONAL CAVE & KARST RESEARCH INSTITUTE ABOUT

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NATIONAL CAVE & KARST RESEARCH INSTITUTE WHY NCKRI?

• Create & maintain strong base of research, education, public outreach, & management of best practices for partner agencies.

• Ability to seek partners (i.e., govt., private foundations, etc.)

• NCKRI’s Educational Mission is to provide cutting-edge academic and educational programs and work in collaboration with others to elevate the world’s knowledge of caves and karst

• Further the science of speleology

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NATIONAL CAVE & KARST RESEARCH INSTITUTE WHAT IS NEEDED?

• Diminished base funding• Reduced funding damaged

ability to support student activities & public outreach

• Cuts impaired ability to attract &secure additional external funding

• Prevented from promoting cave & karst resources in NM

REQUESTING AN INCREASE OF $88,100

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NATIONAL CAVE & KARST RESEARCH INSTITUTE THE IMPACT

• May 2011, NCKRI hosted the Grand Opening of headquarters.

• The Facility – Was financed ($4M) and built by the City of

Carlsbad and the National Park Service– NMT leases the facility for NCKRI– A model of “green” and innovative features,

i.e., uses geothermal heating & cooling– Houses a bat roost which is the first artificial

roost in the world to be incorporated into a building design

• The US National Park Services provide financial support through NMT & over the last 5 yrs has contributed over $1.5M

• e.g., Stabilizing the Carlsbad sinkhole & preventing further damage and danger to the city.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (PDP)NM SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR/SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

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• Program Services– A statewide program to prepare highly qualified science & math teachers; upon

completion of the program receive a Masters in Science Teaching degree.– Building of infrastructure of middle & high school mathematics; science teachers

that can function as instructional leaders & facilitate achievement in districts with little or no resources.

– NMT is applying a distance-based model of professional development for teachers that positively impacts the state.

• Create Jobs– Increase NM teacher retention due to graduate degree & salary increases as Level

III Certification and highly qualified teacher status.– Increase job opportunities & promotion opportunities for NM teachers, i.e Unit

Supervisors, Master Teachers

• Bring Value to Students– Opportunity for teachers to learn about, experience & use technologies within the

context of science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM).– Teachers increase their content knowledge in science & math for application to the

classroom.– Teachers are taught by NMT faculty with expertise in subject matter.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ABOUT

Serves Students Interested in STEM• Science Olympiad - National, non-profit, tax exempt organization

– Devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, & providing recognition of outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers.

– Achieved by participation in Science Olympiad tournaments, incorporating Science Olympiad into classroom curriculum & attending teacher training institutes.  

NM SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR/SCIENCE OLYMPIAD ABOUT

• Science & Engineering Fair– objectives are to recognize and reward excellence in science,

mathematics, and engineering projects carried out by junior high and high school students from throughout the state.

– encourage inquisitive students to explore their environment in a systematic, logical manner.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHY?• NM public schools struggle across several

dimensions– student achievement, teacher preparedness, & school environment to name a few. – The National Assessment of Educational Progress in mathematics

shows that only 30 percent of New Mexico students performed at or above the proficient level.

– The NM Standards-Based Assessment shows only 38 percent of students score in the proficient range on math tests, & only 38.7 percent do so in science.

– The State requires 4 years of mathematics through algebra II & 3 years of science for high school graduation.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHAT IS NEEDED?

• Diminished base funding• Reduced opportunities for teachers

and students in math & science education

• Reduction in successful & retentionrates

REQUESTING AN INCREASE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

$72,590

REQUESTING AN INCREASE SCIENCE FAIR/SCIENCE OLYMPIAD $81,018

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• Success of students increases greatly• The Professional Development Program (PDP) is a

statewide program to prepare highly qualified science and math teachers who upon completion of the program receive a Masters in Science Teaching degree.

• NMT, in collaboration with school districts, is building an infrastructure of middle and high school mathematics and science teachers that can function as instructional leaders and facilitate achievement in districts with little or no resources in mathematics and science.

• Jobs created; increase in job opportunities

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THE IMPACT