College of Arts and Sciences: Discovering the History of the Universe in Antarctica


A meteorite on the ice of Antarctica (Antarctic Search for Meteorites program/ Anne Peslier)


Associate professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Case Western Reserve, Ralph Harvey recently finished his 22nd expedition to Antarctica with the Antarctic Search for Meteorites program (ANSMET).  ANSMET, founded in 1976 and funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), pursues recovering meteorites from Antarctica to help scientists from around the world seek an understanding of the history of our moon, Mars, and the universe.  Some of these meteorites are left-overs from the birth of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago.  Harvey and colleagues recently released a new book entitled 35 Seasons of U.S. Antarctic Meteorites: A Pictorial Guide to the Collection.

Antarctica is regarded as the world’s best place to find meteorites given the ice desert landscape of the continent and glacial motion that can concentrate the specimens in mountainous areas. Because of the special nature of the continent of Antarctica, and the efforts of the founder of ANSMET, William Cassidy, an emeritus professor of geology and planetary sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, the samples of meteorites found by ASMET are available to scientists around the world, making this a special joint-international effort, and not a competition. 


 

CWRU Study Abroad Advisor Receives Outstanding New Professional Award


 
The Center for International Affairs is proud to announce that one of our own study abroad advisors in the Office of Education Abroad, Autumn Beechler, was recently awarded the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Region VI Dorothy Brickman award for Outstanding New Professional. The award is presented to NAFSA members who have made significant contributions to their campus, their regional NAFSA organization, and the field of international education.  NAFSA is the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange and Region VI is comprised of international education professionals living and working in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
 
Nominated by Cami Thompson, CWRU’s International Student and Scholar Liaison, Autumn was recommended for always “going above and beyond in the Office of Education Abroad.” In addition to advising students on study abroad options, Autumn also is actively involved in campus leadership development as well as expanding the office’s outreach; including representing the Center for International Affairs at over 30 fairs, orientations, presentations, and panels.  Additionally, she was selected to present to her colleagues and peers at both the 2013 and 2014 Regional NAFSA Conferences held in Indiana and Kentucky.   
           
We congratulate Autumn on being recognized for her excellent professionalism and are delighted to have Region VI’s Outstanding Professional right here on our very own CWRU campus.