CAREER: Developing the next generation of Proterozoic paleogeographic models through integrated data development, synthesis and education

该项目将侧重于提高科学和公众对元古时期地球大陆地理的了解，这段时间跨度从大约25亿年前到5.42亿年前。过去大陆位置的重建源于构造过程，对于寻求了解地球从内部到表面环境的一段时间内如何变化的研究来说，这是核心。该项目将涉及对北非中部大陆的沉积岩和西非的火成岩的研究。该项目的数据将与一项本科生研究计划结合起来开发，该计划旨在让代表不足的第一代学生参与一个重要的STEM学科。该项目将通过开发研究产生的科学内容，促进提高公众的科学素养，这些科学内容将纳入加州大学伯克利分校劳伦斯科学厅的全球科学互动展示系统。这个展览展示了大陆随着地质时间的变化而变化的位置，每年将有25万名公众观看。这些内容还将通过显示系统向153个其他科学中心提供。与这一动态内容相结合，将在劳伦斯科学堂制定一项公共计划，阐明项目成果背后的地球科学概念，旨在面向广大受众的非正式科学教育。在首席调查员和博物馆工作人员的指导下，本科生将发表演讲。该项目将为将参与研究和外联工作的研究生提供培训机会。在每个项目年，奥克兰低收入社区的小学生将前往劳伦斯科学馆进行课堂访问和实地考察。这些旅行将利用球体上的科学内容，并在项目过程中为560名奥克兰小学生提供实践教育体验。项目研究将专注于开发和合成数据，以检验对元古界古地理和努纳和罗迪尼亚超级大陆的形态至关重要的假说。劳伦蒂亚的研究将检验一种挑衅性的假设，即格伦维利亚造山运动中的平移导致劳伦蒂亚明显极地漫游路径的格伦维尔环路部分不能代表大陆。这条明显的极地漂移路径在重建罗迪尼亚的组装和形态方面发挥了核心作用。年代地层学的约束表明，从克拉通到克拉通的路径上缺失的一环可以用古地磁数据来填充，以检验这些假说。项目研究将寻求开发关于西非克拉通元古界古地理的新制约因素；由于缺乏数据，该地区的位置鲜为人知。最近发现的元古界岩脉提供了一个机会，来测试假设的西非与亚马逊之间的长期连接，这对重建努纳、罗迪尼亚和冈瓦那群岛至关重要。通过项目研究开发的新数据将与全球数据库一起使用，以开发一个跨越元古界并与显生界重建联系起来的古地理模型。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will focus on improving scientific and public understanding of the geography of Earth's continents during the Proterozoic, a period of time that spans a range from about 2.5 billion years ago to 542 million years ago. The reconstruction of past continental positions derives from tectonic processes and is central to research that seeks to understand how the Earth has changed through time from its interior to its surface environment. The project will involve studies of sedimentary rocks from the mid-continent of North and igneous rocks from West Africa. Data from the project will be developed in conjunction with an undergraduate research program that targets the participation of underrepresented and first-generation students in an important STEM discipline. The project will contribute to increased public scientific literacy by the development of scientific content derived from the research that will be included with an interactive global Science on a Sphere display system at the University of California Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science. This display shows the changing position of the continents through geological time and will be viewed by 250,000 members of the public every year. The content will also be made available to 153 other science centers with the display system. In conjunction with this dynamic content, a public program at the Lawrence Hall of Science will be developed that illuminates the Earth science concepts behind the projects outcomes that intended for informal science education aimed at a broad audience. Undergraduate students mentored by the principal investigator and museum staff will deliver the presentations. The project will provide training opportunities for graduate students who will be involved in the research and outreach efforts. Classroom visits and field trips for elementary school students from low-income neighborhoods in Oakland will be run to the Lawrence Hall of Science in each project year. These trips will utilize the Science on a Sphere content and provide a hands-on educational experience for 560 Oakland elementary school students over the course of the project.Project research will focus on developing and synthesizing data to test hypotheses that are fundamental to Proterozoic paleogeography and the configuration of the Nuna and Rodinia supercontinents. Research in Laurentia will test a provocative hypothesis that translation within the Grenvillian orogeny results in the Grenville Loop portion of Laurentia's apparent polar wander path not being representative of the continent. This apparent polar wander path central in efforts to reconstruct the assembly and configuration of Rodinia. Chronostratigraphic constraints reveal that a missing link in the path from the craton can be filled with paleomagnetic data to test these hypotheses. Project research will seek to develop new constraints on Proterozoic paleogeography from the West African craton; the position of which is poorly known due to a lack of data. Recently dated Proterozoic dikes provide an opportunity to test a hypothesized long-lived connection of West Africa to Amazonia that is essential to reconstructing Nuna, Rodinia and the assembly of Gondwana. New data developed through project research will be used in conjunction with the global database to develop a paleogeographic model that spans the Proterozoic and links up with Phanerozoic reconstructions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.