Student support for 2019 GSA Thompson Field Forum in Grand Canyon; September 14-21, 2019

该提案为参加第17届美国地质学会汤普森田野论坛的五名学生和两名职业早期专业人士提供了支持，该论坛的主题是“大峡谷的年龄和雕刻：朝着140年的辩论解决方案”。论坛将汇集28名研究人员和科学家，在最近的进展和正在进行的辩论的背景下，讨论大峡谷年龄和切割历史的证据。目标是促进下一代关于这一主题的研究，这是科学界和普通公众都广泛感兴趣的。人们对这个看似古老的话题很感兴趣，但最近的科学进步引发了关于峡谷年龄和形成的争议和新想法，在《科学》和《自然》杂志上发表了一些备受瞩目的文章。将讨论的有争议的想法包括：1)地幔-地表水文联系的证据；2)科罗拉多高原持续的地幔驱动抬升；3)科罗拉多高原侵蚀的有争议的“靶心”；以及4)主要临界点的原因，如切割瞬变和/或不同强度的岩层。这次会议是及时的，因为社区需要第一手审查和评估证据，并制定更好的综合方法来测试这些和其他辩论。学生和早期职业专业人员(包括四名妇女)将得到这项活动的支持，他们积极参与大峡谷的研究，因此将具有知识并接受讨论的细微差别。他们还将有机会在一般性讨论中介绍他们的新工作。他们将接触到高水平的综合科学，这可能会对他们的职业生涯产生变革。与实地论坛相关的一个独特机会将是沿着科罗拉多河顺流而下穿过大峡谷的河流之旅，有机会在晚上的研讨会上讨论露头的科学问题。这项活动的社会利益包括对STEM教育和教育者发展的贡献；发展一支多样化的、具有全球竞争力的劳动力队伍；以及为扩大STEM中代表不足的群体的参与做出贡献。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。

The proposal provides support for the participation of five students and two early career professionals in the 17th Geological Society of America Thompson Field Forum on the "Age and carving of the Grand Canyon: Towards a resolution of 140 years of debate." The forum will bring together 28 researchers and scientists to discuss evidence for the age and incision history of the Grand Canyon in the context of recent advances and ongoing debates. The goal to promote the next generation of research on this subject, which is of broad interest both to the scientific community and the general public. There has been considerable interest in what seems to be like an old subject, but recent scientific advances have provoked controversy and new ideas regarding the age and formation of the canyon with high-profile publications in the journals, Science and Nature. Controversial ideas to be discussed include: 1) evidence for mantle-to surface hydrologic connections; 2) ongoing mantle-driven uplift of the Colorado Plateau; 3) the contested "bulls-eye" of erosion of the Colorado Plateau; and 4) Causes of major knickpoints as due to incision transients and/or variable strength rock layers. The conference is timely in that the community needs to examine and evaluate the evidence first hand and develop better integrated methodologies to test these and other debates. The students and early career professionals (including four women) will be supported by this activity are actively involved in Grand Canyon research and hence will be knowledgeable and receptive to the nuances of the discussions. They will also get a chance to present their new work for the general discussions. The exposure they will get to high level integrative science will be potentially transformative for their careers. A unique opportunity associated with the Field Forum will be a river trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon with opportunities to discuss scientific questions on the outcrop and at evening seminars. Society benefits from this activity include contributions to STEM education and educator development; development of a diverse, globally competitive workforce; and contributions to the broadening of participation of underrepresented groups in STEM.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.