Hello from 309 Lathrop. Semesters seem to go by quicker and quicker every year; we are already covering interference figures and indicatrices in Mineralogy lab, and the lab practical is only about a month away. (Just thought I would stir up some fond old memories.) Over the past year, in addition to my usual geology labs, I have gotten involved with the Environment Studies program. I taught ENST 200 labs during the spring term alongside Randy Fuller from the biology department who taught the lecture portion of the course. It was interesting to hear a biologist's slant on topics such as water chemistry, with the emphasis placed on organic influences rather than on the weathering of geologic materials. Besides my job related teachings this past year I have devoted a significant amount of time to outreach activities, running a number of science workshops for local elementary and high school teachers and students on topics such as rocks, minerals and fossils, water chemistry, soils, optical mineralogy and x-ray diffraction. During the summer I also began an extensive update of the geology web pages (departments.colgate.edu/geology). In addition to a new look, the pages now have several new informational links such as a clickable map of research locations around the globe, a photo gallery, and pages describing our facilities. Work is still in progress, but check out the changes if you get a chance.

      Outside of Colgate, one great experience I had this past summer was a two-week trip to visit my friend, Sally Rothwell ('84) in Alaska. Some of the highlights included sea kayaking in Prince William Sound, a three-day canoe trip around the Nancy Lakes Recreation Area, hiking along a medial moraine overlooking Worthington Glacier, and paragliding off a mountain in Girdwood.