Colgate Geology Students Uncover History of Augustine Volcano tmfonda@colgate.edu Wed, 09/25/2024 - 13:19 This past summer, Colgate geology students Ryan D’Errico ’25, Rylie Berwanger ’26, and Sam Ash ’27 embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime research trip to gather samples from Augustine Volcano in southern Alaska. Led by Senior Lecturer in Earth and Environmental Geosciences Alison Koleszar, they returned with new insights to an enduring question: Is Augustine more explosive than previously thought? Koleszar, who graduated as a member of the Colgate Class of 2004, now holds research interests in geologic hazards and the eruptive styles of volcanoes. “Augustine, specifically, has a history of big eruptions that generate tsunamis up through the Cook Inlet into the population centers through south central Alaska,” she explains. “When it erupts, it throws a lot of ash into the air,” disrupting airline travel between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.  In 2022, following the approval of a proposal to the National Science Foundation, Koleszar took her first group of students to Augustine, alongside scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), to gather samples and assess geologic evidence of its eruptive behavior. “Research works best when it is a collaborative process, which extends beyond fieldwork to the lab work, publications, and many discussions that follow,” says Jessie Farrell ’24, a student who attended the 2022 trip and presented their findings at the Geological Society of America (GSA) conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. “One of the major questions guiding our research was, ‘What mechanisms feed into why Augustine has had such drastic differences in eruption intensity over time?’”   In the modern era, Augustine has had relatively small eruptions, but just a few hundred years ago, the volcano had much larger, more explosive eruptions. By collecting on-site samples of deposits of ash and pumice on Augustine, Koleszar and her students were able to gauge the explosivity of previous eruptions based on factors including grain size, componentry, and geochemistry.  To reach their sampling sites, students on the 2022 trip shuttled around the volcano by helicopter. But in 2024, in the absence of this equipment, the trip looked a little different: Students hiked around the flanks of Augustine, weathering the elements to reach the site.  “Augustine is located on an uninhabited island, so we had to make our own way,” says D’Errico , an attendee of the 2024 trip who also serves as co-president of Colgate’s Hiking Club. On their 8-mile hike to the site, students waded knee-deep, ice-cold waters — a “treacherous but exhilarating” experience — sometimes encountering fields of flowers and local wildlife.  “I've never seen so many bald eagles before,” says D’Errico, who also encountered foxes and seals on his way to the sampling site. Captivated by the trip itself and the later research process, D’Errico will explore the subject in his senior thesis project, to develop throughout the academic year. Of his particular interest is how, by revisiting Augustine, Colgate students were able to identify an exciting new detail about its eruptive history: “One of the deposits of tephra we studied had previously been described in the literature as Tephra C, but, what the Colgate students have found working on that site for a couple of years is that we’re pretty confident that it’s actually not Tephra C — it’s actually Tephra M,” explains Koleszar. “Since we found pieces of pumice larger than previously reported, this suggests the eruption is bigger than previously thought, and also more recent,” she concludes, since volcanologists determine the size of an eruption by the thickness of the deposit.  This research not only aims to predict and mitigate risks associated with future eruptions, but also to familiarize curious students with a specialized field of geology.  “Experiences like this are one of the best parts of studying science here at Colgate,” says Koleszar. “It’s wonderful that we get to do this type of research with undergrads and have opportunities to go places like this.”Academics Natural Sciences and Mathematics Research Alumni Student Profiles News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student geology Jessica Zehner ’23 observes a rainbow arching over Augustine Volcano during a geologic research trip to Southern Alaska.

Colgate University Ranks Fourth in 2024 Sustainable Campus Index sliddell@colgate.edu Thu, 09/19/2024 - 08:29 Colgate University has been recognized as a top performer in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index, securing the fourth position among baccalaureate institutions and retaining its gold status. The index, published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), acknowledges institutions’ sustainability efforts, as measured through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). STARS assesses environmental, social, and economic sustainability across the higher education landscape. Ratings range from bronze to platinum. Colgate’s journey toward excellence in sustainability among baccalaureate institutions has been marked by consistent improvements — work that, in 2019, led Colgate to become the first higher education institute in New York State to achieve carbon neutrality.  Key accomplishments along this journey include the construction of LEED-certified buildings: two LEED Gold buildings (Burke and Jane Pinchin halls) and one LEED Platinum building (Benton Hall). Benton Hall’s sustainable design in particular has earned it numerous accolades, including New York State’s Green Building of the Year award in 2019. Colgate continues its commitment to sustainability with the construction of Bernstein Hall in Middle Campus, set to become the university’s seventh LEED-certified building. Key features include geothermal heating and cooling, which significantly lowers energy consumption, and an advanced rainwater management system that captures and reuses 90% of the rainwater on-site. The building is also designed to use 30% less energy than traditional buildings, with enhanced systems commissioning to ensure maximum efficiency. Additionally, 78% of the construction waste was diverted from landfills, and the use of low-VOC materials promotes superior indoor air quality. Through the Third-Century Sustainability Plan, Colgate has made significant strides campuswide in reducing its carbon footprint by implementing low-carbon energy technologies, retiring fuel oil heating systems, upgrading lighting, and conducting HVAC repairs. These efforts have collectively contributed to a more than 70% reduction in Colgate’s campus carbon footprint since 2009. Colgate has also integrated sustainability into its academic offerings, with more than 100 sustainability-focused and sustainability-related courses across 22 academic departments. Colgate’s sustainability intern program, Sustainability Passport program, Green Bikes program, and other green initiatives further bolster its high STARS rating. “The University’s STARS rating is a powerful testament to the collective efforts of our entire Colgate community to embrace sustainability as a core value,” stated John Pumilio, associate provost for sustainability. “Being recognized again by STARS validates our ongoing work and inspires us to push further, knowing that our efforts make a meaningful difference.” In addition to providing recognition, the AASHE STARS data collection process engages staff, interns, and members of the Sustainability Council throughout the campus community.  “Our students are at the heart of our sustainability efforts,” explained Julia Sparks, assistant director of sustainability. “They lead initiatives, conduct research projects, manage the Green Bikes program and Free Store, and are active in sustainability-focused clubs and internships. They also run the S-Reps programs, care for our half-acre organic garden, teach Climate Conversations, and contribute to the Sustainability Newsletter.” This engagement from the entire Colgate community ensures that sustainability remains a top priority in daily operations and decision-making. Moreover, STARS offers a comprehensive analysis of Colgate’s sustainability program, allowing the University to identify both its strengths and areas for further improvement. As Colgate continues to advance its sustainability initiatives, Pumilio reiterated the importance of community involvement, saying, “We are incredibly proud of this achievement, but we also recognize that sustainability is an ongoing journey. There is always more we can do, and we need the support of every member of our community to keep progressing.” Looking ahead, Colgate will continue to build upon the sustainable practices it has already established and prepare for its next STARS submission in fall 2025. “Together, we can build on this momentum and create a more sustainable future for Colgate and beyond,” said Pumilio. For more information about Colgate University’s sustainability efforts and AASHE STARS ranking, please visit the STARS website.Third Century Faculty & Staff Student sustainability

Prof. Joe Levy and Students Deploy Drones for NASA Research Collaboration oaquije Tue, 09/17/2024 - 08:44 If there are places on Earth that resemble the conditions of Mars, Joe Levy wants to know. Levy, an associate professor in Colgate’s Department of Earth and Environmental Geosciences, has spent years studying such locations as part of his work to determine where on Mars water and ice might be present.  Now, Levy’s research has caught the attention of NASA. Levy and two of his students — Riley Taylor ’26 and Flannery Hogan ’26 — spent a week during the summer in the Alvord Desert in Eastern Oregon with a NASA team that’s designing a new generation of Mars helicopters with sensors to examine moisture in soil. Together, the groups worked on a NASA-PSTAR (Planetary Science and Technology from Analog Research) project called “HeliHabitable.” The collaboration involved using Levy’s research drones, which have been tested in Antarctica and are equipped with cameras and sensors that measure different wavelengths of light, to study wet soil. By analyzing the moisture in the ground of a desert in extreme summer heat using drones rather than the naked eye, researchers wanted to perform their study in the same manner that scientists would use when examining the surface of Mars. “My two summer students and I were working to figure out how detectable the muddy groundwater plume was from a helicopter-borne sensor and how the detectability of the water changed throughout the day as the water dried up in the desert sun,” Levy said. “If we could find the water with a hyperspectral camera on Earth, this would give the Mars helicopter team confidence that they could use the same approach on Mars.” The Colgate study began a few years ago with research by Levy and Jessica Johnson ’22, who together published their findings. That report caught the attention of NASA researchers, who contacted Levy about joining him at the desert study site. The NASA team heard about the Colgate study in the Alvord Desert from one of its scientists, who knew Levy from their days as grad school students. NASA contacted Levy about joining him at the desert study site.  The Alvord Desert, which looks like something out of a science fiction movie, is famous for its picturesque landscape and hot springs that pour out of valley walls and disappear onto the dry lakebed. The hot springs look similar to landforms on Mars called Recurring Slope Lineae, Levy said. So far, the project has been a success. “We’re off to a great start,” Levy said. “Even though the field conditions were intense — it got up to 108 degrees on the desert floor and strong winds would blow through every afternoon. But we worked early in the day and got in lots of flights with the Colgate drones.” Levy and his students will return to the Alvord Desert the next two summers to continue their work. The NASA researchers plan to test their prototype for the new helicopter in the desert, although the project is still years away from being used in a real mission. The project has been a fulfilling experience for Levy’s students. They have learned how to prepare a drone and swap out parts that need to be replaced. They can manage missions in the desert and assess the data, he said. In addition, Taylor and Hogan are preparing a report on their findings and will present it at this winter’s Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston. “It’s exciting to have student scientists working on NASA-funded research,” Levy said. “This is a chance to get right up to the cutting edge of mission design and to be part of a mission before it ever even lifts off. I hope my students get a sense of the teamwork that’s needed to get a mission off the ground—from inspiration to testing to actually getting a rover on a rocket.  “I also hope they walk away excited about doing fieldwork. It’s very unlikely that I’m ever going to set foot on Mars, but by visiting the most Mars-like places on Earth, I can still be part of advancing Mars exploration while also figuring out how our home planet works.”Academics Natural Sciences and Mathematics Faculty News Research Faculty & Staff Student

Brazile and Steele Launch 2024 Road to White House Series mcwalden@colgate.edu Wed, 09/11/2024 - 09:54 Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele kicked off Colgate’s Road to the White House series on Sept. 4. The Q&A session in Memorial Chapel, moderated by President Brian W. Casey, gave audience members a look at the election process, the 2024 presidential campaign, and the challenges facing America — all from the perspective of political party leadership. On replacing the nominee Brazile reminded the audience that, when the rest of the Democratic Party fled President Joe Biden’s side following his debate with Donald Trump on June 27, Vice President Kamala Harris was the only one publicly supporting the president’s campaign. Why? “[Biden’s delegates] represented 14 million Americans who voted in the primary,” she says. “Number two, the president had amended his [Federal Election Commission] reports to say Biden/Harris.” This is a highly unusual practice — presidential and vice-presidential candidates typically hold separate accounts. It was a strong signal that Biden was hearing rumblings within his own party against his second-term candidacy as far back as September 2023, the point at which he made the changes. Very few took notice. “I just wish these conversations had been taken seriously in my party,” Steele says. “It would be a different race today if you had Nikki Haley at the top of the ticket versus Donald Trump.” Who’s at the party? Nearly half of Americans are not affiliated with a political party, and Trump has made a particular kind of headway by pulling from the margins. “This is not a red or blue thing,” Steele says. “This is an American thing. This is how Americans are viewing themselves. There are far more people on the outskirts of hope that we walk by politically, that we ignore politically.” According to survey data, those voters are typified by the white, female, suburban mom of two, divorced and living in New Hampshire, who, when asked why she likes Donald Trump, responds, “Because he is just like me.” And that voter is not abandoning Trump, because, as far as she is concerned, he has done what he said he would do, Steele says. Of course, candidate Trump cannot necessarily be held to what he says on the stump. In a second Trump administration, “there will be an effort made to put in place a national ban on abortion, regardless of what anyone thinks or says,” Steele says. “What you’re seeing Trump do now — he’s testing some things to see how you’re going to react to it.” Rocking the vote Brazile and Steele lead the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Election Legitimacy Initiative. They use public education campaigns to help voters understand their rights, identify misinformation, register to vote and cast ballots, and make sure votes are accurately counted. The former party chairs made their case to the Colgate community from the chapel stage: We the people have the power. Don’t give it to the political parties.  “There are forces that are making it harder to register to vote,” Brazile says. “If you give the politicians and the parties power, they will use it against you.” Brazile continued to explain that the primary process is not in the constitution and can be changed to widen the field of candidates. Furthermore, Kamala Harris’ candidacy has proven that a president can be selected in three months and a two-year campaign cycle is unnecessary. The country could adopt ranked voting. Election Day could be in spring rather than the dreary end of fall. It could be a national holiday. The ability to make these choices was given to the people by the founding fathers, who feared entrenched factionalism. Steele suggested that the audience simply Google “Georgia voting” if they needed proof of the processes in play. “What is more galling to me is listening to and watching elected officials within my party target largely communities of color while, at the same time, they say, ‘Oh, we are the greatest party for black people.’ When I see what you did in Detroit, Atlanta, and Philadelphia in the last cycle, don’t hand me that. And you shouldn’t take it.” A call to the next generation Steele and Brazile spoke directly to the students in the audience, calling on them to bring the power of their numbers to the ballot box and to be engaged citizens. “It is hard to say someone cheated when that number is big,” Steele says. “Our system is designed in an ironic and interesting way. It is hard to cheat the system. It has reinforced itself against fraud.” Brazile remembered her own days as an activist, fighting alongside other college students to end South African apartheid and to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday. These advances took place during the conservative Reagan administration because, according to Brazile, the young people of America were galvanized and organized and the two political parties had strong relationships across the aisle. “You have to understand the process, and then you have to work within it, and you can put pressure on it to make things happen,” Brazile says.  And that all starts now, with an election that is 60 days away. In spite of the party politics, voter suppression, and vitriol, “it’s still about us — it’s still about our hope and dreams,” Brazile says. “This is not Donald Trump’s country; it’s our country. This is not Kamala’s country; it’s our country. We have to take ownership of our citizenship and we have to learn how to believe in each other.” The Road to the White House, Colgate’s 2024 Lecture Series, is presented by the Office of the President and Lampert Institute for Civic and Global Affairs. Read more.The Road to the White House: Colgate’s 2024 Election Series Centers and Institutes Campus Life News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff Student Lampert Institute Left to right: President Brian W. Casey, former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile, and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele (Photo by Ryan John Lee)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Ari Bezanson scored her team leading eighth goal just four minutes into the match as the Raiders defeated Navy 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Annapolis, Md.

HAMILTON — Colgate bounced back from a slow start to win the final three sets and knock off American 3-1 on Friday night at Cotterell Court in the first meeting between the two teams since last year's Patriot League championship.

ERIE, Pa.  — Head women's hockey coach Stefan Decosse earned his first win as the Raiders' bench boss on Friday night, defeating a stingy Mercyhurst squad, 3-2, on the road. A trio of sophomore forwards in Emma Pais, Madeline Palumbo and Kaia Malachino contributed goals in the win, while senior netminder Hannah Murphy made 23 saves between the pipes.

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