Abstract & Bio.

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Date: Tuesday (note day change for this lecture), January 24, 2023

Topic: Cenozoic flat slab subduction processes and the tectonic development of southern Alaska and Geoscience engagement with Native American and Alaska Native students and their communities

Speaker: Ken Ridgway, Purdue University, Indiana
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Abstract:
During the last two decades there has been a focus of integrated research by many geoscientists on the collision and subduction of the Yakutat microplate/terrane in southern Alaska. These studies build on the pioneering work of USGS geologists George Plafker, Don Miller, Don Richter, and others. In this talk, I will focus mainly on the sedimentary record of Cenozoic flat slab subduction processes in southern Alaska.  We will first discuss the sedimentary strata that were deposited directly on the Yakutat oceanic plateau. These strata have been incorporated into the upper plate of the southern Alaska convergent margin along the collisional zone.  The lower plate strata archive the record of initial collision, tectonic transport, and subduction of the oceanic plateau along the Cordilleran margin. I will also briefly discuss our ongoing work using data collected from the lower plate strata during the 2022 field season.  We will then examine the sedimentary response to flat slab subduction on the upper plate of this convergent margin.  The second part of the talk will focus on lessons learned (and still learning) at Purdue University on building an academic environment that allows Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students to successfully pursue STEM graduate research. The geosciences remain the least diverse of all the STEM disciplines. I find this unfortunate since the geoscience and Native communities have much to offer each other in our efforts to understand Earth processes.
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Speaker Bio:  
Ken Ridgway has been a faculty member in the Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University since 1992. Much of his research is related to understanding the sedimentary record of tectonic processes that occur along convergent plate boundaries.    Ridgway is the co-PI of the Sloan Indigenous Program at Purdue University. This program has graduated over fifty Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian graduate students in STEM disciplines since 2007.  Ridgway is a GSA Fellow and is the recipient of the GSA Bromery Award and the Purdue Dreamer Award.  The Dreamer award is given annually to an individual or organization within the Purdue community whose contributions embody Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of service to others and furthers the university's commitment to diversity

In-Person or Virtual Meeting Online

TIME: Virtual doors open at 11:30 am (Alaska Time), Announcements start at 11:45, Talk is 12 - 1 pm

LOCATION for In-Person: Birch Room, Energy Center​, 1014 Energy Court, Anchorage

LOCATION for Online: Your home or office.

COST: Free. Bring your lunch to the lecture or your computer.

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