Thursday, February 4, 1999
Interdisciplinary institute hosts seminar series
LECTURES: Presentations enable academic discussion for advanced
world research
By Angela Sveda
Daily Bruin Contributor
While Slichter Hall is home to a variety of discussions ranging
from earthquakes to asteroids, the Institute of Geophysics and
Planetary Physics kicked off its seminar series Tuesday with
"Controlling El Nino’s Chaos" by Eli Tziperman from the Weizmann
Institute of Sciences in Israel.
The audience in the crowded lecture hall was composed of
professors, researchers and students from various earth and space
science disciplines, some of whom raised opposition to the notion
of controlling the weather.
Through a series of mathematical equations and
computer-generated models, Tziperman postulated that the "chaos" of
El Nino can be controlled. The model went into the El Nino-La Nina
cycle and then became chaotic again, revealing a pattern to the
chaos. El Nino is a natural phenomenon created when the wind warms
the ocean.
This lecture series is one of the main ways to let researchers
within the department keep up to date with the latest information.
Often, by the time such information is published, it is already out
of date, said David Neelin, a professor of atmospheric
sciences.
The lecture was the first in a series of weekly lectures that
occur every Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The seminar series has been well-established for many years. To
create the lecture series for a quarter begins months in advance,
said Alan Rubin, a research geochemist.
Lecturers come from around the world to speak and represent many
different disciplines, including planetary and space physics,
paleontology and atmospheric sciences.
"We try to get a mix of local people, people from around the
country and world to give us talks," said Rubin, who is currently
serving his second two-year term as chair of the seminar
committee.
Founded in 1946, the institute offers this lecture series as
part of a multi-campus research unit now located at UC Riverside
and UC San Diego.
Originally focusing on the application of chemistry and physics
to earth sciences, the institute now encompasses other areas such
as paleontology, microbiology, computing and global change studies
in an effort to better understand the Earth’s dynamics and its
space environment.
"It is an interdisciplinary institute," said Keith Olwin, chief
administrative officer.
Faculty members who are jointly appointed to the institute focus
their efforts on research rather than teaching.
"The institute exists as an umbrella to free up faculty to allow
them to concentrate on research," said Rubin.
Groups currently active with the institute include the Center
for Earth System Research, the Center for the Study of the
Evolution and Origin of Life, the Center for Planetary Chemistry
and Physics and the Space Sciences Center.
The lecture series brings all of these disciplines together
within the institute.
"The function of the lecture series is not to just give
presentations, but to get different people to be aware and
cooperate," said Rubin.
Future lectures for the month of February will cover topics such
as geological technology, the emergence of life on Earth and the
"fluffiness" of asteroids.
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