The Space Center launched its graduate degree program with five students in 2005 on the Fayetteville campus.  This fall, the program has grown to include 22 students, including five beginning classes this month.  They are listed below.

	Ben Davis Pittsburgh State University BS - Math and Physics
	Patrica Gavin Florida Institute of Technology BS - Space Science
	Jennifer Hanley Cornell University BS - Science of Earth Systems
	Kelly Howe SUNY Geneseo BA - Geology
	Edgard Rivera-Valentin Alfred University BS - Physics and Math

Fang-Zhen Teng, a member of the Space Center and a faculty member in the department of Geosciences, recently informed us of two upcoming publications.

Both papers will appear in an upcoming issue of Chemical Geology. The title of the first paper is "Lithium isotopic composition and concentration of the deep continental crust." The paper discusses ways to estimate lithium isotopic composition of the deep crust by studying all kinds of high-grade metamorphic rocks. The title of the second paper is "Non-traditional fractionation of non-traditional isotopes: Evaporation, chemical diffusion and Soret effect." The paper is a review paper that discusses non-traditional ways to fractionate stable isotopes.

Julia Kennefick, a member of the Space Center and a faculty member in the department of Physics has an upcoming publication in the November issue of The Astronomical Journal. The title is "Infrared Imaging of SDSS Quasars: Implications for the Quasar K-Correction."

At the recent NASA Lunar Science Institute meeting held at NASA Ames Research Center, Derek Sears, a member of the Space Center and a faculty member in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, met up with three alumni of the University of Arkansas.

Steve Symes graduated with a Ph.D. in chemistry in 1996 and is now an associate professor at the University of Tennessee.  Julie Chittenden graduated with a Ph.D. in chemistry in 2007 and is now a research scientist at NASA Ames.  Melissa Jones was the first Ph.D. graduate from the space and planetary science program and is now in the mission design center at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech in California.  Katie Bryson, a current Space Center graduate student, was also at the meeting.

Dr. Sears presented a poster titled “Glimmerings of the Future: A Potential Role for Thermoluminescence and Related Studies in Addressing Key Current Questions in Lunar Science.”

Pictured from left: Melissa Jones, Derek Sears, Julie Chittenden

The Space Center graduate students recently completed their annual orientation trip.  The trip was led by Space Center graduate students, who also produced a related field guide for the trip.  Space Center faculty members Derek Sears and John Dixon assisted.  The trip was intended to give a broad overview of the disciplines represented in the Space Center program: biology, geology, astronomy (physics), engineering, and chemistry.  Some of the locations visited included the White Sands Missile Park and Museum, the National Solar Observatory, the Apache Point Observatory, the White Sands National Monument, the Valley of Fires Recreation area, the International UFO museum, and Palo Duro Canyon.  The students enjoyed a wonderful trip and we thank the students for their hard work and dedication!

DPS Meeting
October 10-15, 2008
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Lunar and Planetary Science Meeting
March 23-27, 2009
The Woodlands, TX