HOT ROCKS
ASU geophysicists detect molten rock layer deep below American Southwest

A sheet of molten rock roughly 10 miles thick spread underneath much of the American Southwest, some 250 miles below Tucson. From the surface, you can't see it, smell it or feel it.

But Arizona geophysicists Daniel Toffelmier and James Tyburczy detected the molten layer with a comparatively new and overlooked technique for exploring deep within Earth that uses magnetic eruptions on the sun.

Toffelmier, a hydrogeologist with Hargis + Associates Inc. in Mesa, graduated from ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration in 2005 with a master's degree in geological sciences. Tyburczy, a professor of geoscience in the school, was Toffelmier's thesis adviser. Their findings, which grew out of Toffelmier's thesis, were presented in the June 21 issue of the scientific journal Nature.

"We had two goals in this research," Tyburczy says. "We wanted to test a hypothesis about what happens to rock in Earth's mantle when it rises to a particular depth - and we also wanted to test a computer modeling technique for studying the deep Earth.

"Finding that sheet of melt-rock tells us we we're on the right track."

Geophysicists often study the planet's structure using earthquake waves, which are good at detecting changes in rock density. For example, seismic waves show that Earth's density abruptly alters at particular depths. The biggest change, or discontinuity, comes at the core-mantle boundary, about 1,800 miles deep. Another lies at a depth of 410 miles, while the third most-prominent discontinuity occurs 250 miles down.

Toffelmier and Tyburczy used electromagnetic field data collected by others for five regions of Earth: the American Southwest, northern Canada, the French Alps, a regionally averaged Europe and the northern Pacific Ocean. Only these few data sets contained information gathered over a long-enough period to be useful in the computer modeling.

AS Toffelmier and Tyburczy worked, they found that only the data for the southwestern United States showed signs of a water-bearing melt layer at the 250-mile depth.

The extent of the melt sheet is unknown, however, because the data set is limited in area. There's little chance that any molten rock from it would erupt at the surface, the researchers say.

Much research in this area remains to obtain a better picture of what is going on deep beneath the surface in Arizona and elsewhere.

"We've seen only the tip of the iceberg." Toffelmier says.

CURTISS NAMED "RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR"
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Roy Curtiss of ASU's Biodesign Institute, was named "Bioscience Researcher of the Year" at the third annual Excellence in Bioscience Awards Dinner, held recently and sponsored by the Arizona BioIndustry Association.

Curtiss is a leader in exploring the genetic basis by which bacteria colonize, invade and induce disease. He is director of the Biodesign Institute's Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology. He is also a professor in ASU's School of Life Sciences and is a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

One of his major projects is development of a vaccine against bacterial pneumonia. Curtiss and his global team are working to perfect a safe, yet potent vaccine for the disease that can be tolerated even by newborn babies - and administered as a one-dose solution in a simple eyedropper.

STRIKING BACK (back to top)
Grant strengthens reach of Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety

Crime is down significantly in today's society from where it was 10 to 20 years ago, says Charles Katz, ASU associate professor of criminology. But for those who have crime and violence in their neighborhoods, a climate of fear exists that can hurt families and destroy opportunity.

The largest single private gift in the 22-year history of ASU's West campus has been awarded to the two-year-old Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety, to help reduce crime and violence in Arizona neighborhoods. A $3 million endowment from the Mike and Cindy Watts family will endow the directorship and allow the center to work collaboratively with local agencies.

At the Watts' request, the first initiative will be to examine crime in the Mary vale section of Phoenix, their home community, says Katz, interim director of the center.

"In some areas of Maryvale there's a high gang presence, more firearm violence, and a large number of prisoners who have been released there," says Katz. "Within any marginalized community, there's some social disorganization. What we can do is call attention to the issues and needs, and to partner with the community so it can better leverage its existing resources."

Since its inception in 2005, the center has tackled several projects including examining sex offender clusters, evaluating the success of special courts, and gathering data on drug use, guns and gangs.

In a survey project of all persons arrested and brought to the county jail, for instance, nearly half tested positive for methamphetamines. Meth use is increasing, starting in the western part of the United STates and moving eastward, Katz says.

Arizona has a high property crime rate, driven by larceny and auto theft, in which the state leads the nation. Katz says many cars are stolen from malls, by unsupervised youths.

Despite the findings, "I would argue that our society is much better today than it ever has been," says Katz. "Crime is down, and we have intricate systems in our schools and our government to help people who are victims of crime."

The center works with police agencies throughout the Valley to help them be more effective in their responses to crime and delinquency, to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system, and to develop responses that are equitable. Because of a needs assessment by the center, 10 valley police departments soon will begin to share information, saving manpower and time.

JANE PAULEY NAMED 2007 CRONKITE AWARD WINNER (back to top)

Jane Pauley, the long-time popular anchor of NBC's "Today" show and founding co-host of "Dateline NBC," will be this year's recipient of the Walter Aconite award for Excellence in Journalism. Pauley will receive the award, given annually by ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, at a luncheon ceremony Nov. 12 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.

She is the 25th recipient of the award. Past winners include television executive Ted Turner; publishers Katharine Graham, Otia Chandler and Malcolm Forbes; TV journalists Tom Brokaw, Bill Moyers and Bernard Shaw; and newspaper journalists Bob Woodward, Helen Thomas and George Will.

"What an honor to receive an award that bears the name Walter Cronkite," Pauley said. "When I was just starting out in broadcast journalism, that name - more than any other - was synonymous with a passion for the truth, authoritative reporting and bedrock integrity. It still is."

HYND TO LEAD EDUCATION EFFORTS (back to top)

George W. Hynd, dean of the College of Education and professor of educational studies and psychological sciences at Purdue University, was named senior vice provost for education and innovation and dean of the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education at ASU in June. He also will be a Foundation Professor.

Hynd will assume his official duties Jan. 1, 2008. He will be visiting campus this fall on a regular basis.

Hynd will coordinate the ASU Team of education deans from all campuses. The team includes Mari Koerner, dean of the College of Teacher Education and Leadership at the West campus, who also has been appointed director of University Teacher Preparation, and the dean of the School of Educational Innovation and Teacher Preparation at the Polytechnic campus. All deans of education at ASU Will have responsibilities across the entire university.