This year, 12 IRIS interns will be presenting their research at the 2009 American Geophysical Union - Fall Meeting. This meeting, held in San Francisco, CA each December, is expected to draw a crowd of over 16,000 geophysicists from around the world. The Fall Meeting provides an opportunity for researchers, teachers, students, and consultants to present and review the latest issues affecting the Earth, the planets, and their environments in space. The opportunity for students to present their research results, meet peers and become part of the community of scientists continues to be a powerful component of the IRIS REU program. Whether you are looking for potential graduate students or are share an interest in a particular area of research, we encourage IRIS community members to stop by the posters and presentations of our interns.

Download the 2009 IRIS Intern presentation schedule for the Fall 2009 AGU

Mollie Pettit, a duel mathematics and geology major in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University and 2008 IRIS Internship Alumni has recently been awarded with the prestigious American Geological Institute (AGI)/American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) fall semester internship in Geoscience Public Policy in Washington, D.C.

Through this internship, Pettit will actively work with Congress and federal agencies to promote sound public policy in areas that affect geoscientists, including water, energy, mineral resources, geologic hazards, environmental protection, and federal funding for geoscience research and education. Interns will gain a first-hand understanding of the legislative process and the operation of executive branch agencies.