Cluster scientist spotlight!
Julianne Liu DustKids Outreach Coordinator, Salt Lake Community College
Why did you become a scientist?
"Being able to talk about science with people from all ages and backgrounds brings the research that scientists are doing in the field or lab to everyone’s everyday experiences, which is what led me to pursue and enjoy doing outreach!"
More scientist spotlights: https://bit.ly/4huMS0U
Dust Cluster co-PI @jmunroe presents about our video series The Collectors Tour during the August 2025 All Hands meeting for the Critical Zone Collaborative Network.
Watch the Tour on YouTube: https://bit.ly/CollectorsTourPlaylist
On this #FieldworkFriday here's a look at a Dust^2 team as they near the end of a day in the field.
Take a deeper trip into the field with Cluster member Jeff Munroe in our video series called The Collectors Tour: https://bit.ly/CollectorsTourPlaylist
Global impact of Cluster research. Work by members of the Dust^2 team is cited in this newly published article.
"This study investigates the pollution status and spatial distribution of heavy metals in road dust from Multan, a heavily industrialized city in southern Punjab, Pakistan."
Cluster scientist spotlight!
Maura Hahnenberger Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Salt Lake Community College
Why did you become a scientist?
"While watching TV one day, I saw a TV meteorologist. I thought, what a perfect job! But, once I learned more about about being on TV, I decided that teaching and research were more in line with my interests."
Read Maura's work: https://bit.ly/45uiv7z
More scientist spotlights: https://bit.ly/4huMS0U
Work by Middlebury-based Cluster member @jmunroe is cited in this article recently published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
"Alpine treelines and shrublines are highly sensitive to environmental change. In this Review, we summarize their global patterns and trends, underlying mechanisms and impacts."
Alpine treelines and shrublines are advancing to higher elevations in the context of warming. This Review synthesizes global trends in ecotone dynamics, explores the underlying drivers and mechanisms, and considers the consequences to alpine regions.
Outtake of footage collected during the fall 2024 field season highlighted in the Collectors tour.
Watch our complete series here: https://bit.ly/CollectorsTourPlaylist
Cluster scientist spotlight!
Dayvon Woodard Undergraduate Student, Geological Sciences, Western Kentucky University
Why did you become a scientist?
"Through my hands on experience on my college campus and at Brigham Young University I gained the knowledge needed to consider myself a scientist that will mold the world for the better."
More about Dayvon: https://bit.ly/4fgQB2f
Complete collection of scientist spotlights: https://bit.ly/4huMS0U
Go into the field! This video series introduces you to the why, where, and who of Dust^2 fieldwork: https://bit.ly/CollectorsTourPlaylist
It's #AGU25 abstract submissions season! Here's some great Critical Zone-themed sessions for you to submit to and support:
H026 – Advancing Critical Zone Science Across Sites, Scales, and Systems
H046 – Catchment and Critical Zone Science: Understanding Ecosystems through Monitoring, Analysis, and Experimentation
H055 – Critical Zone Response and Resilience to Wildfires
H072 – Frontiers in Water Quality
Deadline to submit is July 30: https://bit.ly/AGU25_Submissions
Cluster scientist spotlight!
Kerry Kelly, PhD Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Utah
What advice do you have for students interested in science?
"It is never too late. I took a non-traditional path to my PhD, and I think the somewhat random skills I developed along the way helped me."
Read some of Kerry's collaborative work: https://bit.ly/4dFIpYB
More scientist spotlights: https://bit.ly/4huMS0U