Cave and Karst News
Once a month the NCKRI News is sent out via our mailing list and social media. In this newsletter we share about NCKRI initiatives, upcoming events, funding deadlines, professional opportunities, plus other cave and karst news. If you would like to join our mailing list feel free to sign up! If you have any news you wish to share or have added to the calendar please email us at .
NCKRI News: Monthly Cave and Karst Updates
December 2024
NCKRI shares strategic plan, vision, mission and core values. Also included are the 2023-2029 goals.
November 2024
NCKRI’s Headquarters was visited in early October by staff members of the NPS Geologic Resources Division (GRD), New Mexico Tech and City of Carlsbad. During these days, NCKRI staff met with Dr. Stephanie Gaswirth, NPS Geologic Resources Division Lead, Mr. Jason Kenworthy, NPS Geologic Resources Division and Mr. Carlos Romero, NMT Associate Vice President – Office of Research to talk about NCKRI’s mission and objectives for the following year.
October 2024
NCKRI recaps their participation in the Geological Society of America’s annual conference, GSA Connects. Shares about outreach events at NCKRI headquarters and students in the geomicrobiology class visit Jemez Springs and Valles Caldera National Preserve.
September 2024
Three new student have started in the Jones Geobiology Lab in August. Anika Baloun as a Master’s student in Biology, Evan Bowen as a Master’s student in Geology and Luc Carbonneau as an undergraduate researcher majoring in Physics and Earth Science.
August 2024
Dr. Dan Jones had a successful field season at Frasassi Cave System, with graduate students Laura Rodriguez and Mackenzie Best. They were also joined by Dr. Matt Covington of the University of Arkansas. NCKRI also had a presence at the National Speleological Society convention in Tennessee by organizing the Decon Station and presenting at the conference. Graduate student, Zoë Havlena, successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation.
July 2024
NCKRI presented at the White-nosed Syndrome Symposium, organized or participated in multiple Cave Week events, and is looking for your feedback about Cave Week.
June 2024
Several students from Academic Director, Dr. Dan Jones’s lab graduated. Devra Willingham assisted Dr. Jones with NMT graduate students Joe Hoberg and Autumn Weber in a NASA funded planetary protect research project at Carlsbad Caverns. NCKRI staff participated in other trainings and conferences.
May 2024
NCKRI presented in the New Mexico Geological Society, along with NCKRI supported students from New Mexico Tech. NCKRI was well represented at the Rocky Mountain Geobiology Symposium hosted by New Mexico Tech.
April Special Edition 2024
NCKRI announces the appointment of a new direction, Dr. Benjamin Tobin.
March 2024
NMT BIOL 3043 undergraduate and graduate students visited Lincoln National Forest and Carlsbad Caverns National Park to investigate microbial communities in cave systems.
February 2024
NCKRI Seed Grant and Scholar Fellowship Program is receiving submission, reminders for upcoming deadline such as the Rocky Mountain Geobiology Symposium being held at New Mexico Tech and Cave Week is moving to NCKRI.
January 2024
Graduate student update with Zoë Havlena returning from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. ASTM Karst Subcommittee publishes their first standard. NMT students have articles published online via Sciworthy.
2023 News
December 2023
Employee spotlight of Karst Hydrologist Lewis Land, in honor of his retirement. Updates from New Mexico Tech Cave and Karst Studies Program: Carol Hill presenting as part of the NCKRI Seminar Series and Intro to Cave Geology class field trip to El Malpais National Monument.
November 2023
The November issue looks back on multiple outreach events that occurred in October; Geological Society of America, Annual Solar Eclipse Watch and the New Mexico Geological Society’s Fall Field Conference.
October 2023
NCKRI was visited by National Park Service Geologic Resources Division (GRD), the NASA Goddard Instrument Field Team (GIFT) and assisted with the Southwestern Region of the National Speleological Society (NSS) Fall Regional. Plus an update from the Cave & Karst Studies Program and a recap of Better Together Clean-Up in celebration of National Public Lands Day.
September 2023
Update on the Cave & Karst Studies Program, information on the NCKRI Director Search and restoration of Valles Caldera’s Sulfur Springs. Plus upcoming events and announcements.
August 2023
Interactive Museum Exhibit video of a karst model illustrating seismic signals through cave waters and a farewell to 4 Scientist in Parks Summer Interns. Plus, introduction of NCKRI’s Interim Director, Valerie Davis and a spotlight on NCKRI’s Science Communication Intern Raquel Lugo.
July 2023
Introduction to Valles Caldera and Capulin Scientist in Parks Summer Interns. Looking back at the National Speleological Society’s 2023 Convention in Elkins, West Virginia, with decontamination educational resources.
June 2023
Cave Night at NCKRI headquarters, STEM night at Southeast New Mexico College, and reconnaissance geo microbial study at Capulin Volcano. Plus Cave Week and other educational resources.
May 2023
Recap of the 2023 Sinkhole Conference in Tampa, Florida, Earth Day Karst Clean-Ups, Science Café, STEAM Night, NMT Student Research Symposium, Rocky Mountain Geobiology Symposium, New Mexico Geological Society Spring Meeting and up coming announcements.
April 2023
NCKRI participates in two cave and karst clean-ups in celebration of Earth Day. Guest Scientist Dr. Jure Tičar and Dr. Matija Zorn from Anton Melik Geographical Institute present at NCKRI headquarters.