Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Guest Post



First published in the July 2016 Earth Science Musuem Newsletter

The AZ Geological Survey’s plight garners local, state, national and even international attention and support!
By Shirley Coté

The Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) has been in turmoil since January when Gov. Ducey announced his budget proposing the transfer of duties and responsibilities of the AZGS to the University of Arizona (UA).  And, in May 2016, the governor signed SB1530 the agency consolidation; budget reconciliation; 2016-2017, a bill in which the AZGS was defunded and put under the auspices of the UA.  With this transfer, the AZGS is no longer a state agency, and therefore required to move from its 10,000+ square foot state office space on Congress St. in Tucson to a 2,500 sq. ft. space at the Arid Lands Studies building at 6th St. and Campbell just east of the UA campus.  The AZGS also had to close its Phoenix offices and move its contents to dead storage as there is no office space owned by UA to house them.

Recent articles in both Tucson and Phoenix newspapers and in local and national blogs have highlighted the AZGS’s plight.

In Tucson on January 21st, Jonathan Duhamel of the Arizona Daily Independent wrote an article entitled “Governor Proposes Transferring Arizona Geological Survey to University of Arizona-Bad Idea.”  Jonathan’s article can be read at:

Also in Tucson on May 26th, Tom Beale of the Arizona Daily Star wrote an article entitled “State geologists moving to UA, facing layoffs”  The full article can be found at:

A similar article was printed in the Arizona Capitol Times in their May 31st edition at:

In Phoenix, a letter to the editor from David Briggs of the AZ Geological Society was published in the June 16th Arizona Republic.  In his letter he states:  “The governor’s efforts to consolidate state government have placed this healthy, productive state agency on life support, and its prognosis is grim.  The Arizona Geological Survey’s supporters do not understand how the decision to eviscerate this agency best serves the needs of Arizonans.”

Additionally, the Arizona Geological Society’s website has an informative article on the former AZ Mining and Mineral Museum and on the uncertain future that the Arizona Geological Survey is currently facing.  To view the both articles go to:




On Richard Zimmermann’s blog, Mineral Museum Madness (minmumad@blogspot.com) a guest post entitled “The so-called agency consolidation of the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) is a SHAM” was posted and introduced as follows:  A condensed version of the following guest post was also published as a letter to the editor in the June 17th paper copy of the Arizona Republic.  In the newspaper, the title of the letter was “Arizona Geological Survey saddled with impossible tasks.”  The full letter to the editor can be read at:  http://minmumad.blogspot.com/2016/06/azgs-challenges.html.

On the national level, Scientific American magazine blogger Dana Hunter posted a piece on the SciAM blog Rosetta Stone, entitled, “Help Save the Arizona Geological Survey,” with the subtitle “The Arizona Geological Survey’s budget has been slashed by the state’s short-sighted government.”  The full article can be read at:

Also on the national level, the American Geophysical Union’s Eos Earth & Space Science News reportedNew Law Puts the Squeeze on the Arizona Geological Survey” https://eos.org/articles/new-law-puts-the-squeeze-on-the-arizona-geological-survey.

And, on the international level, Matthew Loader, a geologist from the Natural History Museum in London, copied the AZGS on a letter he sent to Gov. Ducey opposing the defunding of this valued agency.  A copy of his letter is posted with the June 26th Arizona geology blog at:

It’s not too late to add your voice of support for the AZGS, write a letter to the governor; to your state legislators; to your local editor; or put your thoughts on social media and share, share, share.  Those who may be interested in supporting the AZGS financially are encouraged to contact the Arizona Geological Survey at 520-621-2470 to see how they can help.

YOUR SUPPORT FOR AZGS REQUESTED

The Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) is pulling together a list of individuals and groups with an interest or stake in the opening of the Mining, Mineral and Natural Resources Educational Museum.  As you may know, possession of the Mining and Mineral museum building and mineral collection passes from the AZ Historical Society to the AZGS on August 6th.  The AZGS is strategizing now and identifying stakeholders in advance.  If you are interested in receiving regular updates, please contact Michael Conway directly by phone (520-621-2352) or e-mail fmconway@email.arizona.edu. 

Michael Conway |Chief, Geologic Extension Service
Arizona Geological Survey
1955 E 6th St.
PO Box 210184
Tucson, AZ 85721

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