MARGINS Student Prize
AGU Fall Meeting, 2004

Congratulations to all those that entered our second annual student competition, which took place at the AGU 2004 Fall Meeting. As in 2003, the judges of the 2004 competition were greatly impressed by the quality and diversity of all 49 entries (nearly twice as many as last year). We recognize here the outstanding entries that received the highest scores by our judges.

The MARGINS Prize accepted entries from students in any nation who could establish a link between their research and a stated aim of a MARGINS Program Initiative. The winner and honorable mentions reflect the diversity of the field, with a near-even gender split (5 female, 3 male), representation across the four MARGINS Initiatives, and several countries represented.

Our thanks go to the Judges and to the students who entered. Together, it is their efforts that make the MARGINS Student Prize possible. We are also grateful to AGU for their cooperation and assistance with logistics both before and during the meeting.

The MARGINS Office

Winner

	Name and School:	Ian Bastow, University of Leeds, UK
	Student's Comment:	"It is a great honour to be recognised by the NSF MARGINS - I thank you for this award. It has also been a pleasure to work with the marvellous EAGLE working group over the past three years. Without their input and the successful collaboration of all the GB/US/Ethiopian groups involved with the project, this presentation would have never been possible."
	From the Judges:	Judges remarked on how Ian's "excellent" presentation balanced expectations, observations and data with clear coverage of assumptions and error bounds.
	Title of Abstract:	Upper Mantle Seismic Structure of the Northern Ethiopian Rift - a Region of Incipient Continental Breakup
	Co-Authors:	G.W. Stuart, J-M. Kendall, C.J. Ebinger, and A. Ayele

Honorable Mentions

	Name and School:	Megan Anderson, University of Arizona
	Student's Comment:	"Thanks for the honorable mention! I'm excited that my research has significance for the scientists involved in the MARGINS program and the tectonic questions supported by their research initiatives."
	From the Judges:	Careful attention to the knowledge and understanding of her audience helped Megan effectively convey her research to the MARGINS judges.
	Title of Abstract:	Multiple Layers of Anisotropy in the Chile-Argentina Subduction Zone, South America
	Co-Author:	George Zandt

	Name and School:	Laura Baker, California Institute of Technology
	Student's Comment:	"I am honored and inspired to have my research recognized by MARGINS."
	From the Judges:	"Well done!" Laura scored well across the board, and did a great job of answering questions at the end of her presentation.
	Title of Abstract:	Subduction Dynamics and Mass Transfer: A Synthesis Model
	Co-Authors:	Chad Hall, Paul Asimow, Paula Smith, Michael Gurnis

	Name and School:	Louise Bolge, Rutgers University
	Student's Comment:	"Thank you to the MARGINS Program for this recognition. This was my first talk at AGU, and I am very excited that it was so well received. It's always reassuring to know others are interested in your research. Thank you."
	From the Judges:	The clarity of Louise's talk, "even for a non-specialist," and good handling of questions, impressed the judges.
	Title of Abstract:	The Geochemical and Petrological History of Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
	Co-Authors:	Michael J Carr, Mark D Feigenson, Guillermo E Alvarado

	Name and School:	Kyla Simons, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
	Student's Comment:	"I am honored and grateful to receive this recognition. It is inspiring to be acknowledged for your effort and contribution to the understanding of margins, and I hope that the MARGINS Prize further encourages students to conduct margins related research."
	From the Judges:	For one MARGINS judge this was the best entry he'd seen. Kyla scored well in all areas.
	Title of Abstract:	Lithium Isotopic Composition of Guatemalan Jadeitites
	Co-Authors:	Charles Langmuir and George Harlow
	Name and School:	Jennifer Wade, Boston University
	Student's Comment:	"Thank you for honoring our work in Costa Rica! It's very encouraging, as a student, to be recognized by such a great scientific community."
	From the Judges:	Jennifer scored very highly on the organization and clarity of her presentation.
	Title of Abstract:	High Water Contents in Basaltic Melt Iinclusions from Arenal volcano, Costa Rica
	Co-Authors:	T. Plank, E.H. Hauri, W. Melson, and G.J. Soto
	Name and School:	Girma Woldetinsae, Christian Albrechts University Zu Kiel
	Student's Comment:	"I am really happy and the recognition encourages me to update and continue my research."
	From the Judges:	"Fabulous!" was one MARGINS judge's comment on a poster that attracted lots of interest from other delegates too.
	Title of Abstract:	The lithosphere of the East African Rift system (Ethiopia-North Kenya) Insights from three-dimensional density modelling
	Co-Author:	H.-J, Götze
	Name and School:	Matthew Wolinsky, Duke University
	Student's Comment:	"I am excited and grateful to be recognized by MARGINS, and I look forward to many fruitful discussions with members in the future. MARGINS enables scientific dialog across subfields which enriches my research and facilitates the development of better informed research questions and collaborations."
	From the Judges:	The MARGINS judges remarked on Matthew's noteworthy enthusiasm for his research and command of the subject.
	Title of Abstract:	Coupled Passive Margin Stratigraphic Evolution and Fluid Flow
	Co-Author:	Pratson, L.F.