28th Annual Spring Conference (Feb. 22-23, 2013)

The Saturday Program


Schedule of Speakers (pdf)


Registration and breakfast

8:00 am to 9:00 am in the Hermosa/Huntington/Manhattan room


Luncheon Keynote Presentation

Speaker: Dr. Serina Diniega, Caltech Postdoctoral Fellow, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Title: Connecting form to process and conditions, AKA my adventures in modeling planetary surface features

Abstract: The surface features that can be seen and measured on a planet's surface (such as rivers, volcanoes, or sand dunes) are the result of that landscape’s evolution, which itself is a combination of processes acting on various climate, surface, subsurface, and planetary conditions. As a planetary geomorphological modeler, I aim to figure out the qualitative and quantitative connections between environmental conditions, physical (erosion, transport, and depositional) processes, and landform morphology. The goal is to develop a model that describes the process(es) that created a landform, as then information about what the feature looks like now (its shape, size, and/or pattern) can be used to figure out the conditions existing during that feature’s evolution. This is especially important in studies of other planets as little data may be available about current and past conditions. In this talk, I will discuss the general field of planetary geomorphology, the way in which simple mathematical models can help to decouple complex geologic behavior, and the models that I have developed and analyzed to understand dune fields and lava flows on the Earth, Mars, and Venus.

Bio: Dr. Serina Diniega has loved math since she was a child and has been interested in space exploration since a visit to Johnson Space Center at the age of 12. As an undergraduate at Caltech, she found a way to combine both interests and decided to study the formation and evolution of planetary surfaces. She utilizes an interdisciplinary approach, using both geological insight and mathematical thinking while delving deep into the ways landforms evolve into specific patterns, shapes, and sizes. Using simple models, analysis, and numerical simulation, she aims to quantitatively understand the influence that environmental conditions and physical processes have in shaping a landscape. She received her PhD in Applied Mathematics at the University of Arizona where she explored dune and dune field pattern formation on the Earth and Mars. As a postdoctoral researcher at JPL, she is looking into how lava flow dynamics evolve and form surface features on lava flows on the Earth, Mars, and Venus. In addition to her research, she has a strong interest in encouraging students and the general public in STEM studies. She has a taught or mentored a wide variety of students (K-12 and undergraduate) in math, geology, and planetary science topics.


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