Environment And Natural Resources Building Dedication, Open House on Nov. 10

Lori Stiles
Nov. 16, 1999


The Dennis DeConcini Environment and Natural Resources Building, at 520 North
Park Avenue, was dedicated on Wednesday, Nov 10.

The ceremony highlights included the unveiling of a new plaque for the building and
dedication of the artwork in the building courtyard. An open house for the public was be held from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Featured speakers included former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, University of Arizona President Peter Likins, USGS Director Charles G. "Chip" Groat, and National Weather Service Tucson Meteorologist-in-Charge Glen W. Sampson and artist Susan Gamble

The Arizona Board of Regents last August approved renaming the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Weather Service (NWS) building on the University of Arizona campus for former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini.

At the open house, the NWS gave tours of its operations room, where forecasts for southern Arizona are generated. USGS exhibits highlighted its many activities in the Southwest and around the country, including earth surface processes, geologic hazards (volcanoes, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis), global climate change, energy resources, geology and human health, cartography, astrogeology, water resources, water quality, mineral resources, biological resources and computerized mapping.

DeConcini, a Tucson native, holds both a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Arizona. Throughout his three terms in the United States Senate, 1977-1995, he was a firm friend and supporter of the University. His leadership made possible many pieces of legislation important to the UA. The Dennis DeConcini Environment and Natural Resources building fulfills a goal the UA set in the mid-1980s to strengthen the departments of environment-related research and to physically cluster them on campus to promote interdisciplinary collaboration. The University also sought research-related federal agencies to be partners and to establish an on-campus presence. The Dennis DeConcini ENRB is the first step toward fulfilling that goal, say ceremony organizers.

Susan Gamble, a Tucson-based artist with several large-scale public art projects in southern Arizona and elsewhere in the nation, created the art in the courtyard. Her work, titled "Mi Tierra, " is a 25-by-25 foot installation made of glass, plasma cut steel, mineral specimens, marble, granite, slate, ceramic tile and light. Scientists who work in the building and local mineral collectors donated many mineral specimens used in the piece. Gamble's approach is to involve as many people as possible in the creation of her art, especially people who will see the work on a daily basis.
Gamble also incorporated quotations from scientists, writers and philosophers in the work. Albert Einstein, Aristotle, Mark Twain and George Carlin are among the quoted.

Share

Resources for the media