Category: Speakers

Scott, William (Willie)

QMPGEOeditor1

I retired from the U.S. Geological Survey in 2015 after a 40-year career, during which I was stationed in Denver, Colo., and at the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Wash. I received my geology degrees at St. Lawrence University (B.S.) and at the University of Washington (M.S. and Ph.D.), where my research focused on understanding the Quaternary glacial history of the central Oregon Cascades. My initial projects at USGS were mapping the surficial geology of the eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho, and pursuing studies of Quaternary stratigraphy and faulting along the Wasatch Front in Utah. The latter resulted in a greatly revised history of the fluctuations of Lake Bonneville.

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens opened new opportunities to unravel the eruptive history of Cascade volcanoes and to evaluate potential hazards from future eruptions. I relocated to the Cascades Volcano Observatory and started work on the Oregon Cascade Range at the Three Sisters volcanic center, Newberry Volcano, and Mount Hood, all of which led to a better understanding of eruptive history and processes and volcano-hazard assessments, as well as to cooperation with land-management and emergency-management agencies in creating plans for responding to future volcanic unrest and eruptions in the areas.

Later in my career, I served as Scientist-in-Charge at Cascades Volcano Observatory for 6 years, during which I worked with an interagency group developing communication and response plans for Mount Rainier. Eruptions at several Alaska volcanoes, Mount St. Helens, Mount Pinatubo, and Montserrat provided valuable research opportunities to study volcanic processes in action, as well as the complexities arising from volcanic crises and the need to advise public officials and agencies responding to such crises.

I continue to work with USGS as a Geologist Emeritus engaged in completing maps and reports, chief among them is a detailed geological map of Mount Hood. I also volunteer as a Geologist with the Mount St. Helens Institute, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping people understand and protect the volcano.

William E. Scott
Geologist Emeritus
U.S. Geological Survey—Cascades Volcano Observatory
1300 SE Cardinal Court, Bldg 10
Vancouver, WA  98683

wescott@usgs.gov

Driedger, Carolyn

QMPGEOeditor1

My career began with research on glaciers, principally those gracing our Cascade Range volcanoes, and later on glacier-related floods and debris flows. Witnessing the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and taking part in the response set the course for several fascinating scientific projects. It also provided a front-row seat for observation and reflection regarding the role of science in society. As CVO’s Outreach Coordinator, I work in partnership with public officials, emergency planners, media, park interpreters, and educators to advance the cause of volcano preparedness.  Some earlier career choices have informed current work, including several years of teaching in a US public school and a private school in Kathmandu, Nepal, and working for the National Park Service.  My education continues daily through partnership projects and communications with the media, officials, and the public.

  • USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, WA 1990-present
  • USGS WA Water Resources District Office, Tacoma, WA 1987 – 1990
  • USGS National Research Program Project Office – Glaciology, Tacoma, WA 1978 – 1986
  • Education: M.S. Shippensburg State University of Pennsylvania, 1978; B.S. Bloomsburg State University of Pennsylvania, 1975

(Updated Oct. 2021)

Clark, Doug

QMPGEOeditor1

Doug Clark is an Associate Professor at WWU, Bellingham.  He works on the  eomorphic and paleoclimatic significance of alpine glaciation, with a particular focus on the latest Pleistocene and Holocene, Doug has BSc and MSc degrees from Stanford and a PhD in 1995 from the University of Washington.

(Updated Oct. 2021)