Christina A. Neal (born 1959)[1] is an American volcanologist and an honoree for a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal.[2] Neal was the Scientist-in-Charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory from 2015 to 2020.[3] Neal took over as the director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Science Center on May 9, 2021.[4] Neal is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America.[5]
Christina "Tina" Neal | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1959 (age 64–65) |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Website | www |
Education
editNeal is a native of Connecticut, and graduated from Brown University in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in geological sciences.[6] In 1986, she received a master's degree in geology from Arizona State University.[6]
Career
editFrom 1983-1989, Neal worked for the U.S. Geological Survey at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. In 1990, she joined the newly established Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage, Alaska, where she monitored eruptions in the Aleutian Arc and investigated the eruptive history and volcanic hazards along the Alaska Peninsula and eastern Aleutians.[6] In 1998, Neal took a two-year posting at the United States Agency of International Development in Washington, D.C., as the first Geoscience Advisor to the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance,[7][8] where she reviewed hazard mitigation programs for several countries, including Thailand, Nepal, Ecuador, Colombia, and Kazakhstan, among others. She returned in 2000 to the Alaska Volcano Observatory as a staff geologist, mapping and studying active Alaskan volcanoes. On March 8, 2015, she became the scientist in charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory,[9] succeeding Jim Kauahikaua.[10]
As Scientist-in-Charge, her position entailed directing emergency responses to volcanic events and making sure there were staff to man the observatory, among other tasks.[11][12] During her tenure as Scientist-in-Charge, she was often a contact to the media about volcanic hazards and events in Hawaii.[13]
In 2019, Neal and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory team were a Science and Environment finalist for a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal.[2]
Neal became the director of the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Science Center in 2021. Among her other duties, she manages the National Volcano Early Warning System.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Christina A. Neal". WorldCat Entities. OCLC. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ a b "Christina A. Neal and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Team". Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "Christina A. Neal". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ USGS Volcanoes [@USGSVolcanoes] (May 12, 2021). "On May 9, Tina Neal became the new director of the #USGS Volcano Science Center! Tina will manage the growth of the National Volcano Early Warning System & ensure #volcano observatories are prepared to respond to the next #eruption in the US" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Fellowship: All Active and Current GSA Fellows". The Geological Society of America.
- ^ a b c "Christina Neal, MS in Geology, 1986". School of Earth and Space Exploration. Arizona State University. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "Safeguard Iowa Partnership - Webinar: Planning the Future of the USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area". Safeguard Iowa Partnership. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "05/25/11 EMForum.org Transcript: Future of the Talking Hazards Group Discussion Planning the Future of USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area". EMForum. University of Delaware. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "New Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-In-Charge". U.S. Geological Survey. Island of Hawai'i. March 6, 2015. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "VOLCANO WATCH: Christina Neal, Scientist in Charge". Big Island Now. March 6, 2015. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ Neal, Christina (January 16, 2020). "Volcano Watch — HVO people and jobs, Part 2: Who and what is the Scientist-in-Charge?". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ Neal, Tina (2020-01-19). "Who and what is the scientist-in-charge?". West Hawaii Today. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- Tina Neal, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge. KHON2 News [@KHONNewsHawaii]. May 5, 2018 – via YouTube.
- Yamaguchi, Melanie (June 6, 2018). "Tina Neal: 'We need to be in this for the long haul'". Hawaii News Now. Puna. HawaiiNewsNow.
- ^ "Christina Neal to Lead USGS Volcano Science Center". U.S. Geological Survey. Anchorage. May 12, 2021. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
External links
edit- "Tina Neal". Volcano World. Oregon State University. 20 April 2011.