"One of the great tragedies we witness almost daily is the tragedy of men of high aim and low achievement. Their motives are noble. Their proclaimed ambition is praiseworthy. Their capacity is great. But their discipline is weak. They succumb to indolence. Appetite robs them of will."
-Gordon B. Hinckley, May 1979, Ensign, p.65.
Professional Service
- Editorial Board Member, BCC Papers , an online journal related to Mormon studies, June 2004 to present
- Fieldtrip Leader, Brigham Young University-Idaho Geology Department Fieldtrip to Hawaii, July-August 2008
- Contributor, the Nortek Oceanographic History calendar, 2007
- Reviewer, University of Sharjah Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences , March 2007
- Reviewer, International Journal of Scientific Research , Fall 2006
- Co-Chair, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology Session, 6th International Conference on the Geology of the Middle East , March 2006
- Fieldtrip Co-Leader, Michigan State University Geologic Fieldtrip to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, March 2006
- Abstracts Editor, 6th International Conference on the Geology of the Middle East, September 2005 to March 2006
- Reviewer, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies , The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2004
Community Service
· Author of a regular column, Geology with Ben Jordan, on the geology of the United Arab Emirates and Oman in the newsletter of the Emirates Natural History Group-Al Ain Chapter, 2006 to 2008
· Outreach Scientist, Coastal Institute , Narragansett, Rhode Island, 2000-2003
- Presented 3-4 lectures yearly to community and school groups on earth and marine science subjects
· Public Presentations
- “Careers in Oceanography,” a presentation to secondary students at Al Ain English Speaking School, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, 2007
- “Super Volcanic Eruptions in Central America and their Associated Caribbean Sea Tephra Layers,” a presentation given to the Department of Geology, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho, 2007
- “Super Volcanic Eruptions in Central America 20 Million Years Ago,” a Friends of Oceanography breakfast lecture, URI Coastal Institute, Narragansett, Rhode Island, 2004
- “Hawaiian Volcanoes,” A Friends of Oceanography breakfast lecture, URI Coastal Institute, Narragansett, Rhode Island, 2000
- “Oceanographic Applications of ROVs,” a for the university community, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1999
- “Volcanoes of the Solar System,” a planetarium show written and produced for the Sarah B. Summerhayes Planetarium, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1999
· Volunteer Work
- Diver, eel grass restoration project, SAVE THE BAY, Narragansett, Rhode Island, 2003
- Museum Volunteer, Imperial Tombs of China Exhibit, BYU Museum of Art, Nov 1995 to March 1996
- Assistant Scoutmaster and Webelos Den Leader, Boy Scouts of America, 1995 and 2003
- Missionary, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Indiana Indianapolis Mission, 1991-1993
