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Estella Atekwana

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Estella Atekwana
A Black woman with long braids and glasses. Her subtly made up face shows quiet confidence
Estella Atekwana in 2020
Born
Estella Akweseh Nkwate

September 13, 1961
Alma materHoward University
Dalhousie University
Scientific career
FieldsGeophysics, Biogeophysics, Tectonics
InstitutionsUniversity of Delaware
Oklahoma State University
ThesisGravity and magnetic interpretation of the Kapuskasing Structural Zone in the Val Rita and Groundhog River Blocks, northwestern Ontario, Canada (1990)
Doctoral advisorMatthew H. Salisbury

Estella Atekwana (née Estella Akweseh Nkwate; born 13 September 1961) is a geophysicist studying biogeophysics and tectonophysics. She is currently Dean of the College of Letters and Science at University of California, Davis. She previously served as Dean of the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment at the University of Delaware.[1][2][3] She is also an adjunct professor at both the University of Waterloo and the Missouri University of Science and Technology.[3] Before joining the University of Delaware in 2017, she was the Department Head of the Boone Pickens School of Geology at Oklahoma State University. She is a Regents Distinguished Professor and a Clyde Wheeler Sun Endowed Chair at Oklahoma State University,[4] where she maintains an adjunct appointment. Atekwana has also been a faculty member at Missouri University of Science & Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and Western Michigan University.[1][5] Atekwana has been a part of helping write many journals and has earned many awards and honors throughout her career.

Biography

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Atekwana grew up in Cameroon and obtained her B.S. in Geology from Howard University in 1983 as a first-generation college student.[3] At Howard University, Atekwana started in a pre-med program before switching to a geology major.[3] She credits a teacher in the 1970s for inspiring her to pursue geology when they said that girls weren't suited for field work.[3] Estella Atekwana has overcome every stereotype she has been faced with. Lauletta-Boshart et al. (2022) wrote that throughout school she was told that she was just a woman from Central Africa, which somehow meant she would never accomplish anything. She took it upon herself to prove them wrong, and later became so well known for her research in biogeophysics and made a difference at every college campus she visited. (Lauletta-Boshart et al. 2022).[6] After earning her B.S., Atekwana completed an M.S. in geology, also at Howard University in 1986. In 1991, Atekwana completed a Ph.D. in Geophysics at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.[1] After completing graduate school, she became an assistant professor at Western Michigan University.[3] On a sabbatical in 1999, Atekwaka was a visiting professor at the University of Botswana.[5] After leaving Western Michigan University in 2003, she taught at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis and Missouri University of Science and Technology before starting at Oklahoma State University's Boone Pickens School of Geology in 2007.[5]

Atekwana's efforts in diversity in the geosciences and capacity building in developing countries have been recognized with outstanding educator awards from both the Association for Women Geoscientists and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.[7][8] She serves on numerous professional committees including the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Honors and Awards committee [9] and the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).[10]

Research interests

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While working toward their goal, a team of geophysicists including Atekwana set out to Air Force bases to examine the hydrocarbon-contaminated environments. The group tested many parts of land in hopes to find hydrocarbon reservoirs, but instead came across something that had never been thoroughly tested or identified. After finding that the ground was electrically conductive, this group had to put their heads together to attempt to draw a conclusion. As this group of scholars worked together, they came up with the conclusion that electrical conductivity was caused by many different "things". During this experimental test, Atekwana found that different studies were so closely intertwined and had no idea, which is the start of biogeophysics.[11]

Atekwana is a pioneer in the multidisciplinary field of Biogeophysics, which uses geophysics to understand the biogeochemical interactions occurring at contaminated sites.[12] Atekwana's biogeophysical research investigates the effects of microbial-mediated processes on geological media.[13][14] Some of her research evaluates the utility and resolution of in situ resistivity measurements combined with surface geoelectrical measurements to map contaminant distribution in the subsurface.[15] Atekwana also uses the geoelectric and geophysical signatures of contaminated sites to investigate relationships between biological processes and their impact on electrical properties of geologic material.[16][17]

Atekwana also uses geophysics to investigate tectonic processes.[1] Her geophysical studies reveal crust and upper mantle structures that inform the geodynamic processes associated with incipient rifting of continental crust. [18] For example, Atekwana and colleagues show how geophysically imaged pre-existing basement structures in Malawi and Botswana influenced strain localization during early rifting.[19] Another case study from the nascent Okavango rift in northwest Botswana provides evidence that pre-existing basement structures control rifting.[20]

Atekwana is also involved in a project to use smartphones with geophysical sensors to potentially provide a more affordable approach to the acquisition of geophysical data, highlighting the application at academic institutions with limited access to expensive geophysical equipment.[21]

Works

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Atekwana was involved in helping the writing of many geoscience journals such as:

  • Bacterial Stern layer diffusion: experimental determination with spectral induced polarization and sensitivity to nitrite toxicity[22]
  • High-resolution magnetic susceptibility measurements for investigating magnetic mineral formation during microbial mediated iron reduction[23]
  • The Microbial Community Structure in Petroleum-Contaminated Sediments Corresponds to Geophysical Signatures[24]

Awards and honors

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Selected publications

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Atewkana has written over 100 publications including:

  • Kolawole, F.; Atekwana, E. A.; Laó-Dávila, D. A.; Abdelsalam, M. G.; Chindandali, P. R.; Salima, J.; Kalindekafe, L. (March 2018). "Active Deformation of Malawi Rift's North Basin Hinge Zone Modulated by Reactivation of Preexisting Precambrian Shear Zone Fabric". Tectonics. 37 (3): 683–704. Bibcode:2018Tecto..37..683K. doi:10.1002/2017TC004628.
  • Atekwana, Estella A; Sauck, William A; Werkema, Douglas D (May 2000). "Investigations of geoelectrical signatures at a hydrocarbon contaminated site". Journal of Applied Geophysics. 44 (2–3): 167–180. Bibcode:2000JAG....44..167A. doi:10.1016/S0926-9851(98)00033-0.
  • Atekwana, Estella A.; Atekwana, Eliot A. (4 November 2009). "Geophysical Signatures of Microbial Activity at Hydrocarbon Contaminated Sites: A Review". Surveys in Geophysics. 31 (2): 247–283. Bibcode:2010SGeo...31..247A. doi:10.1007/s10712-009-9089-8. S2CID 55399776.
  • Atekwana, Estella A.; Slater, Lee D. (2009-12-31). "Biogeophysics: A new frontier in Earth science research". Reviews of Geophysics. 47 (4): RG4004. Bibcode:2009RvGeo..47.4004A. doi:10.1029/2009rg000285. ISSN 8755-1209.

Estella Atekwana serves as an associate editor for the American Geophysical Union's Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences[29] and serves on the editorial advisory board of the Journal of African Earth Sciences[30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Estella Atekwana". ceoe.udel.edu. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  2. ^ "Atekwana takes helm as UD dean at Lewes campus". Cape Gazette. 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Karen B. Roberts (2018-03-08). "Estella Atekwana, inspiring the next generation". udel.edu. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  4. ^ "Regents Professors". Oklahoma State University. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "SEG Live". Society of Exploration Geophysicists. Archived from the original on 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  6. ^ Lauletta-Boshart, Laurie (March 9, 2022). "Women in Leadership: Estella Atekwana". Comstock's magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  7. ^ a b "SEG Announces 2016 Honors and Awards Recipients". seg.org. 2016-05-26. Archived from the original on 2019-03-01. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  8. ^ a b "Atekwana to receive SEG Outstanding Educator Award". The Journal Record. June 13, 2016.
  9. ^ "Honors and Recognition Committee | AGU". www.agu.org. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  10. ^ "U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geological Sciences". www.nationalacademies.org. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Dr. Estella Atekwana - Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division". community.geosociety.org. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  12. ^ Samp ath, Rathana. "Pioneer women of geophysics" (PDF). SEG. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  13. ^ Atekwana, Estella A.; Slater, Lee D. (2009-12-31). "Biogeophysics: A new frontier in Earth science research". Reviews of Geophysics. 47 (4): RG4004. Bibcode:2009RvGeo..47.4004A. doi:10.1029/2009rg000285. ISSN 8755-1209.
  14. ^ Atekwana, Estella A; Sauck, William A; Werkema, Douglas D (May 2000). "Investigations of geoelectrical signatures at a hydrocarbon contaminated site". Journal of Applied Geophysics. 44 (2–3): 167–180. Bibcode:2000JAG....44..167A. doi:10.1016/S0926-9851(98)00033-0.
  15. ^ Atekwana, Estella A; Sauck, William A; Werkema, Douglas D (2000). "Investigations of geoelectrical signatures at a hydrocarbon contaminated site". Journal of Applied Geophysics. 44 (2–3): 167–180. Bibcode:2000JAG....44..167A. doi:10.1016/S0926-9851(98)00033-0.
  16. ^ Aal, Gamal Z. Abdel; Atekwana, Estella A.; Slater, Lee D.; Atekwana, Eliot A. (2004). "Effects of microbial processes on electrolytic and interfacial electrical properties of unconsolidated sediments". Geophysical Research Letters. 31 (12): n/a. Bibcode:2004GeoRL..3112505A. doi:10.1029/2004GL020030. ISSN 1944-8007.
  17. ^ Atekwana, Estella A.; Atekwana, Eliot A. (2010-03-01). "Geophysical Signatures of Microbial Activity at Hydrocarbon Contaminated Sites: A Review". Surveys in Geophysics. 31 (2): 247–283. Bibcode:2010SGeo...31..247A. doi:10.1007/s10712-009-9089-8. ISSN 1573-0956. S2CID 55399776.
  18. ^ "#Black In Geoscience". Geodynamics. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  19. ^ Kolawole, F.; Atekwana, E. A.; Laó-Dávila, D. A.; Abdelsalam, M. G.; Chindandali, P. R.; Salima, J.; Kalindekafe, L. (March 2018). "Active Deformation of Malawi Rift's North Basin Hinge Zone Modulated by Reactivation of Preexisting Precambrian Shear Zone Fabric". Tectonics. 37 (3): 683–704. Bibcode:2018Tecto..37..683K. doi:10.1002/2017TC004628.
  20. ^ Modisi, M. P.; Atekwana, E. A.; Kampunzu, A. B.; Ngwisanyi, T. H. (2000-10-01). "Rift kinematics during the incipient stages of continental extension: Evidence from the nascent Okavango rift basin, northwest Botswana". Geology. 28 (10): 939–942. Bibcode:2000Geo....28..939M. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<939:RKDTIS>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0091-7613.
  21. ^ Campbell, Nathan; Atekwana, Estella; Mathews, Adam J.; Ismail, Ahmed (2020). "Geophysical applications of magnetic sensors in smartphones". The Leading Edge. 39 (5): 312–317. Bibcode:2020LeaEd..39..312C. doi:10.1190/tle39050312.1. ISSN 1070-485X. S2CID 219058666.
  22. ^ Mellage, Adrian; Smeaton, Christina M.; Furman, Alex; Atekwana, Estella A.; Rezanezhad, Fereidoun; Cappellen, Philippe Van (2019-12-05). "Bacterial Stern layer diffusion: experimental determination with spectral induced polarization and sensitivity to nitrite toxicity". Near Surface Geophysics. 17 (6 - Recent Developments in Induced Polarization): 623–635. doi:10.1002/nsg.12058. ISSN 1569-4445.
  23. ^ Atekwana, Estella A.; Mewafy, Farag M.; Abdel Aal, Gamal; Werkema, D. Dale; Revil, André; Slater, Lee D. (January 2014). "High-resolution magnetic susceptibility measurements for investigating magnetic mineral formation during microbial mediated iron reduction: MS Measurements During Iron Reduction". Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. 119 (1): 80–94. doi:10.1002/2013JG002414.
  24. ^ Allen, Jonathan P.; Atekwana, Estella A.; Atekwana, Eliot A.; Duris, Joseph W.; Werkema, D. Dale; Rossbach, Silvia (May 2007). "The Microbial Community Structure in Petroleum-Contaminated Sediments Corresponds to Geophysical Signatures". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 73 (9): 2860–2870. doi:10.1128/AEM.01752-06. PMC 1892848. PMID 17351087.
  25. ^ "For the Record, May 28, 2021 | UDaily". www.udel.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  26. ^ "AWG Outstanding Educator Award" (PDF). Association for Women Geoscientists. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  27. ^ "All Active and Current GSA Fellows". Geological Society of America. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  28. ^ Alex Marianos (2015-12-02). "Oklahoma State University recognizes Atekwana, Masters during 2015 University Awards Convocation". news.okstate.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  29. ^ "Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences". AGU Journals. doi:10.1002/(ISSN)2169-8961. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  30. ^ "Journal of African Earth Sciences Editorial Board". Retrieved 10 June 2020.
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