A USA group visited the Institute of Karst Geology and Karst Dynamics Laboratory
(2006-12-11)

 

    A USA group visited the Institute of Karst Geology and Karst Dynamics Laboratory, and Karst Museum on the morning of Wednesday, October 18, 2006. 

    Mr. Ronal Kerbo offered a lecture titled:  "Cave and Karst Stewardship on Federally Protected Lands in America " to Institute's staff and students. Mr. Ronal Kerbo has made a career developing national programs for the preservation and understanding of karst resources.  Before the lecture Prof. Yuan Daoxian told the group about the scientific work of the institute and the highlights of some of Institute's most recent studies. They also visited Chuan Yan River Cave beneath the Naxu Arch that afternoon.

     The group of 18 karst scientists is an interesting one.  There are 15 travelers and Dr. Dwight Deal and his wife Mary from USA, for a total of 17 individuals.And Dr.Arthur Clarke from Australia.   The travelers are a very interesting mix of geological and hydrological professionals and experienced cave explorers.  Several have been involved professionally with cave management in the U.S.A, including Prof. Yuan's old friend Mr. Ronal Kerbo.  There are two other National Park Service personnel who work with Ron:  Dr. Sid Covington (a geologist and mineral evaluation specialist) and Ms. Zelda Bailey.  Ms. Bailey was Ron Kerbo's assistant responsible for developing the National Caves and Karst Research Institute in Carlsbad , New Mexico .  Ms. Bailey's husband, Dr. Patrick Tucci, is a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.  Additionally, internationally-known karst hydrologist Ms. Eve Kuniansky was on the trip.  She is currently the Southeastern Region Ground-Water Specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Norcross , GA.   She also initiated and remains the moderator of the U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group. Dr.Arthur Clarke(cave biologist) is from the School of Zoology at the University of Tasmania in Australia,who has been studying the biodiversity and ecology of cave ecosystems in China since 2000,gaining specialist knowledge of the cavernous biota in parts of several provinces of China: northwest Guangxi,southern Guizhou,
western Hubei,northeastern Jiangxi,eastern Yunnan and southwestern Zhejiang.