LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Kim Kastens upon the occasion of
her designation as recipient of the Excellence in Geophysical Education
Award

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Kim Kastens upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of
the Excellence in Geophysical Education Award; and
WHEREAS, An expert in marine geology, Kim Kastens spent her first
decade at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory doing pure research, where
her specialty was in plate tectonics in the Mediterranean, and she
participated in nearly 30 research expeditions there studying the rocky
plates on the ocean floor; and
WHEREAS, After teaching an undergraduate course at Columbia Universi-
ty, Planet Earth, Kim Kastens began changing her focus when she realized
some of her students had difficulty in taking information and forming it
visually; and
WHEREAS, Kim Kastens is a person for whom map-reading and understand-
ing directions are natural; she soon realized that everyone did not have
her instincts and began working on ways to better teach spatial skills;
part of the teaching process is finding out how somebody learns the way
they do; and
WHEREAS, Kim Kastens has helped to write a software program to improve
elementary students' map skills, and works with teachers and other
educators in writing science curriculum for the classroom; her most
recent projects involved working with some Nyack elementary school
students on their map-reading skills; and
WHEREAS, This year, Kim Kastens was working with high school earth-
science students on data puzzles; she and the teachers have given the
students specific and professional research-grade bits of information
and asked them to formulate their conclusions based on the data; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society, Kim Kastens' distinguished record
merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this Legislative Body;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Kim Kastens upon the occasion of her designation as recipi-
ent of the Excellence in Geophysical Education Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Kim Kastens.