TERRY WEST, long time chair of the Ambassadorial Scholar committee, introduced 1999-2000 Ambassadorial Scholar, Matt Williams. A Jefferson High School and Purdue grad, Matt studied Chinese language skills in Hong Kong. He received a degree in management from Purdue and now works for the U.S. State Department in Diplomatic Security (Federal law enforcement officers). His current assignment is in Botswana, which is rich in diamonds. Emily Dawes is a Purdue graduate who spent last year in Morocco learning Arabic and French. She is leaving for Beruit, Lebanon to begin her year as an Ambassadorial Scholar.
TERRY WEST, Emily Dawes and Matt Williams
Some of his research revolves around the question: "Was there a large ice sheet on the Tibetan Plateau in the most recent glaciation?" The plateau is the size of Alaska, Texas and California combined. The average elevation is 15,000 feet. An international team uses remote sensing, field location, dating methods, and sampling to unlock the secrets of the area. Dr. Harbor had several interesting photos showing how life is lived in Tibet. He also showed a photo of Glacier #1, the subject of research for the past 50 years. The glacier is receding and most scientists feel it is the result of global warming. He believes humans have had a significant impact on the climate.