Geologist MAUREEN WILKS directs the Geological Information Center at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources in Socorro, a specialized library and archive focused on the state's mineral and water resources and its mining and petroleum industries. She is also responsible for the Historic Mining Archive collection and numerous databases including the New Mexico geochronological database. Her degrees are in geology and geochemistry (BA, Oxford, Great Britain; MS, University Saskatchewan, Canada; PhD, New Mexico Tech). Maureen has been awarded 17 research grants and scholarships since 1988. She was lured to the Southwest by images of red rock country, cacti, wildflowers, and… sunny skies. When not working at the Bureau, Maureen is out exploring the Southwest with her husband Bob, and creating digital fine art from her wildlife photographs.