Volcanoes are mysterious. Many questions remain about how and why they erupt. Dr. Gary Michelfelder, associate professor of geology, leads research at five active volcanoes in the Central Andes of Chile and Bolivia that just might provide some answers. These volcanoes have one important thing in common: a large reservoir of magma, the molten rock material of Earth’s … [Read more...] about Answering some of volcanoes’ burning questions
October is an important month for the department of geography, geology and planning. This week is Earth Science Week. The observance spreads awareness of and appreciation for Earth sciences. This year, Earth Science Week celebrates the theme "Earth Materials in Our Lives.” The theme serves to increase awareness about how Earth materials support everything from … [Read more...] about Celebrate the Earth and its sciences
Like us, rocks are always on the move. But at a much slower pace. Rocks at the base of Earth’s crust rise to the surface over time. The length of time the unburial process takes remains unknown in most mountain regions. Dr. Matt McKay, assistant professor of geology, studies how that length of time shapes the construction of the western United States. “Knowing … [Read more...] about Unearthing history, one rock at a time
Even during the pandemic, our careers must go on. This reasoning prompted the American Association of Geographers (AAG) to move their annual conference to a virtual format rather than cancelling, as initially planned. The conference occurred virtually April 6-10. Dr. Krista Evans, assistant professor of geography and planning, presented research at the virtual … [Read more...] about Adapting connections through a virtual conference
The College of Natural and Applies Sciences is excited to announce that the 2020 issue of Mind’s Eye features the work of Dr. Xiaomin Qiu. Read an excerpt from her story: Qiu gathers and analyzes data to better understand the connections between variables and outcomes. One question she posed: What was the greatest contributing factor to successful math scores on the … [Read more...] about Congratulations to Dr. Xiaomin Qiu