ETSU Department of Geosciences

Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Joyner of the ETSU Department of Geosciences on winning the ETSU University Service Award for all your efforts with the Tennessee Climate Office and hazard mitigation planning on campus, in Johnson City, and beyond!
https://youtu.be/gy5zT6LCW9Q?si=eLeAoqJ-MuJcW9HE

Great success for our former ETSU Department of Geosciences masters student, Kelly Lubbers.

Mammoth Site collections manager, Scientists in Parks alum, and GSA member Kelly Lubbers on her path in the :

My first internship was the summer between my freshman and sophomore years in college at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. There I got to learn all about and in a setting, and it was my first look into .

I was curious to learn more about plants, so when it came time for me to conduct my undergraduate senior research project, I decided to work with The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota, USA, to look for pollen preserved in the sinkhole sediments. Although we didn’t find much pollen, my experience there helped me get into graduate school during which I got a summer internship through the Scientists in Parks (SIP) Program at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument completing a research project on fossil beavers.

After graduating from my master’s program, I got a position at The Mammoth Site where I interact with the public, care for the in situ bonebed and other collections, mentor summer interns, and help with and publish my own research. One thing I love about working in this field is it’s always exciting to see where different opportunities will take you!

Kelly Lubbers The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota Smithsonian Scientists in Parks John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

ETSU tabbed for national climate pilot program East Tennessee State University’s climate office has secured national funding aimed at enhancing community resilience against extreme weather.

ETSU: Expect a particularly toasty summer Much of the Appalachian Highlands, from East Tennessee to Western North Carolina, should expect a particularly hot summer, according to East Tennessee State University.

Field season at GFS is such an exciting time for students, faculty, and staff!

From red pandas to rhinos, ’24 dig season underway at Gray The 2024 field season is happening now at the Gray Fossil Site and Museum, supported by East Tennessee State University. 

Congratulations to all of our recent graduates! And we hope that our other students are enjoying the start of summer break!

Meet our newest ESIP Partner: ETSU Department of Geosciences

➡️ Learn more about their work: https://lnkd.in/gmq9ZQav

ETSU Geosciences reflects the breadth and depth of . From studying geological phenomena and Deep Time to working with the latest technology to map our planet today. The are our ESIP roots and we're grateful to have ETSU's expertise and enthusiasm in our community!

➡️ Learn more about ESIP Partnership: https://lnkd.in/gG9wyEKP

Looking ahead...
The first announcement for the GEOS 3700 Field Experience course for next school year has been given! We are excited for this chance to explore the Pacific Northwest! See below the list and map of locations that students and faculty will visit.

GeoClub is partnering with ETSU Environmental Health and Safety, Department of Sustainability, Department of Geosciences, and Boone Watershed Partnership for a stream clean-up!

Happy Earth Day 2024! Wednesday the department will be celebrating Earth Day along with our Student Award Ceremony and luncheon.

Excellent story about Alson and Dr. Schubert!

From Central America to Gray Fossil Site Alson Ovando of Belize knew at age 4 he wanted to become a paleontologist when he saw “Jurassic Park.” Today, as far as he knows, this ETSU grad student is the only Belizean to ever pursue paleontology as a career path.

With today's warm weather, it's hard to believe that just a week ago it was a cold and snowy day on top of Roan Mountain for the GEOS 3700 Field Experience class trip. Students shared their research on some of the unique environments and history of this mountain and the Appalachian Trail. Although this is just an hour from campus, the climate and biome here are more like southern Canada than other areas of the southeast.

Congratulations to all the Geosciences students who presented on their research this past Friday at the Appalachian Student Research Forum!

As registration for summer and fall classes is coming up soon, we are excited to announce two new class options in Geosciences. First Dr. Ernenwein is offering an archeological geophysics field school for both undergraduates and graduate students (GEOS 3700/5900) this summer. Second, Dr. Johnson is offering a new special topics course (GEOS 4800) on Soil Geosciences, in the fall.

Everyone enjoyed meeting Woolly in Saltville, VA last week! This was a field trip for both Field Experience and Paleontological Techniques.

Take a look at Dr. Luffman's latest blog from her time spent abroad. This time she shares experiences from a weekend in Malta!

Geoscience majors, we are introducing a new option to fulfill the field experience requirement this summer! This is a great chance to learn about Archaeological Geophysics and to gain a skill set which may be applied in other areas of this field and others. Consider talking to your advisor about this course, and contact Dr. Ernenwein with questions!

Geosciences Community,

In memory of a beloved past student, Zachary West, who left an unforgettable memory of genuine cheerfulness on his professors, peers, and friends at ETSU, we are establishing a memorial scholarship in his honor.

Zach was not only a cheerful student but also an intelligent, kind, and compassionate individual. After college, he successfully launched into a professional geoscience career and was well-liked by his employers. We sincerely desire to keep his spirit alive by allowing future ETSU geoscience students to pursue their educational goals.

However, to make this purpose a reality, we need the support of generous individuals like you. Your contribution, no matter the size, will directly impact the lives of our deserving students and help us sustain Zach's legacy for years to come.

Please find the link below with further information regarding the donation
https://www.givecampus.com/schools/EastTennesseeStateUniversity/zachary-west-memorial-scholarship

Thank you very much for considering our request. Also, please forward this request to anyone who shares a passion for geoscience and understands the importance of supporting promising students in our field.

Sincerely,

Arpita Nandi

College of Arts & Sciences

Zachary West Memorial Scholarship Join me and make a gift to the Zachary West Memorial Scholarship!

Please enjoy reading portions of Dr. Ingrid Luffman's blogs from her time spent abroad in the UK. We appreciate her sharing these experiences and wish her the best of luck with the rest of her time spent teaching at Harlaxton College!

Professional Networking in education has significant importance. ETSU Department of Geosciences arranges career-centric guest lecture events to foster relationships with geosciences professionals. These connections provide students with advice and contacts, which can help them make informed career decisions, including jobs, internships, research opportunities, and scholarships.
During the academic year 2023-2024, the department hosted multiple career events, including alumni visits and professional lectures from the public and private sectors.

College of Arts & Sciences

Great highlight featuring the Tennessee Climate Office, housed in the Department of Geosciences at ETSU.

Remember the punishing drought last fall? How about some of the flooding in summer 2022, prompting water rescues across the region?

Extreme weather is on the rise. Our researchers look at what that means for Appalachia: http://tinyurl.com/5n8x98br

Happy holidays from the Department of Geosciences! Here are a few photos from our end-of-the-semester party/potluck in early December. Faculty members brought food and everyone gathered to try different recipes and chat!

Just before Thanksgiving, students and faculty from the department traveled to Norfolk Virginia to the annual SEDAAG (Southeast Division of the American Association of Geographers) conference. Students and faculty gave talks and presented posters on a wide range of topics including water quality monitoring, erosion, landslides, and hazard analysis. There were of course some side-trips as well as the group visited Appomattox Court House on the way to Norfolk and took the ferry across the Elizabeth River to Portsmouth Va.

Last week, ETSU’s Geosciences Club had another successful caving trip to Morrill/Worleys Cave. Led by Dr. Blaine Schubert, students observed cave formations, fossils, and wildlife! They learned about the cave’s history, geology, and paleontology.

Congratulations to Ash and Katherine who presented their honors/senior thesis work to the department yesterday! Ash's thesis was titled "Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of the South Fork Holston River Using Unionidae", and Katherine's was titled "Seasonal Variability in Water Quality at Rocky Mount State Historic Site". They both gave excellent presentations to a large audience in Ross Hall and on Zoom!

Here is a look back at the stream cleanup from earlier this month! ETSU’s Geo Club partnered with ETSU Sustainability and the Boone Watershed Partnership to clean up Brush Creek by campus. Participants removed 202.3 lbs of garbage!!! Amazing work everyone!

While we will be sad to not have her in the department next semester, we are excited for Dr. Luffman's opportunity to teach at Harlaxton College in the UK next spring!
“I feel honored to be the first of hopefully many ETSU faculty to spend a semester abroad at the college,” said Luffman, who will teach 'Environmental Science', 'Environmental Geology', and 'Introduction to Statistics'. “I will live and work at Harlaxton Manor, which has many acres of property that I will use as a living laboratory for several classes. As class sizes are generally small, I look forward to getting to know the students and leading many field activities, discussions and hands-on projects.”

ETSU professor will spend semester abroad Dr. Ingrid Luffman, an award-winning ETSU professor in Geosciences, will spend a semester immersed at Harlaxton College.

Here is how ETSU’s Geomorphology class learned about karst topography! This was many students’ first time caving, with some even tackling the tight crawls!

ETSU was represented by the Department of Geosciences students and faculty Dr. Arpita Nandi, at the Geological Society of America Connects 2023 annual meeting in Pittsburgh. There were four faculty-student presentations by Dr. Nandi, Emmanuel Afraiye, Robert McSweeney, and Megan Palmer. Robert McSweeney and Megan Palmer received awards and Dr. Nandi completed a significant leadership role as Division Chair of the Engineering and Environmental Geology Division of Geological Society of America. Students participated in various mentoring and career events, visited exhibit booths, and attended rich variety of technical research sessions. They had the opportunity to network with professionals, students, and faculty from other universities. They enjoyed the fall color at the downtown Pittsburgh area, visited the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and New River Gorge National Park.

On Saturday, professors Arpita Nandi and Wil Tollefson, and student Seneca Rulison hosted the Department of Geosciences table at ETSU's first open house of the season. Prospective students received information about our offered courses and jobs in Geoscience, and some freebies like water bottles, bags, and keychains!

ETSU's next open house will be held on November 11, 2023. Register at this link: https://www.etsu.edu/admissions/openhouse/