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Letter from Chair
On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students, I welcome you to the Department of Geological Sciences!
We are currently in a time of major transition in the Geosciences. Traditionally, the vast majority of geoscientists have been employed by the oil industry, with smaller numbers in academia and government laboratories. In recent years, the growing national concern about the environment and the need to consider geologic processes as part of an integrated global system have led to new employment areas for geoscientists related to the environment and significant changes in research directions and funding. Consequently the Department has worked to develop our strengths in several emerging fields – coastal geologic processes, hydrogeology, surface processes and geomorphology, and geomicrobiology. Ultimately, geoscientists will be at the forefront of the effort to address global environmental issues and the need for energy and water resources!
Six years ago, as part of this national change in the geoscience field, the department voted to join with our colleagues in the College of Marine Studies to form a new college. In 2009, the Department of Geography and the Environmental Science and Environmental Studies program decided to also join this new college. Starting in July 2009, we became part of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment. This reorganization will further promote interdisciplinary interaction among faculty and students with common interests in geological, marine, and environmental sciences and policy.
In the past seven years, we have hired three new faculty. Dr. Art Trembanis studies coastal processes and operates an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) out of his new lab, CSHEL (Coastal Sediments, Hydrodynamics, & Engineering Lab). Dr. Holly Michael studies coastal groundwater dynamics and water supply sustainability in developing countries. Dr. Clara Chan studies microbial mineralization and has set up geomicrobiology labs in both Penny Hall and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute. Penny Hall – our home base – has been recently renovated, thanks to the Unidel Foundation, with a new look for the main floor and new laboratories in hydrogeology and geomicrobiology.
We look forward to engaging you in the search to better understand this amazing planet!
With best regards,
Jim Pizzuto
