Students and Faculty Attend 2011 GSA Meeting in Pittsburgh

Six Geology and Earth Science majors presented their undergraduate research at the  Northeastern/North-Central Section Meeting of the Geological Society of America in Pittsburgh, March 20-22, 2011. The students were accompanied by Assistant Professor Carrie Menold, Professor Thom Wilch and Professor Emeritus Larry Taylor.   The students travel expenses for the meeting were covered by travel grants from FURSCA (Foundation for Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activity), support from the Taylor Fund for Undergraduate Geology Research and by a travel grant from the Geological Society of America.   

Below is a group photo (this and other photos by Thom Wilch)  at dinner after day of presentations. 

Clockwise from lower left: Will Ward, Abby Williams, Zane Havens, Nicki Rockentine, Carite Castelli, Carrie Menold, Larry Taylor, Ed Mahony (Matt's dad) and Matt Mahony.

The students did an excellent job with poster presentations.   The feedback they got will help them as they continue to write up and finish their research. 

Catie Castelli presenting in the poster session.

Catie Castelli '12 gave a poster on "Shifting elevational distributions of three subalpine and alpine plant species in the White Mountains California."    Catie issupervised by Drs. Chris Van de Ven and Thom Wilch.   Catie is writing a Department Senior Honors Thesis on her research.  Catie began her research in summer 2010 with funding by FURSCA.

Zane and Abby discussing results at meeting.

Zane Havens '11 and Abby Williams '11 presented on  "Diel turbidity cycles in the Upper Kalamazoo River, MI. "   Abby and Zane were supervised by Dr. Thom Wilch.   Zane and Abby began their research in summer 2010 with funding by FURSCA.  For summer 2011, Zane was awarded a Geological Society of America Geocorps internship studying rivers in Colorado.  Abby another FURSCA grant to continue this turbidity study in summer 2011.

Matt Mahony and Larry Taylor discussing Matt's research.

Matt Mahony '12 will be presenting on  "Comparison of Eocene basin-margin and basin-center crocodiles from the Bridger Formation, Green River Basin, Wyoming.  Matt is supervised by Dr. Bill Bartels.  Matt is writing a Department Senior Honors Thesis on his research.  Matt began his research in summer 2010 with funding by FURSCA.

Nicki Rockentine '12 presented her research.    "P-T paths of the Luliang Shan UHP locality, Western China. "   Nicki was supervised by Dr. Carrie Menold.

Will with his poster in Pittsburgh.

Will Ward '12 presented his work on  "Cold air pools in Crooked Creek Valley, White Mountains, CA."    Will was supervised by Drs. Chris Van de Ven, Carrie Menold, and Thom Wilch.  Will is writing a Department Senior Honors Thesis on his research.    Will began his research in summer 2010 with funding by FURSCA.