Eberly News

Tagged with Geology and Geography
Rocks may be the key to discovering life on Mars. When samples from the Mars 2020 expedition eventually make their way to Earth, the scientists of tomorrow will have a Mountaineer to thank. West Virginia University geologist Kathy Benison is representing the Mountain State as one of 10 scientists selected as a Return Sample Selection Participating Scientist for NASA’s Mars 2020 expedition. She is responsible for helping to select the rocks and sediments that will be gathered, or cached, by the Mars 2020 rover.

On a mission to Mars

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WVU geologist selected for NASA's Mars 2020 team

A group of students, studying everything from criminology to creative writing, are working together to make a difference and find purpose in their careers. A new Social Justice Research Fellowship in West Virginia University’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is empowering graduate students to connect their research to social justice issues.

Weaving social justice into graduate studies

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A group of students, studying everything from criminology to creative writing, are working together to make a difference and find purpose in their careers.

A rocky start in college hasn’t stopped West Virginia University alumnus Zachary Heck (BS Geology, ’16) from pursuing his prehistoric passions. As a geology student, Heck traveled to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Forest; Yellowstone National Park; Spearfish, South Dakota; and Dillon, Montana, where he gained experience in geologic mapping of rock units, hot springs and geysers. Heck’s passion for preserving prehistoric artifacts led him to a career in paleontology before he even graduated. He landed an internship with a paleontologist based in Barrackville who owns Prehistoric Planet, a web-based replica store. He spent five years with the company creating and delivering fossil replicas around the U.S.

Unearthing the art of fossils

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A rocky start in college hasn’t stopped West Virginia University alumnus Zachary Heck (BS Geology, ’16) from pursuing his prehistoric passions. 

2019 Ruby Fellows

WVU names 2019 class of Ruby Fellows

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Seven students pursuing doctoral degrees at  West Virginia University are receiving funding through the Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows Program. Lauryn Alexander, Heather Baldwin, Elaine Christman, John Hansen, Emily Hughes, Alyssa Stonebraker and Nicholas Winch have been named to the eighth class of fellows. 

Growing up riding four-wheelers and collecting rocks near her grandparents’ cabin in the valleys wedged between the Rocky Mountains, Shelby Isom’s childhood was an adventure. Always on the hunt for the perfect sphere- and heart-shaped rocks, she loved being in nature. But she never expected she would turn that passion for the outdoors into a career. But that became her reality as a geology Ph.D. student at West Virginia University, where she has spent many hours scaling volcanoes and leading undergraduate students on field trips.

Trekking to the top

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Growing up riding four-wheelers and collecting rocks near her grandparents’ cabin in the valleys wedged between the Rocky Mountains, Shelby Isom’s childhood was an adventure. Always on the hunt for the perfect sphere- and heart-shaped rocks, she loved being in nature. But she never expected she would turn that passion for the outdoors into a career. 

LMKR, an international petroleum technology company, has partnered with West Virginia University to expand student and faculty access to industry-leading software. Beginning fall 2019, the Department of Geology and Geography will implement LMKR’s suite of GeoGraphix® and GVERSE, a gift valued at $8.2 million. The gift is part of LMKR's University Grant Program, which offers access to highly developed, industry-leading software used in the exploration and production market. LMKR’s software is expected to be seen when graduates enter the workforce, and this access will prepare students for real-world situations and job opportunities where GeoGraphix and GVERSE are used.

WVU receives $8.2 million software gift from LMKR for energy geology coursework and research

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LMKR, an international petroleum technology company, has partnered with West Virginia University to expand student and faculty access to industry-leading software.   

Thirty Eberly College students selected for Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

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Through West Virginia University’s Office of Undergraduate Research, students can participate in research as early as their first semester on campus. Every semester, many Eberly College students take advantage of the resources provided by this office to match with faculty conducting research in their disciplines. The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience is an eight-week summer undergraduate research experience for students interested in careers in research or graduate school
within their disciplines. The selected students receive a stipend and conduct research full-time during those eight weeks. Congratulations to the 30 Eberly College students participating in SURE for 2019!

The Center for Resilient Communities is seeking current WVU students for its 2019-2020 Community Leadership and Social Action Fellowship. The year-long program will cultivate the next generation of leaders for social action in Appalachian communities and beyond.

Center for Resilient Communities seeking applicants for 2019-2020 Community Leadership and Social Action Fellowship

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The Center for Resilient Communities is seeking current WVU students for its 2019-2020 Community Leadership and Social Action Fellowship. The year-long program will cultivate the next generation of leaders for social action in Appalachian communities and beyond.

Kassandra Colón, a West Virginia University student committed to improving cultural representation in the classroom, has been named the University’s 24th Truman Scholar, the nation’s top graduate fellowship award for aspiring public service leaders.

Focus on cultural representation in education leads to WVU’s 24th Truman Scholar

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Kassandra Colón, a  West Virginia University student committed to improving cultural representation in the classroom, has been named the University’s 24th Truman Scholar, the nation’s top graduate fellowship award for aspiring public service leaders. 

A West Virginia University heirloom seed expert is working to increase access to Appalachia’s heirloom seeds through a new seed preservation library. Heirloom seeds are seeds grown by home gardeners and farmers prior to 1940s, before industrial agriculture became the more prominent model. They rely on isolation of plant varieties and have mostly stable genetics, allowing their seeds to be saved and stewarded year after year. Mehmet Oztan, a service assistant professor of geography, has created the Morgantown Seed Preservation Library in conjunction with the Morgantown Public Library, WVU Libraries and WVU Food Justice Lab. The seed library will be housed in the Morgantown Public Library beginning Friday, April 12.

WVU geographer establishes Morgantown Seed Preservation Library

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A West Virginia University heirloom seed expert is working to increase access to Appalachia’s heirloom seeds through a new seed preservation library.