Category: Presentations

Garihan et al., publish the Geologic Map of Campobello Quadrangle, SC

smuthukrishnan / / Appalachian Geology, Department, Earthscience News, Faculty News, Presentations, Publication, Student News

The South Carolina Geological Survey recently published the Geologic map of Campobello, South Carolina (GQM 51). It is available to the public at:

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/geology/publications.htm#gqm

This publication is the result of geologic mapping done in Summer 2010 by Earth and Environmental Sciences majors Alyssa Wickard and Rhonda Chan Soo, supervised by Dr. Ranson and Dr. Garihan.  This research was funded by Furman Advantage Research Fellowship and logistical support was provided by SC Geological Survey. The students spent the summer time mapping the geology and structure in this area including tracing of the extent of the known brittle faults eastward within this quadrangle. In addition, Alyssa Wickard and JMG have submitted a manuscript to South Carolina Geology with emphasis on the polyphase folding in Campobello and its relationship to folding in the Inner Piedmont.

Extreme Science: Meteorite Impact on the Atlantic Coast

smuthukrishnan / / Alumni News, Bartram Society, CLP Event, Department, Earthscience News, Presentations

2011-04-04_Extreme Science Talk HortonAbout 35 million years ago, an asteroid or comet nucleus collided with Earth at the present mouth of Chesapeake Bay. The product of this environmental catastrophe, known as the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, is now concealed beneath sediments on the Atlantic continental margin. This 53-mile-wide feature is one of Earth’s largest and best-preserved examples of an impact crater that formed in a near-shore marine environment. It has profound influence on modern ground-water quality, notably salinity, in one of the fastest growing urban centers on the east coast. Drilling a mile-deep core hole and studies in geology, hydrology, geophysical imaging, computer modeling, and deep-biosphere microbiology provide insight into this catastrophic event, its consequences for life, ground-water resources, hazard implications, and significance for other planetary bodies.

This was the synopsis of the presentation made by Dr. Wright Horton, who graduated from Furman in 1972 and later earned a Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill.  He has spent most of his career as a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).  His interests include geology of the Appalachian Piedmont and Mountains, rocks buried under the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and meteorite impact craters.  In connection with this talk, he served as project chief of the USGS Chesapeake Bay impact crater project and co-principal investigator of a related international deep drilling project. 

This event was sponsored by Bartram Society and the department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. 

More photos here.

Research Presentation at Southeastern Geological Society of America Meeting

smuthukrishnan / / Department, Presentations, RBRI Research, Student News

Students and faculty from Furman University attended the annual meeting of the Southeastern Geological Society of America held in Wilmington, NC.  Nine students presented their research work in the form of posters.  Students in attendance at the conference were: Virginia Batts, Rhonda Chan Soo, Ruthanne Coffey, Elizabeth Johnston, Brittany Lins, Molly McGee, Hannah Pearcy, Alyssa Wickard, and Summer Arrowood. 

Click on the photo or here to see additional photos.

Environmental Policy Student Research Presentations

smuthukrishnan / / Department, Presentations, Student News, Sustainability

Environmental Policy offered by Dr. Angela Halfacre (Director of Shi Center for Sustainability and Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Political Science departments) attracts students interested in sustainability, environmental policy, environmental law, earth and environmental sciences, and political science.  This course offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how environmental policy can address problems relating to consumption, development, environmental risk, and environmental justice.   An important part of this course are student research projects.  These projects examine  policy, including perceptions and behaviors, on the Furman campus or in the Greater Upcountry region (Greater Greenville, South Carolina).  Connections to and considerations of environmental policy approaches related to preservation, conservation, protection and sustainability are emphasized and examined through the student research. A central theme of the course is the policy and politics of sustainability strategies by scale (campus to community).

EnvPolicy_Poster

The students in the Fall 2010 section of the course shared the results of their semester research through a poster session held on December 1 at the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability located at Cliffs Cottage.  Over 70 participants attended the event, and students shared a short overview of their projects and participants then talked one on one with the students about their research in greater detail.  Representatives from several community partners attended including Greenville Forward, the City of Greenville, Spartanburg County, and Upstate Forever.   Faculty, staff, administrators, and students from several departments and divisions also participated, and shared ideas, fellowship, and conversation about the research while also enjoying seasonal sweets (warm apple cider, apple fritters, and sweet potato bread supplied by Aramark).   Several of the research projects will be continued by the students in their future individual research efforts as well as through "legacy projects" with students enrolling in future offerings of the Environmental Policy course.

More details regarding individual research projects or further enquiries about the center should be sent to Brittany DeKnight at the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability, Furman University.