The Environment
In the context of the geosciences, the environment integrates biotic and abiotic aspects of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Faculty in this group includes several internationally recognized leaders in the study of water in the environment. Over a wide range of time scales, our faculty and students examine the chemical, physical, and biological impacts of environmental disturbances. We study pristine to highly degraded systems, their developmental history and anthropogenic influences, the human and ecological health implications of geogenic elements and compounds, and the measures required to restore or remediate such problems. Such research helps us sustain natural communities and ecosystems, and allows us to predict the impacts of projected changes in climate and land use on the sustainability of water resources and the health of aquatic ecosystems.
Environment Faculty
Bruno Basso - Crop Modeling, Land Use Sustainability
David Hyndman - Hydrogeology and Applied Geophysics
David Long - Aqueous and Environmental Geochemistry
Michael Velbel - Mineral-Water Interactions
Jay Zarnetske - Hydroecology and Watershed Sciences
Geomicro- and Paleo-biology & Paleoenvironment Faculty
Danita Brandt - Paleobiology and paleoecology of invertebrates
Michael Gottfried - Vertebrate Paleontology
Matt Schrenk - Geomicrobiology
Ralph Taggart - Paleobotany, Palynology, Paleoecology
Visiting Faculty
Warren Wood - Geochemistry and Hydrogeology
Emeritus Faculty
Robert Anstey - Invertebrate Paleontology
Grahame Larson - Glacial Geology and Hydrology
Joint Faculty
Randall J. Schaetzl - Soils and Geomorgphology
Catherine H. Yansa - Quaternary Paleoenvironments
Adjunct Faculty
Richard H. (Ricky) Becker - Environmental geoscience
Stephen K. Hamilton - Aquatic Biogeochemistry, Ecology
Remke Van Dam - Near-surface geophysics and hydrogeophysics
Thomas C. Voice - Environmental Chemistry