Courses taught at Washington State University (2015-present):
Undergraduate-level courses:
SOE 210: Earth's History and Evolution
This course provides an overview of the origins and evolution of Earth and its life forms over geologic time, by teaching how the science of Geology has been applied to the study of the rock and fossil record. I cover topics including the origins of the solar system, plate tectonics, and the atmosphere and oceans, as well as an introduction to geologic time, absolute and relative dating methods, the principles of stratigraphy, and interpretation of the fossil record. By the end of this course, students should have a good understanding of the basics of the scientific process of inquiry, the requirements and limitations of scientific theories, and a full appreciation of the true magnitude of geologic time.
This course provides an overview of the origins and evolution of Earth and its life forms over geologic time, by teaching how the science of Geology has been applied to the study of the rock and fossil record. I cover topics including the origins of the solar system, plate tectonics, and the atmosphere and oceans, as well as an introduction to geologic time, absolute and relative dating methods, the principles of stratigraphy, and interpretation of the fossil record. By the end of this course, students should have a good understanding of the basics of the scientific process of inquiry, the requirements and limitations of scientific theories, and a full appreciation of the true magnitude of geologic time.
SOE 340: Structural Geology and Plate Tectonics
As a result of the application of stresses over geologic time scales, Earth materials such as rocks deform through a variety of processes, at scales that range from submicroscopic to regional. This course presents a thorough examination of the mechanisms by which Earth materials deform, and the geologic structures that result from this deformation. An understanding of structural geology is fundamental to multiple geologic fields, including exploration for natural resources such as oil, gas, coal, and precious metals, exploration for groundwater and geothermal energy resources, and evaluation and mitigation of natural geologic hazards. A field trip to the Salmon River Suture Zone in central Idaho is a highlight of this class.
As a result of the application of stresses over geologic time scales, Earth materials such as rocks deform through a variety of processes, at scales that range from submicroscopic to regional. This course presents a thorough examination of the mechanisms by which Earth materials deform, and the geologic structures that result from this deformation. An understanding of structural geology is fundamental to multiple geologic fields, including exploration for natural resources such as oil, gas, coal, and precious metals, exploration for groundwater and geothermal energy resources, and evaluation and mitigation of natural geologic hazards. A field trip to the Salmon River Suture Zone in central Idaho is a highlight of this class.
SOE 408 / UI GEOL 490: Field Geology
This is the 3-credit, 3-week, capstone course for the B.S. degree in Earth Science at WSU, and is co-run with students from the University of Idaho. It is taught every Summer, from mid-May to early June, out of Dillon, MT. In this course, which is centered around mapping-based field exercises, students synthesize information they have gained through their entire program in order to understand complex geologic field relations in three dimensions. Students master advanced field skills, including geologic mapping, lithologic description, measurement of planar and linear features, and structural analysis. This course is enhanced by the spectacular geologic setting of these exercises, in beautiful western Montana.
This is the 3-credit, 3-week, capstone course for the B.S. degree in Earth Science at WSU, and is co-run with students from the University of Idaho. It is taught every Summer, from mid-May to early June, out of Dillon, MT. In this course, which is centered around mapping-based field exercises, students synthesize information they have gained through their entire program in order to understand complex geologic field relations in three dimensions. Students master advanced field skills, including geologic mapping, lithologic description, measurement of planar and linear features, and structural analysis. This course is enhanced by the spectacular geologic setting of these exercises, in beautiful western Montana.
Graduate-level courses:
SOE 541: Orogenic systems
Orogenic belts are the result of crustal shortening and thickening focused at convergent continental margins. Much of this crustal shortening is accomplished through the construction of fold-thrust belts. An understanding of the geometry, kinematics, and dynamics of fold-thrust belt development is critical to the study of contractional tectonics, and also plays a key role in our hunt for natural resources, including oil, natural gas, coal, rare earth elements, and precious metals. The purpose of this graduate-level course is to gain an understanding of orogenic systems by undertaking a semester-long case study on the North American Cordilleran orogenic belt. A highlight of this course is a week-long field trip along a transect through the scenic and specactular Cordilleran fold-thrust belt in Alberta, which gives students a first-hand look at one of our best-understood orogenic systems.
Orogenic belts are the result of crustal shortening and thickening focused at convergent continental margins. Much of this crustal shortening is accomplished through the construction of fold-thrust belts. An understanding of the geometry, kinematics, and dynamics of fold-thrust belt development is critical to the study of contractional tectonics, and also plays a key role in our hunt for natural resources, including oil, natural gas, coal, rare earth elements, and precious metals. The purpose of this graduate-level course is to gain an understanding of orogenic systems by undertaking a semester-long case study on the North American Cordilleran orogenic belt. A highlight of this course is a week-long field trip along a transect through the scenic and specactular Cordilleran fold-thrust belt in Alberta, which gives students a first-hand look at one of our best-understood orogenic systems.
SOE 542: Extensional Tectonics
Tectonic extension is accommodated by normal faults and normal-sense shear zones, which work together to thin and elongate the upper and lower crust, respectively. An understanding of the geometry and dynamics of how these structures act to thin the crust is critical to the study of tectonics. Also, because normal faults form primary conduits for fluid flow and mineralization, an understanding of extensional tectonics is fundamental to the hunt for natural resources. In this course, we will undergo a semester-long case study on the Basin and Range province in Nevada and Utah, the world’s finest active extensional province. A highlight of this course is a week-long field trip to several classic localities in Nevada, including the Northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex.
Tectonic extension is accommodated by normal faults and normal-sense shear zones, which work together to thin and elongate the upper and lower crust, respectively. An understanding of the geometry and dynamics of how these structures act to thin the crust is critical to the study of tectonics. Also, because normal faults form primary conduits for fluid flow and mineralization, an understanding of extensional tectonics is fundamental to the hunt for natural resources. In this course, we will undergo a semester-long case study on the Basin and Range province in Nevada and Utah, the world’s finest active extensional province. A highlight of this course is a week-long field trip to several classic localities in Nevada, including the Northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex.
Courses taught at University of Nevada, Reno (2011-2015):
GEOL 451: Summer Field Camp (Director, 2013-2015)
This is a six credit, six week long capstone course, open to geology B.S. students from all over the country. This is a comprehensive class that teaches diverse skills ranging from basic use of topographic maps, to advanced understanding, analysis, and interpretation of geologic field relationships. Most of our exercises are founded in the creation of geologic maps.
About two-thirds of the course is run out of UNR's field station in the town of Ruth, about 5 miles west of Ely, Nevada. The rest of the course is run out of the town of Sutcliffe, NV, about an hour north of Reno, on Pyramid Lake. Many scenic areas are near our field sites, including Great Basin National Park and Lake Tahoe.
For more information, please visit the UNR field camp website.
About two-thirds of the course is run out of UNR's field station in the town of Ruth, about 5 miles west of Ely, Nevada. The rest of the course is run out of the town of Sutcliffe, NV, about an hour north of Reno, on Pyramid Lake. Many scenic areas are near our field sites, including Great Basin National Park and Lake Tahoe.
For more information, please visit the UNR field camp website.
GEOL 731: Orogenic Systems (Fall, 2011)
Modern and ancient orogenic systems are the result of contractional deformation focused at convergent continental margins. This deformation acts to thicken the crust, forming the world’s largest regions of high topography in the process. Contractional deformation in the upper crust is often manifested through the formation of fold-thrust belts, which are linear regions of closely-spaced thrust faults and associated folds that can accommodate hundreds of kilometers of crustal shortening. An understanding of the geometry, kinematics, and dynamics of fold-thrust belt development is critical to the study of contractional tectonics, and also plays a key role in our hunt for natural resources.
The purpose of this graduate-level course is to gain an understanding of orogenic systems by undergoing a semester-long case study on the western U.S. portion of the North American Cordilleran fold-thrust belt. Key to this case study was a week-long field trip along a transect through the Sevier foldthrust belt in northern Utah and northeastern Nevada, which was run in collaboration with Idaho State University.
The purpose of this graduate-level course is to gain an understanding of orogenic systems by undergoing a semester-long case study on the western U.S. portion of the North American Cordilleran fold-thrust belt. Key to this case study was a week-long field trip along a transect through the Sevier foldthrust belt in northern Utah and northeastern Nevada, which was run in collaboration with Idaho State University.
GEOL 701A: Balanced Cross-Sections (Spring, 2012)
Restoration of the geometry of a fold-thrust belt to its pre-deformational state is fundamental for understanding the processes of contractional deformation. The most common technique for achieving this is drafting an undeformed cross-section by precisely matching the fault offsets, line lengths, and angles of the deformed cross-section. This technique is called line-length balancing, and has been utilized by academic and industry geologists for over 30 years. This is a time-tested method for illustrating deformation geometry, evaluating viable kinematic development, and quantifying shortening magnitude.
In this graduate-level course, students use map data collected from the Himalayan fold-thrust belt in Bhutan, and they each draft a deformed and restored cross-section, in order to gain an understanding of deformation processes such as thrust imbrication and duplexing, to develop skills in restoring deformation, and to quantify a shortening estimate. In addition, students are encouraged to try different deformation geometries, which highlights the range of permissible geometric solutions, and allows critical evaluation of the technique and its application.
In this graduate-level course, students use map data collected from the Himalayan fold-thrust belt in Bhutan, and they each draft a deformed and restored cross-section, in order to gain an understanding of deformation processes such as thrust imbrication and duplexing, to develop skills in restoring deformation, and to quantify a shortening estimate. In addition, students are encouraged to try different deformation geometries, which highlights the range of permissible geometric solutions, and allows critical evaluation of the technique and its application.
Courses taught at Idaho State University (2005-2006):
GEOL 1101: Physical Geology: Fall, 2005, and Spring, 2006
This course addressed several grand challenges of Earth science, including the need to better understand biogeochemical cycles, the rock cycle, climate change, the hydrologic cycle, and renewable and non-renewable resources. One of the main objectives was that students develop a general understanding of the scientific process that will then be used to evaluate human interactions with the natural world. Students became familiar with many Earth science terms, concepts, and methods, and were required to perform basic research and simple scientific procedures, including gathering data, organizing information, and communicating what they have learned through written work. This process enhanced their critical thinking, logic, and communications and discussion skills useful to multiple disciplines.