October 24, 2006

SIUC faculty to present at geology conference

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Eight geoscientists at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will present research at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Philadelphia.

About 6,200 geoscientists from across the nation will attend the event, scheduled for the week of Oct. 22. The annual meeting provides researchers the opportunity to present and listen to presentations on the cutting-edge science conducted in their field.

SIUC researchers scheduled to present work include:

• John C. Crelling, professor emeritus of geology. His work involves teaching critical observation with forensic geology.

•Eric C. Ferre, associate professor of geology. His work involves the structure of the Earth's crust.

•Paul J. Dixon, undergraduate research assistant, geology. His work involves the Larsen Ice Shelf region in Antarctica.

• Paul E. Kaelin, research assistant, geology. His work involves coal formation.

•Nicholas Pinter, professor, geology. His work involves study of the North Channel Islands of California.

• Abani Samal, research assistant, geology. His work involves modeling gold mineralization at a site in Nevada.

•Constanza Casanova De Larraechea, doctoral student, environmental resources and policy. Her work involves the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.

•Jonathan W. F. Remo, doctoral student, environmental resources and policy. His work involves retro-modeling the Middle Mississippi River.

•Richard H. Fifarek, associate professor, geology. His work involves the study of magmatic brine.

Enhancing the culture of research and scholarship is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.