Geosciences: Providing Opportunities During Changing Times April 16-17, 2021 | Virtual Event

REGISTER to get the Zoom links!

If you have any questions, please email  Travis Esbenshade  at  tesbenshade@wcgrp.com .

Alumni are invited to attend this virtual event to connect with fellow alumni, interact with students and faculty and attend informal talks and discussions. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Lynn Wingard, Research Geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey.

Friday April 16, 2-6 p.m. EDT and Saturday April 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. EDT

We look forward to seeing you in April!

Sponsored by Ohio University Department of Geological Sciences and the Geological Sciences Alumni Advisory Board.

A reminder message with the event agenda and Zoom instructions will be sent the week prior to the event.

Please be sure to register by April 9. If you have any questions, please email Travis Esbenshade at  tesbenshade@wcgrp.com .

• View the Geological Sciences website
• View the Geological Sciences Alumni Symposium
• Geological Sciences Alumni Advisory Board

2021 Agenda

• A reminder message with the event agenda and Zoom instructions will be sent the week prior to the event to registrants.

Friday, April 16, via Zoom Conference

2 – 2:10 p.m. Opening and Introduction – Mr. Patrick Jackson, Chair of the Ohio University Alumni Board

2:15 – 2:35 p.m. State of the Department – Dr. Alycia Stigall, Geological Sciences Professor and Chair

2:35 – 2:45 p.m. Q&A with Dr. Stigall

2:50 – 3:35 p.m. Keynote Address – "The Emerging Field of Conservation Paleobiology and Its Role in Restoration of the Greater Everglades Ecosystems" with Dr. Lynn Wingard , U.S. Geological Survey Research Geologist

3:35 – 3:45 p.m. Q&A with Dr. Wingard

3:45 – 3:55 p.m. Break

3:55 – 3:25 p.m. Lawsonite Eclogites: A Cool Take on Subduction Zone Processes – Dr. Katherine Fornash, Geological Sciences Assistant Professor

4:30 – 4:55 p.m. The Future of Carbon Capture Utilization, and Storage (CCUS): Insights and Opportunities for Geoscientists – Mr. Tom Tomastik, Chief Geologist, ALL Consulting, LLC

5 – 5:10 p.m. Donations and Endowments – Mr. David Johnson, Director of Development for Major Giving at Ohio University

5:15 – 6:15 p.m. Open Forum and Panel Discussion with Alumni on Employment Opportunities and Career Development – Dr. Michael Young, University of Texas; Casey O’Brien, Shell; Tom Antonacci, Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc.; Sierra Isard, North Carolina Geological Survey; and Liz Lantzsch, RHI Magnesita

Saturday, April 17, via Zoom Conference

9:15 – 9:50 a.m. Poster Presentations by Students  – Poster Breakout Rooms Attendees can move into small virtual groups for poster Q&A with student presenters as hosts.

10 – 10:15 a.m. How do Ecological Niches Evolve during Late Ordovician Environmental Change? A Test using Laurentian Brachiopods – Ms. Ceara Purcell, Second Year Graduate Program

10:20 – 10:35 a.m. – Scallops Through Space and Time: A Study of Scallop Patterns and Consistency – Ms. Hannah Bortel, Second Year Graduate Program

10:40 – 11: 00 amTodays’ Employment Opportunities in the Environmental Sector – Mr. Mitchell Brourman, Executive Principal, Field Environmental Instruments

11:05 – 11:30 a.m. Using Artificial Neural Networks to Model Complex Problems in Geoscience – Dr. Dina Lopez, Professor Emerita of Geological Sciences

11:30 – 11: 40 a.m. Break

11:40 a.m. – noon Largest U.S. Dam Removal and the Science Community’s Integral Part – Ms. Lisa DeRose, Project Scientist III, Camas, LLC

12:05 – 12:30 p.m. Recent Advances in Interpreting Deep-Marine Deposits – Dr. Ganapathy Shanmugan (M.S. 1972), University of Texas at Arlington

12:30 – 12:35 p.m. Q&A with Dr. Shanmugam

12:35 – 12:50 p.m. Alumni Scholarship Announcement

12:50 – 1:05 p.m. Closing Remarks – Mr. Patrick Jackson, Chair Ohio University Alumni Board

1:10 – 2:10 p.m. Alumni Breakout Groups – Students can jump into small virtual groups with alumni for general Q&A. Groups will be hosted by alumni board members.