Geological Sciences - Home of Geological Sciences C.S.U.F.

2017 ALUMNI OF THE YEAR - JAMES HARRELL, PhD.

Professor James Harrell is a member of the first class to graduate from the C.S.U.F. Department of Geological Sciences in 1971. He was one of four in that first graduating class. Dr. Harrell graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Earth Science (the only degree awarded at that time) with a minor in archeology. He also completed two years of study abroad at the University of Uppsala in Sweden as part of his B.A. degree. Dr. Harrell went on to earn a M.S. in geology at the University of Oklahoma (1976) and a Ph.D. in geology at the University of Cincinnati in 1983. Professor Harrell has been a faculty member at the University of Toledo since 1979 and in 2009, after 30 years of teaching at Toledo, retired as a Professor Emeritus.

EARTHQUAKE EXPERT PREPARES NEXT GENERATION OF EARTH SCIENTISTS

Earthquake expert Sinan Akçiz, foreground, assistant professor of geological sciences, conducts research at one of the trenches across the San Andreas Fault, near the southern end of the Carrizo Plain.Sinan Akçiz, assistant professor of geological sciences, is a structural geologist and paleoseismologist who studies the times and magnitudes of past earthquakes along fault systems that affect people. He also is passionate about training the next generation of field-oriented earth scientists."I am committed to preparing my students to be hard-working, critical thinkers and lifelong learners, regardless of their career aspirations," said Akçiz, who joined Cal State Fullerton this academic year.

ABRUPT SINKING OF SEAL BEACH WETLANDS: PAST QUAKES AT FAULT

A Cal State Fullerton faculty-student study shows evidence of abrupt sinking of the wetlands near Seal Beach caused by ancient earthquakes that shook the area at least three times in the past 2,000 years — and it could happen again, the researchers say.The paleoseismology study reveals that the wetlands at the National Wildlife Refuge Seal Beach, a nearly 500-acre area located within the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach and next to the communities of Seal Beach and Huntington Harbor, are susceptible to rapid lowering in elevation during large — over 7.0 magnitude — earthquakes.

THE DIRT NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE VOL. 1

C.S.U.F. Geological Sciences department spotlights undergraduate and new faculty in latest issue. Also, see highlights and what our Alumni are doing.

Research poster from Natalie Bursztyn lab showing augmented reality sandbox.

AUGMENTED REALITY SANDBOX FROM BURSZTYN LAB WITH GEOLOGY STUDENT DANIELLE JACKSON

Research poster from Natalie Bursztyn lab with Danielle Jackson showing augmented reality sandbox. Presented at N.S.M.I.C.C. symposium poster session in March, 2017.

Geology student at 2017 N.S.M.I.C.C. symposium

GEOLOGY STUDENTS at 2017 N.S.M.I.C.C. SYMPOSIUM.

ORANGE COUNTY FOSSIL STUDY REVEALS HIDDEN HISTORY OF CROCODILES IN CALIFORNIA

In Orange County's ancient past, crocodiles lived here and existed longer in this area than anywhere else in California, a new Cal State Fullerton fossil study reveals.

WEATHERING THE DRY SPELL

Inside his lab, geological sciences professor Matthew E. Kirby studies sediment cores from Abbott Lake. In his latest study, which focused on the past 1,400 years of wetness and dryness in central coastal areas of California, paleoclimatologist Matthew E. Kirby and his students found evidence that changes in the Pacific Ocean play a key role in both wetter and drier weather patterns.

METHANE-EATING MICROORGANISMS: A SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

Sean Loyd, assistant professor of geological sciences, works in his campus lab, where he studies how rocks can preserve evidence of ancient microbial communities.

STUDY OF EXTINCT SEABIRDS REFLECTS CLIMATE CHANGE IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Until a few million years ago, penguin-like seabirds once dominated California's coasts. But due to climate changes in the state between 5-17 million years ago, this flightless seabird or "mancalline" became extinct, and other seabirds changed drastically, a student-led Cal State Fullerton study has found. Geology graduate Peter Kloess studied over 500 seabird fossils from across the state, including 242 fossil seabirds from Orange County, mostly specimens housed at the John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center.

2016 FIELD CAMP STUDENTS TRAVEL TO MONTANA

Last summer, 25 geology students learned firsthand about their discipline by conducting fieldwork in a remote, geologically-rich area of Dillon, Montana, where every kind of rock — ranging in age from 2.5 billion to hundreds of years — exist.

PACIFIC OCEAN AND CALIFORNIA DROUGHT

Geological sciences professor Matthew E. Kirby studies sediment cores.

GEOLOGIST AND SCIENCE EDUCATOR NATALIE BURSZTYN JOINS FACULTY

Natalie Bursztyn, assistant professor of geological sciences, traveled from Utah State University — where she earned her doctorate in geology — to join Cal State Fullerton’s faculty in the fall. She has taught courses on such topics as the physical features of the Earth and how the planet has changed over time.

GEOLOGY STUDENTS RECEIVE ACCOLADES AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Cal State Fullerton geology students swept the outstanding student awards for posters presented during the 112th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America’s Cordilleran Section in Ontario. Senior Isaac Magallanes was awarded best undergraduate poster for “The Most Complete Fossil Walrus From Southern California Provides Insights on Patterns of Walrus Diversity Through Time.” Graduate student Gabriel-Philip Santos was awarded best graduate poster for “Description of the Sedimentology and Taphonomy of the Late Uintan Talega Bonebed From Orange County, California.” Seniors Rebecca Steever and Katie Pickett (with graduate student Nancy Chen) received the undergraduate runner-up award for their poster “Evaluating a Potential Connection Between the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Osa Creek Ring Complex and the Blackrock Andesite, Southern Sierra Nevada, CA.” Nearly 50 Cal State Fullerton undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members and alumni presented work at this year’s meeting. “Doing research, especially as an undergraduate student, that is worthy of publication and presentation at a conference such as this is the pinnacle of high-impact practice,” said Phil Armstrong, chair and professor of geological sciences.

This illustration depicts an adult and juvenile desmostylian. By Justin Santos

O.C. FOSSIL FIND: GRADUATE STUDENT IDENTIFIES ANCIENT MAMMAL

Cal State Fullerton graduate student Gabriel-Philip Santos has uncovered a fossil from Orange County — an 8-to-13 million-year-old member of an extinct group of herbivorous marine mammals called desmostylians, a hippo-like looking animal. For the past three years, Santos has studied the fossil, a partial jaw of the desmostylian, found in 1996 during construction of the State Route 241 toll road, near Mission Viejo. Santos' research focuses on the age and growth of desmostylians, revealing that the John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center fossil specimen is an individual that lived to an old age — the most elderly ever found.

Events coming up!

COMMENCEMENT: May 21st, Sunday, approximately 9:30AM
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics ceremony information. Opens in new window

ALUMNI DINNER: SAVE THE DATE! 2017 Alumni Dinner - October 6, 2017, 6PM. Location in downtown Fullerton. Florentine's at Harbor and Commonwealth.

See calendar for more events.

Welcome FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Welcome to the Department of Geological Sciences at C.S.U.F!! I invite you to explore these pages to learn about our department, including our student-centered courses and the incredible research our students and faculty are doing locally, regionally, and around the world. Check out the “Where in the World” poster that shows where you might find C.S.U.F. geologists.

What programs do we offer? Well, we offer two undergraduate degrees – B.S. in Geology and B.A. in Earth Science, an M.S. in Geology, and a minor in Geology. Nearly all of our courses include high-impact field and/or lab learning environments with ample opportunity for original student research. Both our B.S. and M.S. in Geology require an intensive thesis. Our B.A. in Earth Science is designed to offer maximum flexibility to enable students to choose a set of courses that align with their academic and career goals. As our well-established alumni could attest, C.S.U.F. geology graduates continue to be highly sought-after by both employers and grad schools.

That’s some of the Dirt! Phil Armstrong, Chair

2016 field trip

California State University, Fullerton