A Note From the Chair
Paul Mueller, Chair, Geological Sciences
This article was originally printed in the October 1999 issue of CLASnotes.
The Geological Sciences constitute a diverse array of disciplines directed towards improving our understanding of the origin and history of the Earth and the life it holds. True to this definition, faculty and students in the Department of Geological Sciences pursue research and teaching programs ranging from climatology to volcanology. Taking the broad definition of life to include homo sapiens, we also study humankind's influence on our planet, including the impact of our continuing pursuit and consumption of non-renewable natural resources; the implications of geologic systems and hazards for land use (e.g., sinkholes, groundwater contamination, etc.); and the debate about global warming. In order to meet these challenges to our future, the Department of Geological Sciences has developed well integrated educational and research programs that address the most fundamental and topical issues in the earth sciences. Current areas of emphasis include geochemistry, geophysics, hydrology, and environmental geology. We also have begun to develop a new instructional/research program that focuses on the history of the Earth from a systems perspective, and emphasizes studies of ancient climates as a guide to understanding how anthropogenic activity may affect our planet's future.
Growing enrollments in our graduate and undergraduate courses, strong interest in our graduates from employers in Florida and nationally, and record levels of extramural support of both our research and instructional programs speak to the quality of these programs. Most recently, our research efforts in geological oceanography were recognized in the form of an invitation to become one of only 14 institutions that comprise J.O.I. (Joint Oceanographic Institutions). J.O.I. operates the $46M Ocean Drilling Program (the world's largest multi-national earth science research program) for the National Science Foundation. In addition, we are implementing a $1,000,000 National Science Foundation grant to renovate research space in Williamson Hall that will cap a gratifying year that began in late 1998 with a celebration of the 50th anniversary of an independent Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Florida. The next fifty years will no doubt prove most interesting for our students and faculty as they strive to meet the challenges posed by the ever increasing demands that society places on our planet.
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Paul Mueller
