Department News
Reminiscing About Dr. Helen Lang.
Kathy Benison and Dorothy Vesper had dinner with Marty and Howard Corren during GSA in Denver. Marty is Helen Lang’s sister. We had a great time reminiscing and telling stories about Helen.
Help Support our Geology Field Camp
We need your help to lessen the financial burden of attending field camp for five geology students. Field camp provides an incredible opportunity for our students and creates meaningful hands-on experiences that will last a lifetime.
Dan and Pat Billman have launched a challenge to support Geology field camp:
“As geologists we know, the best geologists see the most rocks. Future WVU geologists need our support now. Please join us in championing WVU Geology’s field camp and courses.” - Dan Billman (1989 MS Geology) and Pam Billman (1988 MS Geology)
We're Hiring!
The Department has opened searches for two tenure rack positions which are part of the transformation of the department towards a greater emphasis on Sustainability:
Department Research Spotlight
Mapping West Virginia
New research from
West Virginia University is transforming understanding of the Mountain
State’s famous landscape – and identifying ways to preserve it.
As WVU’s latest NSF CAREER Award winner, Assistant Professor of Geography
Aaron Maxwell will use big data to map what the surface of West Virginia
looked like over the last 60 years. The funding includes $636,785 over five years.
Mapping a Legacy: New Geography Endowment
After a 35-year career in the Department of Geology and Geography, Professor Emeritus Gregory Elmes aspires to give back to the university that has given him so much.
He and wife Jeanne (MM Music Performance, 1999) have established a planned gift, the Dr. Gregory and Mrs. Jeanne Elmes Geography Endowment, to support undergraduate geography students in their research endeavors.
WVU Geology Faculty Develops Virtual Lab
When the coronavirus began to spread around the world in early 2020,
West Virginia University Department of Geology and Geography's Graham Andrews
knew he needed to act fast. He already had 3D photography software and a drone
on hand for a volcanology research project. But with some quick thinking and the
help of five students, an idea was born -- a virtual geology lab.
Student Spotlight
The Listening Project
West Virginia University
geography students, in collaboration with community leaders, are responding.
The Listening Project is a partnership between WVU’s Center for Resilient Communities
and West Virginia organizers, Amy Jo Hutchison and Jennifer Wells, that gathers
stories of strength and struggle as West Virginians seek to find solidarity in
uncertain times.
The Culture of Cooperation
Dina Hornbaker a farm manager for New Roots Community Farm in Fayetteville,
West Virginia talks about the life changing impact of geography. "I majored in
multidisciplinary studies in geography, Spanish and communication studies. I have
always enjoyed studying the relationships among areas, natural systems, cultural
activities and the interdependence of all of these throughout the Earth."
Turning a Corner on Food Insecurity
Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective is a food hub that aggregates, sells and distributes locally grown and produced products across West Virginia. It is an initiative in WVU’s Center for Resilient Communities, which conducts community-based action research addressing Appalachia’s most pressing challenges.
As a graduate research assistant with Turnrow and online farms market manager for Sprouting Farms, geography master’s student Valerie Slone is putting her research into action.
Get involved.
Student Organizations
We offer several student organizations to help you make the most of of your education.
Internships
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
Selected students are awarded a $3,500 stipend for eight weeks of mentored research. An additional $2,000 is available for travel to a professional conference or for supplies.
