WVU Geography Faculty Create New GEP Program
Motivated by the challenges presented by COVID-19 for experiential learning, faculty in the WVU Geography Program worked to develop a new model to connect students to professional development opportunities. Engaging community partners from across the state, projects were identified, and students were recruited to bring needed and valued resources to real-life problems.
The WVU Center for Resilient Communities is proud to host the first Geography Engagement Program within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Twenty students have been selected to participate in the experiential learning program’s Spring 2021 cohort.
The Geography Engagement Program is designed to offer experiential learning opportunities to students in areas like food access, geographic information systems (GIS), land trusts, health equity, and community engagement. Each student hails from the Eberly College of Arts and Science, but are in various major programs, ranging from Geography, Finance and Administration, Biology, or Environmental Geoscience. Students will receive course credit and job placement as a part of the opportunity.
The Geography Engagement Program at the Center for Resilient Communities at West Virginia University, is made possible with generous support from the One Foundation.
Research Spotlight
WVU maintains R1 rank
Learn more about WVUs ranking as a Research University (Highest Research Activity)
– R1 – in the 2018 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
WVU Humanities Center announces recipients of ‘Life in the Time of COVID-19’ grants
A WVU Geography assistant professor, Jamie Shinn, was awarded one of seven “Life in the Time of COVID-19” grants to research projects that address the pandemic from a humanistic perspective.
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.
News:
Events:
- 021921Picture a Scientist Virtual Film Screening and Panel Discussion
- 021021Poetry reading by Amy Alvarez
- 012821Seedy Talks with Noah Schlager
- 012021The Assault on the Capitol in Historical Perspective
- 121120Sharing Stories and Taking Action: Racial Justice Grantee Showcase
- 111920Seedy Talks with Kristyn Leach: Race, Culture and Language of Seeds
- 111820Thunderstruck Virtual Tour
- 111320Food and Race Online Reading Group: Discussion with the Author
Student Spotlight
Geology graduate student unlocking the history of life on Earth.
Growing up as a loyal fan of “Jurassic Park” in a family of nature lovers, geology
student Sam Ocon always knew she wanted to be a paleontologist. Today, she
is fulfilling her dream of studying invertebrate paleontology. Her research on
the evolution of horseshoe crabs was selected for presentation at the Future Leaders
of Paleontology session of the Geological Society of America’s 2020 annual meeting,
held virtually last month.
May the Quartz Be With You
As part of Earth Science Week 2020,
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) intern and
West Virginia University Department of Geology and Geography grad Emma Krolczyk
helped share how quartz is used to study all kinds of things, from earthquakes
to archaeology. Watch the video.
Hurricanes and Marginalization 
WVU Geography graduate student, Brandon Rothrock, work “Hurricanes and Marginalization: How Climate Disasters Affect LGBTQ+ Persons” is part of his year-long fellowship with the Rachel Carson Council.
Read more about his research.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.
