Doctor of Philosophy in Geosciences
The Department of
Geosciences at Florida Atlantic
University offers advanced graduate
training leading to the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in
Geosciences. This
professionally oriented program
combines department specialties in
geography and geology with other
cognate areas in the College and the
University through an innovative
curriculum that includes ecology and
conversation biology, chemistry,
anthropology, civil engineering,
ocean engineering and urban and
regional planning. The program will
provide advanced research and
technical training to allow its
graduates to find solutions to
problems. While the main focus of
the degree is on traditional,
full-time students, the degree
program also welcomes part-time
students who wish to maintain their
professional employment while
earning their doctoral degree.
The Department expects doctoral
students in the program to
specialize in one of the following
three areas:
--Hydrology and Water
Resources. Research in the
areas of hydrology and water
resources aimed at developing a more
complete understanding of both
surface and sub-surface processes
and their practical applications,
especially dealing with flow issues,
supply issues and water quality, as
well as the effects of global
warming. Studies also include
coastal and wetland environments.
This research area combines
coursework and faculty expertise in
spatial information technology
including GIS, hydrologic modeling,
digital image analysis and
geovisualization as well as geology,
geography, biology, civil and ocean
engineering and chemistry.
--Urban Development and
Sustainability. Research on
urban land use change, urban
environmental systems and urban
economic development utilizing
geographic information science and
other spatial analysis tools to
incorporate sustainable urban
development in the subtropical
environment of the everglades
ecosystem, including the local
impact of globalization and global
environmental change on South
Florida communities. This research
area combines coursework and faculty
expertise in GIS, remote sensing,
geovisualization and cartography as
well as faculty expertise in
geography, geology, biology and
urban and regional planning.
--Cultural and Spatial
Ecology. Research focused
on the biogeography of natural
ecosystems as well as ethnobotanical
studies focused on the cultural
variations in human uses and
sustainability of plants. Emphasis
on reconstructing past environments
and analyzing present environments
utilizing field work, satellite
imagery, aerial photographs and
archival research as well as
extracting environmental information
from advanced and specialized remote
sensing imagery for mapping and
modeling of vegetation, ecosystems
and natural resources. This research
area combines coursework and faculty
expertise in field methods and
spatial information technology such
as GPS, GIS, satellite image
analysis, and geovisualization as
well as geography, geology,
anthropology and biology. Admission
Requirements: Individuals will be
admitted to the doctoral program in
Geosciences based on the following
requirements.
MEDIA CONTACT: Patsy Jones
561-297-1307, patsyj@fau.edu
FAU Geosciences Professors Author Everglades Book
BOCA RATON, FL (July 11, 2007) – Florida Atlantic University’s
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science geoscience professors Edward J. Petuch,
Ph.D. and Charles Roberts, Ph.D., recently have written “Geology of the Everglades
and Adjacent Areas,” a comprehensive book that contains the first complete
overview of the historical geology of the Everglades, from the effects of the
Chesapeake Bay asteroid impact to the modern Everglades marshlands.
The book explores the overwhelming
amount of geological data that has been gathered from previously unexplored,
inaccessible peripheral areas of where an explosion of housing, commercial,
agricultural and municipal development has rapidly encroached on the edges of
the Everglades.
“Utilizing
Dr. Petuch’s many years of field work in the quarries and canals of South
Florida, we have reconstructed simulated space shuttle scenes of the Everglades
and South Florida at various times in the past,” said Roberts. “From that, we
created an animated map of sea level transgressions and regressions over 30
million years.”
Petuch
and Roberts were able to conduct their field research from drainage canal digs,
land and road fill quarries, and lake excavations for housing developments.
Viewing the significance and frequency of the changes continuing in the Everglades, both Petuch and Roberts consider themselves extremely fortunate that they were
able to gather as much data as quickly as possible.
Petuch has taught at FAU since 1987. He received both his
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from the University of Wisconsin and his Ph.D. from the University of Miami. Roberts has taught at FAU since 1990. He
received his bachelor’s degree in geography-anthropology from Vassar College, and his master’s and Ph.D. in geography from Pennsylvania State University.
For more information, contact Edward Petuch at 561-297-2398
or epetuch@fau.edu, or Charles Roberts at
561-297-3254 or croberts@fau.edu.
-FAU-
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the
University serves more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven
campuses strategically located along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern
coastline. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a
world-class faculty, FAU hosts nine colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt
College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical
Science, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Christine E. Lynn
College of Nursing, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Barry Kaye
College of Business and the Colleges of Education, Engineering &
Computer Science, and Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs.
Lisa Freed
MEDIA CONTACT: Patsy Jones
(561)297-1307, patsyj@fau.edu
FAU Partners With Earth System Science Education Alliance Project
BOCA RATON, FL (July 3, 2007) – The Department of Geosciences in
the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic University has
been selected as a partner institution in the Earth System Science Education
Alliance (ESSEA), an innovative professional development program for
pre-service and in-service middle and high school teachers. As part of this
program, FAU will join other colleges, universities and science research and
education organizations spread among 22 states and the District of Columbia.
“We are
excited about the opportunity to contribute to earth science and environmental
education in South Florida,” said Dr. Russell Ivy, chair of the Department of
Geosciences at FAU. “Dr. Tara Root, Dr. Tobin Hindle and leaders from the
Center for Environmental Education at FAU will develop online teaching modules
in the earth sciences that will be delivered in courses provided by FAU.”
As an
ESSEA partner, FAU will receive funding and training to offer a series of
online Earth system science courses geared toward teachers of specific grade
levels and aligned to national education standards. Working in collaborative
groups, teachers who enroll in ESSEA courses at FAU can earn credits while
learning to teach Earth system science using inquiry-based classroom methods.
“I
believe the cohort of partners we have selected are an excellent mix that will
bring varied and innovative approaches to implementing the ESSEA courses,” said
Theresa Schwerin, IGES’s associate director of education.
ESSEA is
funded through a cooperative agreement awarded to IGES by the National Science
Foundation (NSF) under its Geoscience Teacher Training (GEO-Teach) program,
which supports projects designed to improve the quality of geoscience
education, primarily at the middle and high school levels. GEO-Teach projects
provide pre-service teacher training, in-service professional development and
access to high-quality curricular materials.
“I’m
thrilled with the selections that were made,” said Jill Karsten, program
director for diversity and education in NSF’s Geosciences Directorate. “It is a
diverse set, both geographically and institutionally, and I am excited about
the impact ESSEA will be having.”
Located
in Arlington, Va., IGES was established in 1994 and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization supported by public and private entities. IGES is a trusted leader
in Earth and space science education, communication and outreach, and in
fostering national and international cooperation in observing the Earth.
For more
information on this project, visit: http://essea.strategies.org
or contact Dr. Tobin Hindle at thindle@fau.edu.
-FAU-
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the
University serves more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven
campuses strategically located along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern
coastline. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a
world-class faculty, FAU hosts nine colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt
College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical
Science, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Christine E. Lynn
College of Nursing, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Barry Kaye
College of Business and the Colleges of Education, Engineering &
Computer Science, and Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs.
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