Student Regina Khoury, Brandon Browne Geology Regina Khoury (MS Student, Environmental Systems - Geology) and professor Brandon Browne (Geology Department) presented their original research poster in Spokane, WA, at the May 15-17, 2024 Geological Society of America Cordilleran Section Meeting. Their research poster, titled "Petrologic and Geochemical Constraints on Pre-Eruptive Storage Conditions of Magmas Erupted During the ~12.5 ka Flare Up of Medicine Lake Volcano, CA," described the results of Regina's MS thesis, including detailed field mapping of lavas and vents, whole-rock geochemical analysis of lavas and pyroclasts, and in situ chemical analysis of tiny crystals within lavas and pyroclasts.   

Faculty Melanie Michalak, Susan Cashman, Dana Christensen, Taylor Team Geology Melanie Michalak (Faculty- Geology) with co-authors Susan Cashman (Emeritus Geology Professor), Taylor Team (Humboldt Geology MS ’21), Dana Christensen (Humboldt Geology MS ’21) and Victoria Langenheim (USGS Geophysicist) published their work in the open access journal Geosphere. This publication is a long format research paper investigating Neogene tectonics and mountain building of the southern Klamath Mountains Province, a geologic province that records millions of years of faulting, magmatism, and deformation due to its position on the upper plate of tectonic plate subduction. Download the paper here: https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02612.1

Faculty Brandon Browne Geology Dr. Brandon Browne and colleagues from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, and King Saud University recently published a scientific article titled "Structure of shallow magma sources beneath Augustine Volcano (Alaska) inferred from local earthquake tomography" in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. The article presents a 3D model of the magma storage system beneath Augustine Volcano using arrival time data from local seismicity, which is crucial information for eruption forecasting, volcanic hazard assessment efforts, and a broader understanding of the structure of magma and fluid sources beneath the active volcano. 

Student Jacob Aguilera, Elizabeth Aparicio, Lisa Elconin, Dennis Lindelof, Jane Martinez, Emily Shiver, Jacky Baughman, Melanie Michalak Geology Jacob Aguilera, Elizabeth Aparicio, Lisa Elconin, Dennis Lindelof, Jane Martinez, and Emily Shiver presented their original research in Reno, NV at the Geological Society of America Section Meeting. They participated in a pilot one-year long program integrating quantitative, field and lab-based geologic research into the Geology curriculum, led by faculty mentors Jacky Baughman and Melanie Michalak, funded by an NSF AGeS-DiG grant. They presented two posters; i) on their investigation of the effects of a 52 million year old tectonic plate shift on the northern Klamath Mountains, and ii) what the research cohort collaboration was like from their experience.

Student Daniel Abel, Osvaldo Bustos-Perez, Derek Cohen, Regina Khoury, Jane Martinez, Rebecca Reibel, Giorgio Vitti, Melanie Michalak Geology Daniel Abel, Osvaldo Bustos-Perez, Derek Cohen, Regina Khoury, Jane Martinez, Rebecca Reibel, and Giorgio Vitti co-authored and presented their original research in Reno, NV on May 17th at the Geological Society of American Cordilleran Section Meeting. Their research used statistical approaches from geochemical data to reconstruct the geologic and tectonic history of the Montgomery Creek Formation, an ancient river system that is found today in the eastern Klamath Mountains Province. The original work was incorporated into a Methods in Geochronology course taught by Melanie Michalak (Geology); students travel was supported by the Geology Moory Opportunities Fund. 

Student Regina Khoury Geology Regina Khoury has been selected to receive the Alistair and Judith McCrone Graduate Fellowship Award for the 2023-2024 academic year. This fellowship is given to one graduate student each year at Cal Poly Humboldt who demonstrates exceptional academic merit and significant potential for contribution to their field. Regina's MS thesis project with Professor Brandon Browne combines geologic mapping with geochemical and mineralogical analyses of lavas erupted from eight different vents within a ~200 year "flare up" of Medicine Lake volcano in the California Cascades. Her findings will advance hazard mitigation efforts at volcanoes worldwide. Congratulations Regina!

Student Regina Khoury and Sarah Leidinger Geology Graduate students Regina Khoury and Sarah Leidinger (Geology) are the 2022-2023 recipients of the $1,500 Richard Chambers Memorial Scholarships from the Northern California Geological Society. Regina Khoury's MS thesis proposal is titled “Pre-Eruptive Storage Conditions of Magmas Erupted During the ~12ka Flare Up of Medicine Lake Volcano, CA.” Her advisor is Dr. Brandon L. Browne in Geology. Sarah Leidinger's MS thesis proposal is titled “Bathymetry and carbon accumulation rate of a rare Northern California coastal peatland.” Her advisor is Dr. Laura Levy in Geology. Congratulations Regina and Sarah! 

Student Club Dennis Lindelof, Lisa Elconin, Huntington Paulson, Amanda Admire Geology On Saturday October 1st, the Geology Club officers, Dennis Lindelof, Lisa Elconin and Huntington Paulson, joined the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group and Humboldt Earthquake Education Center to participate in Pastels on the Plaza. Their design promoted the Great ShakeOut happening on October 20th at 10:20 am, and it highlighted the importance of earthquake and tsunami awareness and preparedness. Check out their design on the Arcata Plaza! We encourage everyone to sign up and participate in ShakeOut during Safety Week so you too can practice your earthquake and tsunami drill. Preparedness makes a difference! 

Faculty Jacky Baughman, Melanie Michalak Geology Jacky Baughman and Melanie Michalak, professors in the Geology Department, received a one year grant from the Geological Society of America AGeS-DiG (Awards for Geochronology Student Research- Diversity in Geochronology) program of $14,975 to support a cohort of six undergraduate students in the 22-23 academic year to undertake original research using geochronologic methods. The support includes a stipend, cost of analyses, and travel to a Spring conference to present their work. 

Faculty Jacky Baughman, Melanie Michalak Geology Jacky Baughman and Melanie Michalak, professors in the Geology Department, received a one year grant from the Geological Society of America AGeS-DiG (Awards for Geochronology Student Research- Diversity in Geochronology) program of $14,975 to support a cohort of six undergraduate students in the 22-23 academic year to undertake original research using geochronologic methods. The support includes a stipend, cost of analyses, and travel to a Spring conference to present their work. 

Faculty Brandon Browne Geology Brandon Browne and colleagues from the U.S. Geological Survey published a professional report with the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys detailing their comprehensive study on the ~400 yr BP eruption of Half Cone, a post-caldera composite cone in Aniakchak National Park and Preserve in Alaska. As one of the largest eruptions from a volcano on the Alaska peninsula over the past 3,000 years, it blanketed hundreds of miles with thick ash and produced an important stratigraphic marker used by geologists and archeologists working to understand the geological and human history of the region.          

Faculty Mark Hemphill-Haley Geology Mark Hemphill-Haley is a co-author of an article in the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics (Morris et al., 2021, Evaluating 9 m of near-surface transpressional displacement during the Mw 7.8 2016 Kaikōura earthquake: re-excavation of a pre-earthquake paleoseismic trench, Kekerengu Fault, New
Zealand). https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2021.1954958

Student Taylor Team, Susan Cashman, Melanie Michalak Geology Taylor Team (MS student, Geology), Melanie Michalak (Geology) and Susan Cashman (Geology) co-authored a conference presentation at the annual Geological Society of America meeting held in Portland, OR, entitled, Neogene-Quaternary faulting in the Klamath Mountains Province, California and Oregon: evidence from geology and thermochronology. Their work addresses newly identified or constrained crustal faults in the Klamath Mountains.

Student Samuel Bold Geology Samuel Bold (MS student, Geology) was selected for a prestigious $4,000 American Federation of Mineralogical Society scholarship from the California Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies. Sam's MS thesis work uses geochronological methods to date timing of uplift and faulting along the Van Duzen River.

Faculty Tyler Ladinsky, Harvey Kelsey, Melanie Michalak Geology Tyler Ladinsky (Geology M.S. '12), Harvey Kelsey (Geology) and Melanie Michalak (Geology) published their Final Technical Report in collaboration with USGS scientists, from their paleoseismic studies on the Little Salmon and Goose Lake faults near Hydesville, CA, funded by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. The report is entitled, In Southern Cascadia, do upper plate faults rupture in concert with subduction zone earthquakes: a paleoseismic investigation of the Little Salmon fault zone. The work helps to quantify earthquake hazards in northern California. The full report is available at this link: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/cfusion/external_grants/reports/G19AP00046.pdf

Faculty Jasper Oshun Geology Jasper won a 3-year National Science Foundation GEOPATHS Award ($145,352). This education award links faculty and students at SDSU, CSUS, and HSU and is titled 'Collaborative Research: Developing a diverse hydrology workforce through an undergraduate hydrological research experience in a coastal California watershed'. The award provides opportunities for 10 rising sophomores per year to participate in course and summer immersion focused on interdisciplinary water science, hydrology field techniques, and the challenges of water management. A primary goal is to build community across 3 CSU campuses and train a diverse cohort of hydrologists to inform water management in California.

Faculty Jasper Oshun, Margaret Lang, Yojana Miraya Oscco (M.A. 2018, Env. & Comm.) Geology Jasper, Margaret and Yojana (along with Kristina Keating of Rutgers University, Newark) published 'Interdisciplinary Water Development in the Peruvian Highlands: The Case for Including the Coproduction of Knowledge in Socio-Hydrology' in a special issue of Hydrology focused on Socio-Hydrology. The article highlights the interdisciplinary and collaborative research, novel educational model involving applied and place-based student learning, environmental leadership, and service to the community of Zurite of the Bonanza en los Andes project.
The article can be found here: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/8/3/112

Faculty Jasper Oshun & Margaret Lang Geology Dr.’s Oshun (Geology), Lang (ERE), and Keating (geophysics, Rutgers University -Newark) won a $266,034, 3-year award from NSF’s International Research Experiences for Students program to engage a diverse set of students from two HSI’s in water resources development in the Andes of Perú. Students from HSU, RUN and Peruvian universities will participate in an interdisciplinary curriculum, which includes a preparatory semester of virtual learning, 5-weeks of field work in Perú and faculty guided independent research. The project will blend western scientific, Indigenous, and nature-based approaches of water resources management to inform best practices of sustainable water development.

Faculty Jasper Oshun Geology Jasper Oshun received a Fulbright Award to teach hydrogeology at a university in Lima and conduct water resources research in collaborations with communities in the region of Cusco. The teaching and research will occur between February and July of 2022.

Faculty Mary Ann Madej Geology Mary Ann Madej, Adjunct faculty, published a summary of 50 years of geomorphic research in Redwood National Park:
Redwood Creek watershed studies: Summary of geomorphic research at Redwood National Park. Natural Resource Report. NPS/REDW/NRR—2021/2228.
https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2284606