Teaching
Current Courses
GEOL 372- Sustainable Energy (3 credit)
We examine the science and sustainability of past, present, and future energy resource options, emphasizing the impact of energy extraction and production on the environment. Moreover, the need for energy will continue to increase as the human population grows and the quality of life improves for much of the world. Humans draw on a broad portfolio of energy resources from the earth for renewable and non-renewable sources to provide these energy needs. However, for most of the 21st century, we have been primarily dependent on non-renewable fossil fuel sources (coal, oil, gas), resulting in rising greenhouse emissions and climate change. We will examine the role of earth sciences in developing different energy resources and assessing the environmental impacts associated with their development.
GEOL 486 – Environmental Isotopes (3 credit)
Stable Isotopes have become a fundamental tool in several geological, environmental and ecological studies. The goal of this course is to provide a thorough introduction to theory, methods and applications of stable isotopes. Primary focus will be on isotope systematics of lighter elements i.e. oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Application of the stable isotope “proxies” in climate reconstruction, biogeochemical cycling, global carbon cycle, hydrology, ecology and forensics will be discussed. A few lectures addressing the fundamental concepts and applications of a particular isotope will be followed by group led discussions on that topic.
GEOL 586 – Advanced Isotope Geochemistry (3 cerdit)
Advance the understanding of isotopic systems by comprehensive discussion of selected research publications. A few laboratory exercises provide hands-on training in stable isotope measurement techniques. Study topics (based on student interest) focus on use of isotopes to address research questions in variety of fields including geology, biology, forensics, environmental sciences and energy.
GEOL 591- Water, Energy & Isotopes (3 credit)
Course focuses on the fundamentals of stable isotope geochemistry and their applications in tracing waters, understanding surface water-groundwater interactions, tracking sources of water pollution, natural gas origin/exploration and assessing hydrological impacts of natural gas extraction and carbon dioxide sequestration. Aim is to motivate students to develop a scientific interdisciplinary approach for addressing key emerging issues related to Water and Energy.
GEOL-GEOG 110- Environmental GeoSciences (3 credit)
Course covers basic geological concepts and how they can be used to improve our understanding of variety of environmental issues. Topics covered include but are not limited to earth structure, plate tectonics, minerals and rocks, climate change, natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, floods etc.), natural resources (water, mineral and energy) and environmental pollution.
GEOL 101- Physical Geology (3 credit)
Course examines the processes and materials composing Earth’s physical environment, for example, it’s interior, various landscapes, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, floods, and so on. We will learn some underlying principles of the natural world, from small things like the very building blocks of matter (atoms), to large things, like the cause and effect of regional forces that build mountains and make new oceans. We examine past events in earth’s history and current natural processes to understand how these processes affect humans.
Past Courses
- GEOL 493 Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry-WVU
- RNEW 5500 Stable Isotope Ecology –University of Wyoming
- RNEW 4990/5990 Stable Isotopes Applications in Water Resources –University of Wyoming
- REWM 4540 Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry –University of Wyoming
- RNEW 4990/GEOL 4200 Climate Reconstruction –University of Wyoming