THERE IS PERHAPS NO MORE DRAMATIC EXAMPLE of the remarkable evolution of the geosciences than a recent Antarctic expedition involving a Hamilton professor and his students. While studying the collapse of a major ice shelf near the bottom of the world, they discovered a vast underwater ecosystem — the first of its kind found in the Antarctic — that itself may yield previously unknown species of marine life. Working at the intersection of geology, marine biology and environmental studies, the Hamilton team exemplifies the College's geosciences program and approach to the liberal arts: interdisciplinary, innovative and driven by student research.
The goal of Hamilton's Geoscience Department is to provide students with a foundation from which to pursue study of the physical structure of the Earth and planets to understand how natural systems work and evolve over time.More ...
Academic Program
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Field
work is a vital part of study in the geosciences. At Hamilton it has been
integrated into nearly all courses at every level. In recent years, students
and professors have conducted expeditions not only to Antarctica but to Hawaii, Iceland, the Florida Keys, Colorado, the Pacific
Northwest and the European Alps. They also regularly do field work in
the Central
New York region surrounding the College.
The
department encourages student-faculty collaboration on a range of projects, and
it provides substantial financial support for students who are interested in
pursuing summer research. Many students present the results of their work at
regional, national and international conferences; some co-author scholarly
papers and journal articles in collaboration with faculty partners and mentors.
THE SENIOR PROGRAM
The Senior Program in geosciences is a two-semester course in which majors plan and pursue an independent senior project under the close supervision of at least one faculty member. The senior project is an integrating, culminating experience that draws on the skills and knowledge acquired in the first three years; for many students, it represents graduate-level work.
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RESOURCES
The College maintains extensive fossil and mineral collections that include the Oren Root Mineral Collection, one of the finest in the country. The department's home at the state-of-the-art Science Center offers an array of tools and facilities that rival those of top graduate-level research institutions.
Among them: a sedimentology lab with particle size analyzer (laser optics) and magnetic susceptibility system; oceanographic instrumentation including a conductivity, temperature and transmissivity recorder; geochemistry facilities including X-ray diffraction and fluorescence instrumentation and total organic carbon analyzer; rock cutting and thin-section equipment; a complement of petrographic microscopes with photographic capabilities; hydrogeology equipment including a digital current meter, flow cells, groundwater sampling equipment, field chemical analysis system, well-testing equipment and a groundwater flow meter; and a computer array including Macintosh and IBM/NEC machines with a host of software and a digitizing table.
Geosciences courses are taught in small classes where the emphasis is on intensive student-teacher interaction and hands-on research training. Students learn proper techniques and problem-solving skills in even introductory courses.
Renowned Teaching-Scholars
Geosciences faculty members are published scholars and distinguished teachers with research interests that span the entire discipline. They include a New York State teacher of the year, a campus Excellence in Teaching award winner, and the recipients of many prestigious research grants.
First-Rate Facilities
The geosciences department makes its home in Hamilton’s new $56 million Science Center. Undergraduates have ready access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities available only to graduate students at many schools.
Endless Possibilities
While the geosciences program offers specialized training, its interdisciplinary nature also means that majors learn writing, research and critical-thinking skills that can be adapted to many fields and professions.
Geosciences courses are taught in small classes where the emphasis is on intensive student-teacher interaction and hands-on research training. Students learn proper techniques and problem-solving skills in even introductory courses.
Renowned Teaching-Scholars
Geosciences faculty members are published scholars and distinguished teachers with research interests that span the entire discipline. They include a New York State teacher of the year, a campus Excellence in Teaching award winner, and the recipients of many prestigious research grants.
First-Rate Facilities
The geosciences department makes its home in Hamilton’s new $56 million Science Center. Undergraduates have ready access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities available only to graduate students at many schools.
Endless Possibilities
While the geosciences program offers specialized training, its interdisciplinary nature also means that majors learn writing, research and critical-thinking skills that can be adapted to many fields and professions.
Geosciences courses are taught in small classes where the emphasis is on intensive student-teacher interaction and hands-on research training. Students learn proper techniques and problem-solving skills in even introductory courses.
Renowned Teaching-Scholars
Geosciences faculty members are published scholars and distinguished teachers with research interests that span the entire discipline. They include a New York State teacher of the year, a campus Excellence in Teaching award winner, and the recipients of many prestigious research grants.
First-Rate Facilities
The geosciences department makes its home in Hamilton’s new $56 million Science Center. Undergraduates have ready access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities available only to graduate students at many schools.
Endless Possibilities
While the geosciences program offers specialized training, its interdisciplinary nature also means that majors learn writing, research and critical-thinking skills that can be adapted to many fields and professions.
Geosciences courses are taught in small classes where the emphasis is on intensive student-teacher interaction and hands-on research training. Students learn proper techniques and problem-solving skills in even introductory courses.
Renowned Teaching-Scholars
Geosciences faculty members are published scholars and distinguished teachers with research interests that span the entire discipline. They include a New York State teacher of the year, a campus Excellence in Teaching award winner, and the recipients of many prestigious research grants.
First-Rate Facilities
The geosciences department makes its home in Hamilton’s new $56 million Science Center. Undergraduates have ready access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities available only to graduate students at many schools.
Endless Possibilities
While the geosciences program offers specialized training, its interdisciplinary nature also means that majors learn writing, research and critical-thinking skills that can be adapted to many fields and professions.
After Hamilton
Hamilton graduates who majored in Geosciences are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:
Geologist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Project Manager, NASA
Supreme Court Justice, State of New York
Commissioner of Planning, Orange County New York
Engineering Geologist, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
