School of Earth & Sustainability
Integrating physical, biological, and social perspectives on our changing earth: At Northern Arizona University, we train undergraduate and graduate students to be leading researchers and practitioners in geology, environmental sciences, and sustainability, often collaborating across disciplinary boundaries. Our students spend time learning in the field, working on cutting-edge research, and collaborating with agencies.
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Divisions of NAU’s School of Earth & Sustainability
SES teaching in the field
Interdisciplinary SES faculty, graduate students, and alumni take to the river: Field-based learning about geology and policy on the Yampa River
SES in the news
The latest:
Recent global warming outpaces climate changes of the past 2,000 years
SES researchers Michael Erb, Nick McKay, and Darrell Kaufman are part of a global effort to bring together all possible data about past climate variability, providing a better baseline to evaluate recent anthropogenic change. Their latest work in Nature Geoscience shows that no matter how you look at it, our current actions are causing exceptionally rapid change. Read the story in NAU News or jump straight to the paper.
Congrats Dr. Reid!
The American Geophysical Union recently recognized Dr. Mary Reid, SES faculty in the Division of Geosciences, with the Norman L. Bowen Award in the volcanology, geochemistry and petrology section.
More news from faculty, students and alumni:
Research highlights Accordion Open
What plants move the fastest in response to a changing climate?
NAU faculty in Biological Sciences and the School of Earth and Sustainability have recently published research showing that plant traits such as plant height and dispersal ability have impacted their ability to move across the landscape in response to 10,000 years of changing climate conditions. How can we know this about the past? Packrat middens! Read the NAU News story or jump straight to the research article.
Research Scientist Matt Johnson explains the tension between introduced beetles and endangered birds
Intentionally introduced tamarisk beetles do a great job of beating back invasive tamarisk along Arizona's rivers, but what does this mean for the habitat available to endangered flycatchers? Matt Johnson explains the need for follow-up plantings of native trees and shrubs to fill the hole left by the beetles. Read the AP story here.
Student news Accordion Closed
It's been quite a year: Awards to SES students and faculty!
This year saw honors rain down all over the School, from national and NAU awards to faculty, to NAU, College, and School awards to our graduate and undergraduate students. Congrats to all of you and here's to the year ahead! School of Earth & Sustainability Awards for the 2018-2019 Academic Year Faculty Award for Faculty Excellence in Global Learning - Michael Ort (link) College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences Teacher of the Year - Taylor Joyal (link) Geological…
2nd Annual Student Water Symposium
Organized by SES faculty and students and spanning diverse disciplines related to water, the Student Water Symposium is back April 18-19. Check out the website for full details on posters, talks, and keynote presentations!
Alumni Accordion Closed
The Art of Water Wells
NAU Alum Marvin Glotfelty, RG has published a new book on the conservation of groundwater. Available from the National Ground Water Association Press, the book "provides practical information on water wells—covering everything from site selection to design, drilling methods, economics, and more—and is written in a fashion that is understandable, technically accurate, and applicable to real-world situations."
Geology Alum Mike Kelly puts climate change on display
Mike Kelly (MS ’91 and Adjunct Professor) is helping illustrate future climate change at a new visitor center exhibit at Acadia National Park, ME. From the article: "Displays such as 'Open ocean tomorrow?' ask visitors to consider some scenarios of climate change consequences in the park. 'As sea levels continue to rise, scientists question if some of Acadia’s salt water marshes might permanently flood, creating an open ocean where a tidal marsh once existed'...the exhibit, which includes a 3D topographic map of the park…
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