14 of the rift to study the evolution of the Bilila‐Mkatakata Fault. I am the co‐author of 2 published papers in the Journal of African Earth Sciences, and Tectonophysics. My students and I also presented 4 conference papers in national meetings American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting and the Geological Society of America. We look forward to continue to conduct high‐quality research, advanced education, and service to Oklahoma and the world. Dr. Jack Pashin Professor; Devon Chair of Basin Research; Sedimentary Geology; Coalbed Methane; Shalegas; Structural Geology, Basin Analysis This was an eventful year in which a variety of old activities were wrapped up, and new ones were begun. Last year I taught Basin Evolution, in which we explored the geological aspects of sedimentary basins, including tectonics, burial history, sedimentary architecture, hydrodynamics, and petroleum systems. I also taught the Geology of Unconventional Reservoirs, in which students learn about everything from coalbed methane and shale reservoirs to gas hydrates. A CO2‐enhanced shale gas and coalbed methane recovery project has been completed in the southern Appalachians, which was sponsored by DOE and Virginia Tech and hosted by CNX Gas. A highlight of the program was that injecting a small quantity of CO2 had a strong effect on the recovery of natural gas liquids from shale. A RPSEA project that was led by Jim Puckette also has been completed that critically assessed procedures for the evaluation of shale reservoirs. A CO2‐ enhanced oil recovery program in the Anadarko Basin is approaching completion that deploys unmanned aerial vehicles for monitoring of oilfield operations. Last year I was awarded a new project on geological characterization and CO2 storage potential of the eastern Gulf of Mexico shelf. Currently I am developing a new program on a power plant in Mississippi that is using enhanced oil recovery and saline formation storage technology to develop what could be the world’s first zero emission coal‐fired power facility. The Unconventional Hydrocarbon Cooperative (UHC) is up and running and is a vehicle for collaboration among the diverse researchers in science and engineering at OSU and the development of cooperative programs with industry. Please visit our website at http://geology.okstate.edu/uhc for further information on UHC activities and membership. Several students completed theses on a range of topics. Kyrsti Cecil studied the sedimentology and petrology of Devonian chert in the Woodford Shale and the Arkansas Novaculite and defined an upwelling‐dominated sedimentary system that spanned the shelf‐ocean transition. Mark Jensen completed a thesis on the Anadarko Basin that challenges long‐held ideas on the stratigraphic expression of cyclicity in the Pennsylvanian System. And Justin Spears completed a study of the Goddard Shale that sheds new light on the depositional processes governing the deposition of mud‐rich petroleum source rocks and reservoirs. This was an exceptionally busy year for service activities, which include a range of committee activities around the university and various geological societies. I am a member of the U.S. delegation to an ISO committee that is developing standards for CO2‐enhanced oil recovery, and committee activities took me to a range of exotic destinations, including Oslo, Amsterdam, Laramie, and Sapporo. I also gave a series of workshops in Xuzhou, China and am developing a research partnership on unconventional coal and shale reservoirs with the China University of Mining and Technology. However, last year ended on a very difficult note with the unexpected passing of my wife, Janyth, and I appreciate the exceptional sympathy and support I received from everybody associated with the Boone Pickens School of Geology. Of course, feel free to stop by and say hello next time you are in town, and please don’t hesitate to call or e‐mail. Dr. Jim Puckette Associate Professor; Geoscience Education Chair; Petroleum Geology The year 2016 was different for me as I was on sabbatical leave for the spring term. Despite being on sabbatical, I did not travel, but reserved that for the summer following field camp and the fall. However, not teaching a semester allowed almost complete dedication to research and as a result, an opportunity to prepare manuscripts for publication. During the spring and continuing into the summer and fall, our research group, including students, OSU faculty and collaborating non‐OSU faculty and professionals worked on a number of manuscripts, mostly related to the Mississippian limestone in outcrop in the Ozarks and subsurface of northern Oklahoma. Students defending their theses in 2016 included Eli Reese and Joey Dineen. Eli examined the geochemical signature of the Woodford Shale in the western Arkoma basin, comparing it with the signature of the shale in the eastern Anadarko basin to determine the influence of local depositional processes on the regional signature. Joey examined the stratigraphy of the St. Joe Group in northern Arkansas to determine if the southward thinning of the Kinderhookian‐ lower Osagean carbonate section was the result of basinward deepening and condensation, or onlap of a forebulge associated with incipient Ouachita tectonism. Summer 2016 marked my twenty first year teaching field camp, so to celebrate, Jennifer convinced me to cruise to Alaska. As a result of that thoroughly enjoyable experience, students in introductory geology courses were exposed to a bit of glacial geology. In the fall, we traveled to
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