18 In 2024, I continued teaching Mineralogy/Petrology and introductory courses, and added a new course in Economic Geology. Several students are now pursuing research or graduate studies in mining or other economic resources, so that course was timely! I’ve now begun teaching Petroleum Geology, and have enjoyed integrating the traditional “petroleum systems” coursework with “subsurface methods” activities such as subsurface mapping, core work, and log analysis. I hope this prepares students for internships and jobs in today’s industry. 2024 Field Camp saw a success, both due to the fantastic 75th Anniversary Celebration and the implementation of the new Environmental Geoscience module. This year, we’ll introduce additional modules in Paleontology, Economic Geology, and Geophysics. My research in the Wichitas continues with Jim Knapp and a cadre of students; one is now a MS student. I’ve also begun working with another student on a core-based reservoir characterization project in the Anadarko Basin. More Faculty News BRANDON SPENCER ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Undergraduate Director: Structural Geology and Tectonics, Metamorphic Petrology and Geochemistry and Geoscience Education The Geofluids & Hydrogeology: Water-Energy-CO2 Nexus research group, which currently consists of 4 PhD students, is committed to advancing the goal of net-zero emissions energy transition. In 2024, I won the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to conduct research and teach on “Energy transition and mining of critical minerals for energy in Bolivia.” As part of my participation in this program during Fall 2024, I trained 15 Bolivian students on the environmental aspects of the energy and mining industries, and I initiated a new collaboration on biomining of lithium from surface brines. In the same year, my research group published 3 peer-reviewed papers in highly regarded environmental and energy journals. One of these publications was authored by an MS student who graduated from my research program in Fall 2024. My research this year was funded by 2 NSF research grants, for which I am the sole Principal Investigator. JAVIER VILCÁEZ ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Geofluids and Hydrogeology spring.2025
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