Dr. Brandon Spencer and students of the Rocks and Minerals course pose in the Ouachita Mountains. Boone Pickens School of Geology Oklahoma State University 105 Noble Research Center Stillwater, OK 74078 405-744-6358 For more information: geology.okstate.edu Find us on social media:
2 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY In This Issue Message from the Interim Head Scholarships and Awards 2023 OSU and National Honors and Awards New Faculty and Staff News from the Faculty BPSoG Staff Spotlight on Undergraduate Students Spotlight on Graduate Students Congratulations Graduates! New Alumni Highlights Student Organizations Outreach Activities NGWA Powered by OSU BPSoG in the Field Field Camp 2023 GSA South-Central 2023 Tech Fest 2023 Alumni Synergy 2023 Alumni Banquet 2024 Alumni Banquet 75th Anniversary OSU Field Camp 3 4 8 10 12 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 26 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Page
3 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Message from the Interim Head Greetings from Stillwater, USA, The latest seismicity you felt wasn’t an earthquake, the dean simply decided to make me interim department head for the Boone Pickens School of Geology. I joined the department in the Fall of 2000 with a younger Jim Puckette as tenure track faculty. He will be abandoning me this summer after a 75th anniversary party and Puckette Palooza party at field camp on the weekend of June 9th (http://okla.st/field-camp75th). I am always amazed to be working at Oklahoma State as it is in the center of the geologic universe. This region of our country saw the development of exploration seismic, hydraulic fracturing, and the tricone drill bit. Oklahoma State trained famous oilmen Boone Pickens and Herb Davis. One of my fond memories at Boone’s Ranch was having a drink with Herb Davis about three in the morning after other alums packed it in for the evening. I plan to try to follow the lead of V. Brown Monnett and Wayne Pettyjohn in steering the department ahead. As Wayne would say, “I have some good troopies working with me.” We currently have ~19 active faculty teaching courses and are in the process of hiring three additional faculty for the fall. The additional faculty will add strength in environmental geophysics, energy transition and online education. The other great strength of our department is the alumni support. This year I have been greatly supported as I stepped into this role by the alumni board and its chair, Mike Gaskins. Barrett Cieutat has been steering a new banquet committee that will bring a fantastic new energy to our annual celebration. Join us on Saturday, April 13th for a great evening including a new silent auction of donated minerals. Our guest speaker for the evening will be Allie Kennedy Thurmond, Ph.D. of Equinor US. Our students have been managing the exit from Covid with help from the faculty, staff, and alumni. The labor rules were tested in all directions, and we are navigating the waters to create hard working students who “know what a rock is”. Come by one of our events and meet them. They have lots of questions! Looking forward to your visiting the campus or field camp this year. Will be a lot of fun! Best Regards, Todd Halihan Interim Head 12 March 2024
4 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY UNDERGRADUATES Kuykendall Family Endowed Scholarship Arthur Burdett Rylee Hunter Lillian Davis Nicolas De Los Santos Hudson Moseby Benjamin Oister Herbert and Shirley Davis Presidential Distinguished Scholarship Clayton Hedges John and Mildred Naff Presidential Distinguished Scholarship Bryston Smith V. Brown Monnett Presidential Distinguished Scholarship Ian Kallenberg Dale Shipley Memorial Scholarship Lane Hix David Murphy Scholarship Arthur Burdett Olivia Galvez Lori Huck Mason Martinez Emma Shook Megan Garrett Ally Swafford Rylee Hunter Kaleb Smith Bryston Smith Nicolas De Los Santos Hudson Moseby Benjamin Oister Don Miller Scholarship in Geology Steven Cotton Elizabeth Scrudder Lillian Davis Sydney Swisher Bryson Walker Victoria Hughes John W. Day Memorial Scholarship Tyson King Alexis Bacon OK-NARO Endowed Scholarship Izabelle Buentello D. Petrie Endowed Scholarship Joshua Deen Ross Geology Scholarship Isabelle Ley Bryston Smith Skinner Geology Scholarship Isabelle Ley Izabelle Buentello Joshua Deen Brancen Redman Outstanding Senior in School of Geology Izabelle Buentello GRADUATES Outstanding Geoscience Student Award Lauren Haygood Martin Family Graduate Fellowship in Geology Jacob Archer Skinner Geology Fellowships Emma Shook Emranul Chowdhury Ahmed El Belasy Valentine Ezennubia Elizabeth Lipscomb Scholarships and Awards 2023
5 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Gary F. Stewart Endowed Scholarship Ahmed El Belasy Debarpita Paul Decker Dawson Graduate Fellowship in Geophysics Endowed Fund Peter Adetokunbo Kayleen Lemen Oyewande Ojo Khalid Haji Omar Mengran Xin Dr. Wayne Pettyjohn Hydrogeology Scholarship/Fellowship Madison Culver Michael & Susan Gaskins Geology Graduate Fellowship Madison Culver Alumni Advisory Board Graduate Fellowship Khalid Haji Omar Arthur Cleaves Endowed Graduate Fellowship Lauren Haygood Devon Energy Graduate Fellowship in Geology Madison Culver Lauren Haygood Calli Provenza Alison Veresh Mengran Xin Herbert G. and Shirley A. Davis Endowed Fellowship Jacob Archer Erik Mason Memorial Fellowship Emranul Chowdhury BP Corporation of North American Endowed Scholarship in Geology Alison Veresh Patrick & Sharrie Ely Endowed Fellowship Elizabeth Lipscomb OERB Scholarship Clayton Hedges Megan Garrett Lori Huck Hudson Moseby BP America Endowed Scholarship in Geology Oyewande Ojo John W. Shelton Endowed Fellowship in Geology Kayleen Lemen Debarpita Paul OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION Herbert G. & Shirley A. Davis OSU Geology Fellowship Joshua Ademilola Silas Samuel Victor Fakeye Frederick H. and Lois M. Kate Endowment Fellowship Lauren Haygood Frederick M. Black Field Camp Grant Autumn Troxel Oklahoma Geological Foundation Field Camp Grant Nick Basore Isaac Dale Elaine Duff James Neal Jones
6 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Kable Kleck Kayleen Lemen Kaleb Smith Kylie Staggs Autumn Troxel AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY American Association of Petroleum Geologists Grants-In-Aid Ian Cox Victor Fakeye Lauren Haygood Khalid Haji Omar Dr. Homer and Mrs. May Tang Graduate Fellowship Olubukola Ishola Geophysical Society of Tulsa Field Camp Scholarship Megan Garrett International Association for Geoscience Diversity Student Pathways Scholarship: Elaine Duff National Associate of Black GeoscientistsMack Gipson Scholarship Oklahoma City Section of Petroleum Engineers Scholarship: Sreejesh Venmarathil Oklahoma Geological Foundation Fellowship Lauren Haygood Silas Samuel Oklahoma Geological Foundation Suzanne Takken Memorial Fellowship Emma Shook Oklahoma Geological Foundation Fredrick M. Black Field Camp Grant Tyson King Oklahoma Geological Foundation Herbert G. and Shirley A. Davis OSU Geology Fellowship Megan Garrett Melissa Perkins Oklahoma Geological Foundation Field Camp Grant Joshua Deen Megan Garrett Arthur Burdett Izabelle Buentello Ben Emmert Amanda Harding Clayton Hedges Kaley Stowers Victoria Porter Mason Martinez Oklahoma City Mineral and Gem Society Scholarship Elaine Duff Permian Basin Section of the Society for Sedimentary Geology-Wendell J. Stewart Scholarship Oghale Ononeme Silas Samuel Society of Exploration Geophysicists Scholarship Joshua Ademilola Olubukola Ishola Silas Samuel Oluseun Sanuade Society of Exploration GeophysicistChevron Student Leadership Grant Oluseun Sanuade
7 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts Foundation Scholarship Joseph Ademilola Olubukola Ishola Silas Samuel Tulsa Geological Foundation Outstanding Geoscience Student Victor Fakeye Olubukola Ishola West Texas Geological Foundation Scholarship Olubukola Ishola Silas Samuel West Texas Geological Foundation-John Emery Adams Memorial Scholarship Oghale Ononeme BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGYAWARDS Teaching Innovation Award Dr. Brandon Spencer Community Engagement Award Dr. Natascha Riedinger BPSoG Impact Award Dr. Todd Halihan Good Citizen Award Dr. Jim Puckette Staff Dedication Award Ms. Jennifer Koch Undergraduate Research Award Clayton Hedges Elaine Duff Jessica Whitesell Undergraduate Service Award Lori Huck Graduate Service Award Silas Samuel Graduate Teaching Award Sreejesh Venmarathil Sreedhar Graduate Research Award Lauren Haygood Izabelle Buentello Lauren Haygood, Izabelle Buentello, Silas Samuel, and Megan Garrett received awards from the Geological Foundation of Tulsa and the Geophysical Society of Tulsa. Unexpected find in the Ouachita Mountains.
8 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY OSU and National Honors and Awards Dr. Jack C. Pashin Regents Professor Devon Chair of Basin Research Promotion to Regents Professor Dr. Mary Hileman Visiting Associate Professor OSU Convocation Awards Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty Dr. Tracy Quan Professor Promotion to Professor
9 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Roger L. Planalp Award for Best Poster at the AAPG Meeting Dr. Jim Puckette Professor Geoscience Education Chair AAPG Foundation’s Robey H. Clark Memorial Award OSU receives $2M EPA grant to research enhanced aquifer recharge From the left: Duane Smith, director of the Oka Institute, Sabrina Beckmann, Todd Halihan, Caitlin Barnes, Tingying Xu, and Yipeng Zhang gather on East Central University campus in Ada, Oklahoma.
10 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY New Faculty and Staff Blake Kirby Geochemistry Senior Research Specialist I am very happy to be a part of the Boone Pickens School of Geology. I am a Geochemistry Senior Research Specialist. My role for the department is to help support the geochemistry laboratory needs under Dr. Riedinger, Dr. Quan, and Dr. Xu. I manage in training students for lab safety, along with training students on running various machines so that they will be able to run their own samples and gather their own data. I help out with maintenance on various machines as well as handling chemical inventory and ordering supplies. I am still new to this role and I’m extremely grateful for the chance to learn more about the research being done and receiving even more training on all types of new equipment. About myself, I am originally from Oklahoma City but since college, Stillwater has been my home. I am recently married. My wife is a graduate student here at OSU. This is where we met in 2017, so this university has always had a very special place in our hearts. I enjoy going to football and baseball games here at OSU and we go to just about every single home game. I have two mini Australian Shepherds and they are my two favorite things to go home to everyday. I am very thankful to work in the Boone Pickens School of Geology and for Oklahoma State University. Go Pokes! The Introductory Geological Processes course in the Ouachita Mts. with Dr. Spencer.
11 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Dr. Yipeng Zhang Assistant Professor Hydrogeology, Basin Scale Numerical Modeling, Groundwater in Geologic Processes, and Induced Seismicity Howdy, y’all, I am Yipeng Zhang, the assistant professor in Hydrogeology at BPSoG at OSU. I joined the BPSoG family in the summer of 2023. By training, I am a physical hydrogeologist with a strong research emphasis on mathematical modeling. I combine finite element/finite difference numerical models with field observations and lab measurements to understand the roles that groundwater plays in geologic processes that have broad societal impacts. The specific research topics include induced earthquakes due to waste fluid reinjection during the hydrofracking practice, the impact of glacial loading on integrity of nuclear waste disposal repositories in high latitude countries, and offshore groundwater exploration in continental shelfs for coastal city drinking water supply. My current research at OSU involves benefit assessment of enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR) for the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer in southern Oklahoma. EAR involves injecting freshwater into an aquifer when freshwater is in excess, and later recovering freshwater through the same well by pumping when water demand exceeds supply. EAR is increasingly used worldwide to maintain, enhance and secure freshwater availability without the need for land acquisition, in-stream barriers, or losses from evaporation that occur from surface water reservoirs. This project is funded by U.S. EPA and will last till 2026. I teach introductory level courses of physical geology to undergraduate students and will start to teach introductory level courses of hydrogeology in the coming semesters. I got my B.S. in Geology from Jilin University and obtained my M.S. in Hydrology and Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, both from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Prior to coming to OSU, I was working as a groundwater modeling postdoc at UT El Paso, and then a hydrogeologist at a non-profit organization in central Texas. Photo by Hanna Stevens
12 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Dr. Caitlin Barnes Hello BPSoG alumni and friends! I’m an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching online environmental and planetary geology. Primarily, I serve as the Director of Outreach and Communications for the College of Arts and Sciences and am the Director and Co-Founder of NGWA University Powered by OSU (NGWAU). As a proud BPSoG alumna, I’m dedicated to supporting our community. In my role, I assist faculty in fulfilling OSU’s landgrant mission, focusing on workforce development, K-12 outreach, and online education. President Shrum’s strategic plan involves systemic changes, and my work has gone toward embedding CAS and BPSoG into those plans. I developed a water-focused general education trail that holds potential for integration into the gen ed reform initiative. I established quality guidelines for CAS’s online courses, which includes our Cowboy Concurrent Online courses that are on track to increase enrollment by 20%, which was an explicit goal within the President’s initiatives. I’ve collaborated with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education on the UpskillOK initiative and was selected to serve in the campus-wide Cowboy Up Task Force to enhance students’ skills through micro-credentialing. This initiative aims to equip students with the necessary skills for their future careers. I continue to advocate for sustainable educational pathways, ensuring all students, regardless of their background or experience, have access to opportunities that meet the demands of the workforce. Dr. Ashley Burkett As another productive year draws to a close, we’re excited to share some of the highlights and achievements from the Burkett Micropaleontology Lab over the past twelve months. It has been a year of growth, collaboration, and innovation, and News from the Faculty
13 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY we’re proud to reflect on the strides we’ve made collectively. This year, our lab has grown to a team of 12 dedicated members, each contributing their unique expertise and passion to our research endeavors. Among our team are three PhD students, four MS students, and five talented undergraduates, all of whom have played integral roles in advancing our projects and pushing the boundaries of knowledge in our field. One of the hallmarks of our lab’s commitment to academic excellence is our active engagement in disseminating our research findings. In the past year alone, we’ve presented our work in 19 poster and oral presentations at regional, national, and international meetings showcasing the depth and breadth of our investigations. Impressively, 16 of these presentations featured student authorship, underscoring our lab’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders. Beyond traditional academic pursuits, we’ve also embraced innovative avenues for sharing our experiences and insights. This year, Dr Burkett had the privilege of recording a podcast discussing the importance of friendships on scientific expeditions. This platform allowed us to reach a broader audience and engage in meaningful conversations about the human aspects of scientific exploration. A link to the podcast can be found here. As we reflect on these achievements, we’re immensely grateful for the unwavering support of our collaborators, funding agencies, and the broader scientific community. Looking ahead, we’re energized by the possibilities that the coming year holds. With ongoing projects and new collaborations on the horizon, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and making impactful contributions to our field. Dr. Daniel A. Laó-Dávila Dear Alumni and Friends of the BPSoG. Welcome to the Spring 2024 Newsletter. We have created it to give you a taste of the great things happening in our School. We hope you enjoy it and prompt you to stay in touch with our students and faculty. From my part, 2023 was an exciting year for the Structural Geology and Tectonics Research Group. Two papers led by alumnus Estefanny Dávalos Elizondo were published on geothermal energy systems. Lauren Weilert led the publication of an active fault structure in SW Puerto Rico. This research was highlighted in the press. Jacob Archer and Melina Lazar continue their research of fracture characterization and monitoring of dam foundations in Oklahoma. This research continues to be funded by state agencies. Ph.D. student Oyewande Ojo recently got a paper accepted for publication on active continental rifts in Malawi. Our work was presented at the GSA Connects in Pittsburgh, ASDSO Dam Safety Conference in Palm Springs, AEEG 2023 in Portland, Southern East African Rift System Workshop in Malawi, and SSAA Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico. This year, I have enjoyed teaching geology to 400 non-majors online and face-to-face. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Todd Halihan in guiding the School to meet our goals. Dr. Jack Pashin This has been an exceptionally busy and productive year that has involved numerous research projects and preparing students to graduate. Last semester I launched the inaugural section of my Fundamentals of Carbon Capture and Storage class, which was a huge success and incorporated a broad range of topics relating to society and the energy industry, including carbon capture and storage technology, resource assessment, reservoir evaluation, enhanced oil recovery, and regulatory and policy drivers. Several research projects are entering the late stages, including the development of a CO2 storage hub in Mississippi, and
14 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY exploration of Appalachian thrust belt reservoirs around the National Carbon Capture Center. Work on the Caney Shale includes analysis of depositional systems and continued work on burial and thermal history models of the Ardmore Basin. Research on well and seismic data sets is providing new insight into the structural style and tectonic evolution of the Ardmore Basin. Research is nearing completion on the CO2 storage and enhanced recovery potential of oil and gas reservoirs and saline formations in the Central Gulf of Mexico and in the Anadarko, Cherokee, Arkoma, and Ardmore Basins of Oklahoma. This research is being conducted in concert with the Spears School of Business, the Petroleum Engineering Program, and the SAS Institute and includes work as part of DOE’s machine learning initiative, which is using advanced web-based multivariate analysis techniques in the SAS Viya platform to evaluate and screen reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico and the Oklahoma basins. The SAS software has incredible capability for integrating geologic and reservoir data in real time and is proving to be an exceptional tool for identifying and quantifying potential and risks associated with CO2 storage and enhanced resource recovery in a spectrum of geological settings. Three new projects are set to begin this coming year. The first is a new project on the Appalachian thrust belt that includes seismic acquisition and the drilling of new exploratory wells in the interior Appalachian thrust belt in Alabama and Georgia. In addition, a new project led by Professor Jaiswal will explore the possibility of developing a CO2 management hub in the Anadarko Basin and includes advanced geophysical analysis of Paleozoic storage objectives. The third project is the siting and development of a CO2 storage hub in the Pine Mountain thrust sheet in southwestern Virginia, where a hydrogen energy facility is being developed. This semester I am teaching Sequence Stratigraphy and advising our SEG EVOLVE team, which is evaluating offshore reservoirs in the Louisiana Shelf. I am very proud of my students, who are making great progress on their research projects. Justin Spears and Ian Cox are preparing to finish their Doctoral dissertations on the Gulf of Mexico and the Ardmore Basin, respectively, and Joshua Ademilola is developing new concepts on structure, geomechanics, and reservoir properties in the Louisiana shelf and continental slope. Ahmed Elbelassy is unlocking the CO2 storage potential in northeastern Oklahoma, Mark Stucliffe is making great strides on understanding the architecture of diverse reservoirs in the Appalachian and Anadarko Basins, and Jaren Schuette is beginning his M.S. work on the southern Appalachian thrust belt. I am actively recruiting new students to work on these projects, so if you know some talented students seeking M.S. and Ph.D. opportunities in geology, feel free to have them contact me. Dr. Jim Puckette It has been an exciting and fun-filled final year as a faculty member in the BPSoG. It was great to be back in the classroom teaching GEOL 1014 and interacting with students. The summer included a quick trip to field camp with the geophysics crew, the Battelle sponsored geoscience camp for high school students, WRANE symposium, workshop at 4-H Roundup, Halliburton Foundation sponsored teacher workshop and CAS STEM Academy. The fall semester started with a core workshop taught at the Oklahoma Geological Survey OPIC core lab in conjunction with the Midcontinent Section of AAPG, teaching, advising, and a few field experiences including collecting soil cores along Tar Creek above, within and below the Picher field of the Tri-State Mining district
15 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY with our WRANE group from Owasso High School, a visit to El Malpais National Monument for the annular solar eclipse and a chance to hike and visit various basaltic eruption features including tubes, bubbles, permanent ice, and cinder and spatter cones. It was also nice in the post-pandemic world to participate in in-person meetings of GSA, the Tulsa Geological Society, Ft. Smith Geological Society, and the Ardmore Geological Society. This spring has been busy with a core workshop for the OGWA, teaching GEOL 1014 and GEOL 3034, school and CAS committee work, mentoring undergraduate and graduate student researchers, and planning summer activities. I hope to see you at the 75 Anniversary field camp reunion in June. Dr. Tracy Quan 2023 was certainly a busy year! Obviously the main news for me was being promoted to Full Professor this past summer. Many thanks to all my students, collaborators, and BPSoG faculty and alumni who have helped me get here with their hard work and support—I really appreciate it. On the geochemistry front, my lab is continuing to investigate Cretaceous climatic events using the IODP Expedition 369 deep sea sediment cores from the Southern Ocean near Australia. Master’s student Mengran Xin is working on analyzing samples from Ocean Anoxic Event 2, characterizing redox changes at this location. A new PhD student, Kehinde Egunjobi is expanding our investigations to the Eocene, looking at the climatic changes during the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) and the geochemical signatures of that event in the Southern Ocean. I also had the opportunity to do a series of lectures in the United Kingdom to talk about my research into using nitrogen isotopes as redox proxies. It was great to talk science with friends and collaborators, and nice to meet new people and explore new places. The NSF-funded Water Research, Assessment, and Networking Ecosystem (WRANE) program is continuing to introduce pre-university students and teachers to water-related geoscience topics via virtual lectures, career networking, and community science research projects. We are pleased that several of last year’s WRANE teachers have chosen to stay in the program and expand their current student groups, and we have added one new WRANE group. We are always interested in recruiting new teachers and students into the program, and any high school science teacher interested in geoscience can contact me about joining. More about the WRANE program and the Battelle-sponsored GEO-REx summer field camp can be found in a separate article in this newsletter. For me, 2024 has started with a bang, including developing a brand new course on the Chemistry of Earth Systems for the new Environmental Geoscience major. I enjoy the opportunity to teach students about geochemistry and develop hands-on lab and field activities, but it is always a challenge the first time around. I’ll have to report on how it went in next year’s newsletter. Dr. Brandon Spencer The 2023-24 year has been very busy for me in teaching. I continued teaching the new majors introductory class focused on field trips, and this year eight faculty from OSU and an OGS mapper came with us to the field and lent their individual expertise. The course is becoming a great way to get undergraduates involved in the School immediately—many of them pursue research with faculty. We added a trip to Black Mesa this year, which was hugely popular! I taught Mineralogy/Petrology in Fall 2023, Volcanology in spring 2023, and am currently teaching Economic Geology in spring 2024, in addition to my introductory courses. Last year’s field camp
16 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY was a bit different, in that we included, for the first time, digital mapping exercises using GPS-capable iPads and GIS mapping software. This coming year we will offer some new exercises for those pursuing the BS in Environmental Geoscience. We’re working with OSU to put together an exciting vision for the future of our facilities—stay tuned! From a research perspective, I co-authored a paper on deformation bands in Jurassic sandstones in Utah, and Dr. Jim Knapp and myself kicked off our Wichitas project with six undergraduates. Additionally, I’m building up a petrography and mineral separation facility to serve faculty and staff in the School who are interested in utilizing geochronological and petrographic methods in their own research. A PhD student working with Dr. Abdelsalam is already using the facility for geochronological research, and the petrography lab is current y hosting at least six students working on thin sections. Dr. Javier Vilcaez My Geofluids & Hydrogeology research group does research on the Water-Energy-CO2 nexus to contribute toward a net-zero emissions energy transition. We conduct experimental and computational research on the petrophysical characterization of rocks, as well as on the elucidation of hydrological, geochemical, and microbiological factors and interactions that control the multiphase bio-geochemical reactive transport of gas, aqueous, and hydrocarbon fluids in deep and shallow geo logical formations of complex heterogeneous porous media such as carbonates, at both the pore- and field-scale levels. The focus is on groundwater quality, petroleum produced water treatment and disposal, geological carbon and storage, mining of critical metals from brines, and hydrogen production and storage in depleted oil reservoirs. The goal is to develop new environmental technologies and computational methodologies to minimize the environmental burden of and optimize the development of subsurface energy, mineral, and groundwater resources. Our research incorporates the utilization of global optimization, machine learning, and environmental data analytical tools and techniques. Since the establishment of my research lab at OSU in 2014, I have published 20 peer-review articles as first and/or corresponding author in highly regarded energy, mineral, environmental, and groundwater journals. I value independence, the 20 publications are of research conducted at my Geofluids & Hydrogeology research lab. Since 2014, my collaborations with other research groups have resulted in 3 additional publications as co-author. Our research so far has been funded by NSF and USGS. Thanks! Dr. Tingying Xu Greetings everyone! Here is brief summary of my work and life for 2023, my 3rd year in OSU. I am still working on minerals, microbes, and metals. I am very excited that several of my projects got funded by various agencies in 2023. I am the sole PI on two grants, one is to explore roles of iron oxide mophology on hydrocarbon reservor rock wettablity funded by ACS Petroluem Research Foundation and the other one is to explore sortion mechanisms of light rare earth elements on metal oxide minerals funded by NSF Geobiology & Low Temperature Geochemistry program. Several of my collaborative projects also got funded by US EPA or some other agencies. I have recruited several new members to join my group including a postdoc researcher, a PhD student, and two undergraduate students. We are looking forward to a fruitful year in 2024 for all our funded projects! For teaching, I developed and taught Environmental Geology and Human Health for the first time in Fall 2023. I was highly encouraged based on the positive feedback from students enrolled. I will keep on offering this course annually. Hope I can eventually recruit some undergraduate students to the Geology department. Last, I want to express my great thanks to being a member of the BPSoG family and I look forward to working here for the coming years.
17 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY BPSoG Staff From left to right: Sandy Earls, Babita Xavier, Jennifer Koch, Tim Sickbert, and Sheri Orr. Sheri Orr at the Alumni Banquet. Jennifer Koch with her three sons. L to R Landon Koch, Nicholas Koch, Jennifer Koch and Matthew Koch. My name is Jennifer Koch. I am an Administrative Support Assistant I for BPSoG. I have three sons, who mean the world to me. Their names are Landon, Matthew, and Nicholas. They are my heart and soul; I enjoy hanging out and spending my free time with them. I like to enjoy the small happy things in life because that’s what it’s all about. I work in the main office, so you are sure to see my welcoming face. I have been in BPSoG for a little over a year and a half, and I have learned so much. I love the atmosphere here and how closeknit everyone is. This is truly a special place to be. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for BPSoG. I hope this letter finds you well. Life is good, but hectic, for me, as I’m busy just trying to keep up with two young kiddos (8 and 5) and manage all the changes here at work. Several months ago, OSU administration announced that there would be a restructuring for all OSU advisors, and just last week I learned that this would be my final semester advising most of the students in the BPSoG (and those from Physics). After 11 years serving Geology, Chemistry, Physics, and Plant Biology, I will be moving to the Chemistry Department and advising Chemistry and Integrative Biology majors. I am so grateful for the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have helped make me into the professional I am today. I am so glad to have so many friends from the Boone Pickens School of Geology. I will miss you all and wish you all the best. Sandy Earls (Administrative Associate) – Hi all! Just an update. I just officially (Feb 2024) been with the Boone Pickens School of Geology and OSU for 25 years. I have actually started here in August 1996 when we moved to Stillwater. Due to a short break in service (just over 2 months) my official clock restarted with the University when I started back up. Pete and I still live on 4.5 acres just NE of Stillwater and it is so nice and quiet there. Hope you will stop by and say hi whenever you are in town.
18 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Spotlight on Undergraduate Students Lori Huck Lori Huck is an undergraduate double-majoring in Geology and Geospatial Information Science. She is Choctaw and is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. She is a McNair and OKLSAMP Scholar and has received many scholarships including the OERB Petroleum Scholarship. She has been active in research and has participated is several research programs at OSU and outside of OSU doing research in hydrology, structural geology, mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry, and communication science including an International Research Experience for Students that took place in Douala, Cameroon. In addition, Lori is very active in student organizations and is the current President of the Association for Women Geoscientists and holds elected positions in SEG, AIPG, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). She is also the Region 4 Student Representative for AISES that includes OK, KS, MO, AR, LA, and TX and recently travelled to the AISES Canadian National Gathering to represent the United States and co-host the conference. Outside of OSU, Lori is active in Science Advocacy including participating in AGU’s Local Science Partners Program and recently travelled to Washington DC to advocate for science funding and legislation. Brancen Redman Brancen Redman is a sophomore undergraduate double-majoring in geology and global studies and double-minoring in oceanography and geophysics. He has received numerous scholarships and awards including being selected to sail aboard the JR (JOIDES Resolution) Academy. Brancen is a Purdie undergraduate research scholar and an OSU Udall selective, investigating crude oil degrading fungi. Besides research, Brancen is involved in the Oklahoma State University Geological Society (OSUGS), Oklahoma State President’s Leadership Council (PLC), the non-profit foundation Wishes for Water (WfW), and the Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM). Brancen is also involved in various STEM outreach events, AGU’s Voices for Science Policy Program, and is a research ambassador. After graduation, Brancen plans to attend graduate school to ultimately receive his Ph.D. and become a research professor.
19 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Spotlight on Graduate Students Emma Shook MS Student Emma Shook is a second year MS student working under the supervision of Dr. Natascha Riedinger. Her research involves working on samples from Ocean Drilling Project (ODP) Leg 175. She is investigating changes in bottom water oxygen off the coast of Namibia in Africa using trace metal proxies. She received her BS degree in Geology from Oklahoma State University. She recently went to her first international geology conference: the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2023 in San Francisco. She is a Graduate Teaching Assistant who was the TA at the OSU geology field camp in Colorado. Emma is planning to graduate at the end of this Fall semester. Magnolia McLaughlin MS Student Magnolia McLaughlin is a first year graduate student working with Dr. Camelia Knapp and the Geophysics and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage group. She is working as a graduate research assistant with the Oklahoma Geological Survey to expand the state’s knowledge of reservoirs available and their potential for carbon storage. To do so, she is using core analysis, seismic inversion, spatial analysis, and anthropogenic impacts to the Arbuckle reservoir and non-Arbuckle reservoirs. Magnolia is joining the BPSoG after completing an internship with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the completion of her Master’s and Bachelor’s at Georgia State University.
20 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Congratulations Graduates! Elaine Duff Isabelle Ley Arthur Burdett Tyson King Megan Garrett Izabelle Buentello Victoria Porter Mason Martinez Joshua Deen Clayton Hedges B.S. in Geology Brylee Brasher Lisa Lipscomb Eric Anderson Farjana Mily Autumn Graf Joshua Keltz Madison Culver M.S. in Geology Olubukola Ishola Khalid Omar Oluseun Sanuade Ph.D. in Geology
21 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY New Alumni Highlights Dr. Olubukola Ishola Olubukola Ishola commenced his Ph.D. in Geology at the Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University in the fall of 2019 and graduated in the spring of 2023. His dissertation, “A New Stochastic Pore-Scale Simulation and Machine Learning Approach to Predicting Permeability and Tortuosity of Heterogeneous Porous Media,” harnesses computing, engineering, and geoscience to enhance fluid flow predictions in porous media. His research has yielded two published and one under review articles in respected journals, and he contributed to eight scientific conferences. During his Ph.D. tenure, Olubukola secured multiple prestigious scholarships from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and others, recognizing his holistic approach to science. Olubukola’s academic foundation includes a Bachelor’s in Geophysics from Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria, and a Master’s in Petroleum Geoscience from University College Dublin. His practical expertise grew with internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Google X, deepening his proficiency in machine learning within geoscience. Olubukola now applies this expertise at GSK PLC, driving innovation in R&D as an AI/ML Engineer. Dr. Oluseun Sanuade Oluseun Sanuade received his Ph.D. from the Boone Pickens School of Geology in December 2023 where he served as a graduate research and teaching associate within the near-surface geophysics group led by Dr. Ahmed Ismail. Prior to his academic journey at OSU, Oluseun obtained his master’s degree in geology from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals in Saudi Arabia. He also holds a BSc in geology and a master’s degree in applied geophysics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. For his doctoral degree, Oluseun conducted research on the integration of multiple geophysical techniques including electrical, shallow seismic and borehole geophysical surveys for dam safety investigations of earth-filled and concrete dams in the state of Oklahoma. At OSU, he also served as the President of the Student Chapters of the SEG and the AIPG. Oluseun also served as the Webmaster for Geophysical Society of Oklahoma City. He was also a member of the Early Career Subcommittee and Research Committee of the SEG, positions he continues to hold. He won numerous awards including Kenneth L. Zonge Scholarship, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co. Scholarship, Oklahoma Geological Foundation Graduate Fellowship, SEG Foundation/Chevron Scholarship, and SEG/Gary and Lorene Servos Scholarship among others. Oluseun published a few articles during his time pursuing a doctoral degree at OSU. He is currently an Exploration Geologist at the Technology Center of Freeport-McMoRan in Tucson, Arizona.
22 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Student Organizations 2023 was an exciting year for the Geology Graduate Student Assocation (GGSA). We collaborated with alumni and student organizations of SEG, AAPG, AWG, AIPG, and OSUGS for events, as well as industry. Such events included: •Poster Presentation Workshop (March 2023) - this workshop helped students prepare for the GSA South Central Meeting held on campus. •Stillwater Public Library Outreach Event (March 2023) - the student chapter of SEG and GGSA introduced the Stillwater community to geophysics and geochemistry. A great time was had by all! •Outreach for the Seismic Centennial (April 2023) - the student chapter of SEG and GGSA organized outreach for the Seismic Centennial in April 2023 for ~100 high school students. •Career Day Event (March 2023 and February 23, as part of TechFest 2024) - GGSA organized a career day event with STEM professionals March 2023, and co-organized the event with the AAPG student chapter in February 2024 as part of TechFest. Students had the opportunity to network with STEM professionals and learn about different geology careers. •Rock Swap (April 2023) - The Rock Swap returned to campus April 2023 with a visit from Pistol Pete. •Resume Workshop co-organized with the Alumni Advisory Board (August 2023) - the annual Resume Workshop occurred August 2023 in collaboration with the Alumni Advisory Board. This workshop is held early enough to help students prepare for internship and job interviews during the Fall semester. •Annual Homecoming Tailgate (October 2023) - our annual Homecoming Alumni Tailgate is organized in collaboration by all BPSoG student organizations. Unfortunately, the weather was cold and wet in 2023, but we still had a great time with good food and games! •Collaboration with Continental Resources (Welcome Event, tailgate, and colloquium) - Continental Resources hosted a welcome event, tailgate, and came for a colloquium session during the Fall 2023 semester. Students had the opportunity to chat with
23 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY Continental Resources in an informal environment and learn about opportunities within the company. • AAPG Mid Continent Section (October 2023) - the BPSoG student organizations were fortunate to get a free booth during this conference. During our time attending this conference, we networked with industry professionals, attended the OSU Alumni reception, and even got attendees to join in grammer tubes! The networking resulted in collaborations that are occurring in 2024. • OCGS Mock Interviews (Fall 2023) & Meet and Greet (Spring 2023) - OCGS visited BPSoG in collaboration with GGSA to host mock interviews before student began interviewing with different industry companies for summer internships. • Tulsa Geological Society Visit (January 2024) - The Tulsa Geological Society visited BPSoG in collaboration with GGSA to share the benefits of students joining as a member of the society. • Graduate School Workshop (February 2024) - the student chapter of AWG and GGSA co-organized a graduate school workshop where students could learn about how to apply to graduate school, graduate school requirements, funding sources, and more. We are looking forward to collaborations and upcoming events during 2024! Photo Credits: Lauren Haygood and Silas Adeoluwa Samuel
24 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY BPSoG High School Outreach Programs: the WRANE Program and GEO-REx Summer Field Experience BPSoG students and faculty participate in many different outreach programs during the year, including teacher education workshops, Grandparent University, and various school and program visits. We have developed a wide range of activities that introduce participants to various aspects of geoscience, such as rocks and minerals, water quality, and macro- and micropaleontology. The WRANE and GEO-REx programs were developed to increase the exposure of high school students to geoscience topics and provide them hands-on experience with geoscience research. The Water Research, Assessment, and Networking Ecosystem (WRANE) program was funded by the NSF to establish an out-of-school-time educational program that would introduce high school students to water geoscience topics and future careers with the hopes of increasing the number and diversity of geoscience majors at the university level. Each WRANE group consists of a high school or community college teacher and their students, supported by online and in-person networking, lab, and field instruction and supplies provided by BPSoG faculty and collaborators. Each group is also responsible for developing and executing a water-related community research project based on their interests and local concerns. We are currently in our second year of working with WRANE groups, several of which also participated last year. To support the educational aspect of the program, the grant PIs have created several instructional videos on a wide range of water-related topics, including geochemistry, geophysics, sedimentology, and paleontology. Demonstrations of field experiments and laboratory equipment have also been filmed and made available to the WRANE groups. Groups have also had the chance to visit the BPSoG facilities or have the opportunity for a faculty mentor to visit their schools and assist with their project. This past summer, we held the inaugural WRANE summer symposium to bring together the different WRANE groups and allow them to meet each other, exchange ideas, network, and learn about career and educational pathways in the geosciences. Each group presented their research projects, which ranged from the impact of a new bridge over the local river to the water quality near the Tar Creek Superfund site to the impact of urban runoff on a local creek. Students and teachers also interacted with several professionals from a wide range of water and environmental geoscience organizations, including the EPA, USGS, and OK DEQ. Student survey data indicates that participating the in the WRANE program has resulted in an increasing positivity towards science-related careers. Outside of the symposium, WRANE groups have also presented their research at science fairs and the 2023 GSA South-Central Section Meeting. Dr. Quan with the GEO-REx 2023 geochemistry research group.
25 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY The BPSoG hosted the Geoscience Educational Opportunity-Research Experience (GEO-REx) camp from July 17 - 20. This academic camp was sponsored by Battelle and provided field and lab-based experiences for eighteen (18) high school students who explored geoscience topics and completed their own mini-research project, including taking notes, developing hypotheses, and collecting samples, and measuring data. Students went out in the field to learn about different types of rocks and surface water features, then participated in three hands-on workshops covering hydrogeology, geochemistry, and rock properties. The first day, students were introduced to geoscience and enjoyed team-building activities including a campus scavenger hunt to locate items of geologic significance ranging from a geologic map in Life Sciences West to fossils in the railing of the stone steps on the south side of Willard Hall. The second day was dedicated to field experience and was highlighted by a local field trip with Dr. Gary Stewart who showed students evidence of high terrace deposits east of Stillwater along Fairgrounds Road and Mehan Road, as well as features along the Cimarron River at Ripley including the Neva Limestone and the associated sandstone that forms the cliff along River Road. On the third day students had the opportunity to work on a small research project under the guidance of a BPSoG faculty or graduate student, ranging from ocean bathymetry to geophysics to rock properties to elemental water analyses. While not every student was able to finish their project, all were able to develop a hypothesis, collect samples, prepare them for analysis, and measure data. That evening, the BPSoG hosted a BBQ at Lake Carl Blackwell and students enjoyed swimming and socializing with faculty, staff and students. The morning of the final day was dedicated to careers and research presentations to family, friends, and geoscience professionals. Students learned about preparing for college enrollment and met professional geoscientists from Battelle, US EPA, USGS, and the petroleum and environmental industries, who visited with them about career opportunities. The students gave excellent summary presentations on their projects, explaining their research, experimental plans, and data clearly and concisely. Informal feedback from students was generally positive regarding the geoscience workshops and research experience, as well as the opportunity to talk to geoscience professionals about their careers. Additional feedback from OSU faculty and professionals were very complimentary towards the student research projects, particularly how well they understood their research goals and what they were able to accomplish. Overall, the GEO-REx summer experience was a success, and a good model for future summer academic camps. The GEO-REx and WRANE teams send a large ‘Thank you’ to the NSF, Battelle, the BPSoG Alumni, and all the participating career professionals for their funding and support in introducing high school students to geoscience and the BPSoG. If you’re interested in helping with either program, let Jim or Tracy know.
26 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY NGWA University Powered By OSU NGWA University Powered by OSU (NGWAU) is a collaborative workforce development program between the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), OSU’s College of Arts and Sciences Office of Outreach and Communications, and the Boone Pickens School of Geology. Together, they offer professional development and K-12 extension activities focused on groundwater, reaching 41 states, 5 countries, and over 350 K-12 classrooms. The program addresses a workforce shortage, with success stories like an unemployed participant securing a job within two months of completing NGWAU non-credit courses. While funding for the program’s future is uncertain, NGWA has received significant grassroots support, while OSU secured scholarships and grant proposals. Efforts are underway to expand NGWAU programming, particularly in Oklahoma, with support from the Oklahoma Geological Foundation and advocacy for legislative support from groundwater constituents. Our recent launch of a nationwide public service announcement campaign aims to raise awareness of the groundwater workforce shortage, which can be viewed at groundwater.okstate.edu. The NGWAU program through BPSoG not only exemplifies successful industry collaboration but also seamlessly aligns with OSU’s Polytech Initiative, while incorporating three of the four priority areas defined by our OSU administration. Dr. Barnes demonstrating how to utilize the Awesome Aquifer 360 digital groundwater lab kits for K-12 students.
27 BOONE PICKENS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY BPSoG in the Field The Introductory Geological Processesy class, led by Dr. Brandon Spencer, visited the Ouachita Mountains, Oklahoma. Dr. Puckette and Ariel with soil core at Tar Creek. The BPSoG has been busy in the field for the last year! Almost every core class includes at least one field trip, and many of our electives also get students out there to see some fantastic geology. This year, students in Dr. Spencer’s courses took trips all over the state and into adjacent states. Students in Introductory Geological Processes went to Black Mesa, the Wichita Mountains, the Arbuckles, and the Ouachitas, in addition to lots of local spots near Stillwater. Mineralogy/Petrology students took a long trip that hit outcrops stretching from the eastern Arbuckles to the Ouachitas to central Arkansas in the Magnet Cove area. Volcanology students went to the Jemez Mountains in New Mexico to look at recent volcanoes and eruptive products, and learned the value of nice campsites after an…interesting… night on a concrete pad north of Albuquerque. Economic Geology students went to central and southern Colorado to look at lots of different mineral deposits, and many students got their first look at field camp since they stayed on site during the first night of the trip.
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