Department Information
We recently had a competition to design a new logo for the Department; this was the Grad Students' top choice and now appears on the uniforms of the DoGS softball team.
Graduate Student getting food just before the start of DoGS Lunch.
David Leslie is the Graduate Student Administrator. If you have questions on anything, he is your best resource, and if he doesn't know the answer to your question, he probably knows who will. If you need help setting up a geosci account, or want to know what that is, talk to Richard Dahringer. Richard is our System Administrator and can help you set up your computer so you can print and have have access to campus or department e-mail accounts. If you have any questions or concerns related to the building itself (your office is too hot or too cold, you're locked out of your office, etc.) see our building manager, Brian Brian always has a bowl of candy in his office and is wicked at softball and basketball.
For information about social events and tips for the day to day of department life, see the Department Life page
Weekly Events
This is a partial list of events which tend to happen every week in the fall, winter and spring quarters.
DoGS Lunch
Every Wednesday, Graduate Students, and some Post-Docs and Undergrads, get together and enjoy a ~30 minute talk from one of the graduate students and free food. The following week's presenter is picked from a hat by the current week's presenter. Its a great way to get practice presenting, and learn from our peers!
Friday Seminars
Every Friday there are two seminars (1:30 - 2:30 and 3:00 - 4:00; see calendar for current schedule). Seminar topics rotate through various interests within the department. Students are expected to attend all seminars.
Journal Clubs
There are several large and small journal cubs in the department were students and faculty meet to discuss papers. Many groups have their own small gatherings, and there are two larger department wide weekly meetings
Climate/Fluids Journal Club. Brown bag lunch on Fridays, students and faculty lead a group discussion on a paper chosen the previous week. Everyone reads them, everyone talks, the presenter gives a brief introduction and directs discussions.
Paleobiology Journal Club. A discussion of the latest advances in paleobiology including paleobiogeography, paleoecology, evolutionary processes, and taphonomy. Mondays at 12:00
Death at Noon. Discussion of current in-house findings relating to taphonomy of recent and fossil ecosystems. Fridays at 12:00
Coffee Breaks
Twice a week there are department coffee breaks: Mondays at 3:00 and Thursdays at 11:00. A fresh pot of coffee is percolated and there are cookies and an assortment of teas. Cookies go quick, so if you want any, get there on-time.
Annual Events
EXPO
Towards the end of each spring quarter, 3rd year graduate students organize a student symposium. Faculty, research staff and students take a break from their regular Friday schedules and dedicate the full day to listing to 15 minute talks from graduate students (and a few brave senior undergrads).
