Geology listed in research ranking

The geology department was ranked fourth in geoscience research at national liberal arts colleges by a study from Mount Holyoke College.

The study, which appeared in the Journal of Geoscience Education, considered the number of articles, pages, and abstracts published in the scientific literature between 1987 and 1996. Union faculty published 28 scientific articles.

Williams, Colgate and Wesleyan were listed first through third, respectively. Franklin & Marshall was fifth.

"At Union, we place a strong emphasis on research – at both the faculty and undergraduate levels," said John Garver, professor of geology. "This is a welcome validation that our efforts are well-placed."

Garver noted that about 50 to 60 percent of recent graduates from geology go on to advanced studies in geology and allied sciences.