Greetings from the University of Texas at Dallas and the Department of Geosciences.  I write this communication during the first week of classes, with a great deal of optimism toward the future of the Department.  Many a scholar has noted, in different ways, that change is likely the only constant in life, and the Department is certainly witnessing this!  In 2017, we were very fortunate to add to our faculty Professor David Lumley, Green Chair in Geophysics, who comes to us from the University of Western Australia.  Professor Lumley is now the Director of the Center for Lithospheric Studies, and is actively establishing a new Consortium geared at applied geophysical studies, involving several oil and gas companies and other supporters.  With the resignation of one of our faculty this summer, and the retirement of Professor George McMechan effective 1 September, and the planned retirement of Professor Carlos Aiken at the end of the Spring, 2019, semester, change to the Department is certain!  We have requested permission from the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Office of the Provost to fill two faculty positions this Academic Year.  One position is in the field of structural geology and tectonics.  The other is a bit more loosely defined as quantitative basin analysis.  The ability to hire new, energetic, young faculty in these fields will represent a major start in the right direction for your Department!  Dean Bruce Novak is highly supportive of our quest!  On the Department infrastructure side, we remain eternally hopeful for the construction of a stand-along Geosciences sample preparation facility, adjacent to our present home, and the removal of the old, very worn “rock barn” that is part of the quonset hut like facility at the north end of campus.

Meanwhile, if you have not been to the University in a while, it is likely that you will not recognize much or most of it.  The institution continues its dramatic growth in student enrollment, mainly at the undergraduate level, and, of course, infrastructure, of many flavors.  The School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is looking forward to completion of the new Sciences Building, located just south of the large communications tower that has adorned the campus for decades. The downside to this explosive growth in student enrollment (as of this semester, well over 28,000 students) is that the institution, likely for several reasons, has not been able to grow its tenured/tenure-track faculty at anywhere near the pace needed.  UTD presently has some 560 tenured/tenure-track faculty. 

So, stay tuned!  Please visit!  Wish us the best as we experience change!