April 2026

Welcome to the Geology & Geophysics monthly blog! Here we will share department updates, career opportunities, scholarships, events, news, and more! Have something you would like included? Email ashley.herman@utah.edu 

Don't forget to register for the Poster Session by April 9th and RSVP for the Spring Banquet by April 15th!

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General

Fall Registration - Begins April 6th

• Advisors are holding a drop-in event on April 13th! Kelise Richards (Geo Advisor) will be in CSC 206 from 10 am-1 pm. 

Special Event - Field Notes From Failure: A Gallery by Molly McCreary, PhD Candidate

• Friday, April 24th, from 6-9 pm at Essential Photo Supply (see flyer to the right)

 

 

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Undergrad Students

Good to know/Opportunities 

• 2026 Convocation Ceremony & Reception
  • Ceremony - Thursday, April 30th, from 11:00 am-1:00 pm, in the Jon M. Hunstman Center
  • Reception - Thursday, April 30th, from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, in the Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House
• Stem Major Mixer
  • April 8th, 12-4 pm, at the Union Patio
  • Join for free snacks, prizes, games, activities, and meet new people! 
• Student applications for the 2026-2027 Twinning Program are open! Apply by April 15th.

Academic Advising

Your Geoscience Advisor: Kelsie Richards

Kelsie Richards is now taking all geoscience (all department) appointments. 

BOOK AN ADVISING APPOINTMENT with Kelsie

Kelsie is located in CSC (Crocker Science Center), room 240

Email: kelsie.richards@utah.edu 

 

Earth & Environmental Science Advisor: Mone Easthope

Book an advising appointment with Mone

simon.easthope@utah.edu

Crocker Science Center, room 214

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Graduate Students

2026 Hooding Ceremony

Thursday, April 30th, at 8:00 am, in the Alumni House. Reception to follow.

 

Graduate Defenses - more coming soon, keep an eye on your email and our Instagram @uofugeo

*If you are defending, please make sure you have sent Sam & Ashley your defense notification form! If any details are missing below, it may mean that you have not yet submitted this form. 

• April 8th - Bronson Cvijanovich Thesis Defense - Geophysics MS
  • The Internal Ice Content of Timpanogos Rock Glacier, Utah, USA: From 3-D Bayesian Inversion of Gravity Data
  • April 8th at 12:00 pm, in FASB 303
  • Zoom ID: 5689830075
• April 9th - Grant Spraker Thesis Defense - Geophysics MS
  • Microseismic migration patterns at Utah FORGE indicate evolving triggering mechanisms after injection shut-in
  • April 9th at 9:30 am, in FASB 303
  • Zoom ID: 83536477441, Passcode: 458683
• April 10th - Mason Jacketta Thesis Defense - Geophysics MS
  • Electrical Resistivity Tomography of the Great Salt Lake
  • April 10th at 9:00 am, in FASB 303
  • Zoom ID: 82404644553, Passcode: 705760
• April 27th - Tyler Yoklavich
  • April 27th at 1:00 pm, in FASB 295
• April 28th - Caden Evans
  • April 28th at 10:00 am, in FASB 303
• April 29th - Lauren Gasior
  • April 29th at 9:00 am, in FASB 303
• April 29th - Emily Cunningham Dissertation Defense - Geology PhD
  • From Active to Passive: Mantle Controls on Intraplate Magmatism and Continental Breakup
  • April 29th at 12:30 pm, in FASB 303
  • Zoom ID: 388 581 9151, Passcode: rifted

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Research/News

View all research news and articles

Recent News:

• Undergraduate Geophysics Student Receives the 2026 Valadi N. Venkatesan Research Award (photo to the right)
• Marjorie Chan, Emeritus Faculty, Receives the 2026
• Twenhofel Medal
• Gabe Bowen named a Geochemistry Fellow for 2026
• Freshwater Under Great Salt Lake Playa
• Great Salt Lake's Patchwork of Fresh and Salty Groundwater
• Recent Earthquakes in Utah
• Grad Student Ashley Morris Publishes New Research on Basalt Geochemistry

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Events

 

 

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