Andrew G. Fountain

Professor of Geography and Geology
Room S-20 Cramer Hall


Electronic Contact

andrew@pdx.edu
TEL: 503.725.3386
FAX: 503.725.3025

Mailing Address

Department of Geology
Portland State University
P.O. Box 751
Portland OR 97207-0751

FedEx / UPS Street Address

Portland State University
Department of Geology
Room 17 Cramer Hall
1721 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97201

Research Agenda: I am interested in understanding the basic physical laws that control processes on the Earth’s surface. Although a wide variety of topics interest me, my focus is on ice, particularly glacier ice. My background in the subject started with ice crystals in the atmosphere, became grounded in lake ice, switched to sea ice, and then I found a job….in glaciers. I’ve remained there ever since. My research is devoted to the problem of water and glaciers, and the variation of glaciers with climate. I am glad to have found this niche because it affords me the pleasure of collaborating with some great people in a close community of scientists. In many ways the culture of glaciology is unique among the sciences and I feel very lucky to be in this field.

Educational Perspective: I am still maturing in this subject, but my philosophy is to emphasize the fundamental processes that govern the observed behavior of the natural systems we encounter. Only in this way can we see the universal underpinnings to the environment in which we live.

Graduate Education: One of the highlights of graduate education is the mutual exploration of the scientific unknown. As an advisor, I typically set a goal and provide the initial guidelines for exploration. But where the final result may lead is anyone’s guess. That’s the enjoyable thing about research, the outcome is not guaranteed