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| Electronic Contact andrew@pdx.edu |
Mailing Address Department of Geology Portland State University P.O. Box 751 Portland OR 97207-0751 |
FedEx / UPS Street Address Portland State University |
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