“The More Rocks You See, The Better You Are.”

Since 2003, Dr. Mark Groszos, Associate Professor of Geosciences, has coordinated the logistics for GEOL 3120, spending over 100 hours planning each year for the trip.  From the driving route to overnight accommodations, there are many details that have to be finalized prior to embarking on the trip.  Groszos believes the hands-on experience students gain in the field makes it worth the effort because when the students “see things firsthand, up close, things click into place.”.

Geosciences Faculty and Staff posing for a group photograph before hiking in to a slot canyon.
Faculty and Students before hiking into a slot canyon.

Previous years have taken them to locations as far as North Dakota and Yellowstone National Park, and overall, they are able to avoid most of the crowds since the trip is held in May before the summer tourist season. 

They also avoid the more popular areas and instead select lesser-visited locations.  Over 150 students have participated in this course since it was first offered, experiencing geologic areas that aren’t found in southern Georgia, such as volcanics and caves.  This year’s destinations included some of the most well-known national and state parks in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona including Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, among many others.

Students standing on an overlook at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Students stand in a slot canyon

Prior to leaving their classroom in Nevins Hall and heading west, students research the areas they will be visiting and then once on-site at their destination, students give oral presentations on-site about that particular location.  And as for living in the field?  Dr. Groszos said some students have never set up a tent before, much less slept in one.  After a long day of travel across Texas and arriving at the campsite after dark, one of his favorite things to see is the look of wonder the students have that first morning waking up in Van Horn, Texas surrounded by mountains, a favorite memory shared by 2021 VState graduate Ben Singletary.  Ben works as a GIS specialist at the South Georgia Regional Commission and says his favorite memory of the 2019 trip was “driving through the western portion of Texas, reason being that it is the first time I had ever seen mountains before.”.

Michael Williams, an environmental geosciences major, participated in this year’s field trip and decided to take the course because he had never traveled to the western United States and was interested to see the geology of the area.  He was able to apply what he learned in the classroom at VState by identifying minerals, volcanoes, and landforms in the field.  Regarding the program, Williams says “I like the Environmental Geosciences program because it is interesting to learn about the earth and its processes, then we get to see them in real life.”. 

A student is presenting a lesson on the rim of the Grand Canyon with the scenic landscape in the background.
The Grand Canyon served as an outside classroom, photo courtesy Dr. Mark Groszos.

The value of classroom knowledge and being able to apply it in the field is echoed by Dr. Groszos who says the bottom line is that “the more rocks you see, the better you are.”

For more information regarding the Geosciences program, check out https://www.valdosta.edu/chemistry-geosciences/geosciences/.

Tents set up at the Wahweap Campground on Lake Powell in Page, Utah
Wahweap Campground on Lake Powell in Page, Utah – photo courtesy Mark Groszos.
A student delivers a presentation to other students within a slot canyon at Zion National Park
Student gives a presentation in the field to the class at Zion National Park, photo courtesy Dr. Mark Groszos.
Students standing in front of El Capitan in Texas.
Students standing in front of El Capitan in Texas, photo courtesy Dr. Mark Groszos
Students and Dr. Mark Groszos stand in front of a van outside of Nevins Hall on the campus of VState after returning from their trip.
Geosciences students and Dr. Mark Groszos after the 6400 mile trip.

City of Valdosta Receives Grant from Georgia Tech’s Georgia Smart Communities Challenge – VSU Professor Serves as Research Partner

In 2020, the City of Valdosta was awarded a Georgia Smart Communities Challenge 2020 grant for their proposal “Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Traffic Monitoring and Communication System for the City of Valdosta and Its Communities to Improve Safety, Connectivity, and Efficiency”.  Dr. Hojjatie, Professor of Engineering Studies and Coordinator of the VSU Engineering Studies program, has been serving as Research Partner as part of the collaborative team led by the city. With the City of Valdosta and Project Manager Patrick Collins (City Engineer and Director) leading the efforts, other project partners include Valdosta State University, Lowndes County, Temple, Inc., Applied Information, Inc., and Research Partner Dr. Baabak Ashuri with Georgia Tech.

According to the proposal, the focus of the project is to “create new capabilities for the City of Valdosta’s Traffic Management Center”.  Through this project, the City of Valdosta is working toward the vision of a smart traffic management system in which the 128 major traffic signals found within the city communicate with one another, resulting in improvements in traffic flow, increased road safety, and a reduction in the number of traffic accidents.

At left: student David Yoo presents at the Connected Vehicles Roundtable Discussion held at Valdosta State University on June 23, 2021.

Dr. Hojjatie summarized the importance of the work by highlighting the impact it has had on the community as well as the collaborative efforts that went in to the project.  “I think that the project was very special because it resulted in improvement of traffic signals and safety in Valdosta, was a collaborative work with GA Tech, city of Valdosta and two High-Tech industries, and more importantly, a total of 8 of Valdosta State University engineering students including females and underrepresented as well as international engineering students were actively involved in the project. Furthermore, based on external feedback received from many including GA Tech, the work of VSU Engineering was a success.”

At right: Dr. Barry Hojjatie presents at the Connected Vehicles Roundtable Discussion held at Valdosta State University on June 23, 2021.

Click here to read the project’s proposal in its entirety.

To view a webinar about the project which took place on September 23rd, 2021, please visit https://youtu.be/c9nI29cpeDE.

To read more about the Georgia Smart program, click here.

The College of Science and Mathematics congratulates Dr. Hojjatie and other participating VSU faculty members and students on their contributions to this project. We are excited to see the continuing impact the effort by students and faculty of the engineering program will have on the Valdosta community through this collaborative effort.

Meet Dr. Hojjatie:

Dr. Hojjatie received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and also holds a PE licensure (Professional Engineer).  He is the coordinator of the VSU Engineering Studies program, highlighting the Regents’ Engineering Pathway Program (REPP) connection to Georgia Tech. His research interests include computer aided design/engineering (CAD/CAE), computational/experimental mechanics and heat transfer analyses related to dental materials and other biomaterials, pulp and paper manufacturing, and paper physics.

PAGET’s Dr. Quarles’s Research May Lead to Finding Other Systems Like Ours

Dr. Billy Quarles, Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Physics, recently co-authored a paper titled “Exomoons in Systems with a Strong Perturber: Applications to α Cen AB” that was published in The Astronomical Journal in July 2021. Dr. Quarles and his associates propose that if moons orbiting a planet exist within Alpha Centauri (believed to be the nearest star system to our sun), then they should be detectable utilizing current technology.

According to Dr. Quarles, the Alpha Centauri system is used as a prototype because it is the closest stellar binary to us and is suspected to harbor some exoplanets, though that has yet to be confirmed. He and his colleagues propose that if exomoons (exosolar moons) exist within the Alpha Centauri system or any other stellar binary, they should be detectable using the current technological technique of transit timing variations, or TTVs. TTVs allow for the accurate transit timing information from modern observations and from there, researchers can determine whether a transit is occurring sooner or later than it should.

How could this research possibly lead to the discovery of other planets and systems similar to our own? Click here to read more: https://phys.org/news/2021-09-earthlike-planets-solar-moons.html.

The full abstract can be found here: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ac042a.

Meet Dr. Billy Quarles:

Dr. Billy Quarles is an Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Physics in the PAGET Department at Valdosta State University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington.

“My research involves the observation and theoretical study of planets with multiple suns.  Like Tatooine, such exoplanets orbit a pair of stars and these exotic worlds are no longer science fiction or theoretical curiosities.  The Kepler Space Telescope has discovered around a dozen binary stars that host at least one circumbinary planet (CBP), where the stellar binary orbit lies completely within the planetary orbit.  Additionally, I am interested in planets that orbit only one star out of the stellar binary.  The nearest star to the Solar System is Proxima Centauri, which orbits the binary star system Alpha Centauri AB.  My work explores how an Earth-like planet would orbit either star in the binary and the consequences for life as we know such a world.”

“I became interested in science from an early age and grew to appreciate astronomy greatly throughout my childhood.  My interest in planets evolved from watching science fiction dramas like Star Trek: TNG and Contact due to their exploratory nature of alien worlds.  As a graduate student, I discovered that it was possible to have a career exploring alien worlds, no starship required.  From there, I became interested in the dynamics of planetary orbits and the possible origins of planets.”

PAGET Professor and Students Have Paper Accepted by Peer-Reviewed Journal

PAGET’s Professor of Geography Dr. Jia Lu and her students, Anthony Oliveira and Marcus Ben Singletary, recently co-authored a paper titled “Pharmacy Disparities in Rural Georgia” that was just accepted by the peer-reviewed Journal of Rural and Community Development. (To find out more about the Journal of Rural and Community Development, click here: https://journals.brandonu.ca/jrcd/about).

The study analyzed geographical patterns of spatial equity of pharmacy using GIS technology. Results suggest that many pharmacy deserts exist in Georgia, and large urban areas have more access to pharmacies than rural areas and small cities. Rural areas could experience the adverse effects of pharmacy deserts more than non-rural areas. There is a clear, positive relationship between rural counties and a lower number of pharmacies. Relationships between pharmacy locations and various racial and demographic variables were also explored. Policy suggestions were proposed to increase access in pharmacy deserts.

Want to know more about the authors? Their biographies can be found below.

Dr. Jia Lu holds a Ph.D. in City & Regional Planning from Ohio State University with minors in Geography, GIS, Quantitative Analysis & Urban Economics.  She teaches courses in Regional Planning and Environmental Management, Urban Community Planning, World Regional Geography, Introduction to Land Forms, and GIS Applications in Planning and her research interests include population and employment analyses, urban modeling, spatial analyses, GIS applications in planning and transportation, geography of China, city planning and urban development, and environmental analyses.

Anthony Oliveira received a B.S. in Psychology in May 2021 from Valdosta State University and intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.  He works as a Registered Behavior Technician for The Conner Group for Pediatric Therapies, conducting ABA therapy for children diagnosed with autism.  His interests include learning languages (having familiarity with nine), reading books, learning about psychological principles, spending time with his family and girlfriend, teaching his dog new tricks, and studying Christology and the historicity of religion.

Ben Singletary received a B.S. in Environmental Geosciences from Valdosta State University in August 2021.  He is currently working at the Southern Georgia Regional Commission as a GIS analyst where he carries out mapping and data services for Valdosta, Lowndes, and surrounding communities.  His hobbies include rock collecting, mainly variants of quartz such as amethyst, and astrophotography.

The College of Science and Mathematics congratulates Dr. Lu, Mr. Oliveira, and Mr. Singletary on their accomplishments!

VSU Confers Title of Professor Emeritus to Dr. Kenneth Rumstay

The College of Science and Mathematics wants to congratulate Dr. Kenneth Rumstay on his recent designation of Professor Emeritus.  This title recognizes Dr. Rumstay’s honorable and distinguished service to the University. He has served as both Professor of Astronomy and Physics and as the Director of the Valdosta State University’s Planetarium and Observatory.

To review VState’s process and recommendation for Emeritus status, please visit https://www.valdosta.edu/academics/academic-affairs/emeritus-status.php.

Dr. Rumstay holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy from The Ohio State University and his research interests include star formation, the interstellar medium, and active galaxies.  He joined Valdosta State University as a faculty member in 1984, and in 2017, he received the VSU Presidential Excellence Award for Teaching.  Dr. Rumstay holds memberships in numerous professional organizations to include the American Astronomical Society, Royal Astronomical Society, Georgia Academy of Science, and The Planetary Society.  In addition, he has an extensive list of professional publications and presentations.

To read more about Dr. Rumstay’s accomplishments, please visit his merit page at http://meritpages.com/kennethrumstay.

Congratulations Dr. Rumstay, on your well-deserved appointment to Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Adam Safer’s Herpetology Class Assists with Turtle Survey

Dr. Adam Safer’s summer herpetology class is featured in the most recent bulletin published by Georgia Department of Natural Resources.  Back in June, they had the opportunity to help biologists check turtle traps located on the Alapaha River and the results are in – they logged four different types of turtles, with the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle as the targeted species, the largest of which weighed nearly 40 pounds!

Students were able to assist in obtaining data on these snappers including sex determination, weighing, measuring upper and lower shell lengths, and marking them with a transponder. This information will be integral in helping assess the species’ status.

Check out the bulletin in its entirety here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/GADNR/bulletins/2ee21e9.

Dr. Safer’s summer herpetology class – photo by Chris Coppola, USFWS.

CoSM Welcomes New Dean, Dr. Pierre-Richard Cornely

Dr. Pierre-Richard Cornely

The College of Science and Mathematics welcomes new Dean, Dr. Pierre-Richard Cornely, from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA, where he was the Chair of the Science & Technology Division.

Dr. Cornely received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and brings to Valdosta State unique corporate and academic experiences with a focus on student success, team building, and community engagement.

Welcome to VSU, Dean Cornely!

Promotions Received by Five CoSM Faculty Members

The College of Science and Mathematics wishes to congratulate the following five CoSM faculty members on their recent promotions. As outlined by the University, promotion is awarded to faculty members who demonstrate superior teaching; outstanding professional service to the university and/or the community; outstanding research, scholarship, creative activity, or academic achievement; and professional growth and development. Promotion to the rank of associate or full professor at a regional university like VSU requires the earned doctorate or its equivalent in training, ability, and/or experience.

Congratulations to Biology faculty member Dr. Corey Anderson for his promotion to Full Professor! Dr. Anderson’s research interests lie in spatial ecology and spatial genetics, and he teaches courses on ecology, evolution, and spatial analysis.

Congratulations to Chemistry faculty member Dr. Alexandrina Focsan for her promotion to Full Professor! Dr. Focsan’s research interests are all about carotenoids, and she teaches courses on physical and computational chemistry, as well as carotenoid research.

Congratulations to Mathematics faculty member Dr. Shaun Ault for his promotion to Full Professor!  Dr. Ault serves as the department head, and his research interests lie in algebraic topology and computational mathematics. He teaches courses on set theory and topology.

Congratulations to Mathematics faculty member Dr. Sandra Trowell for her promotion to Full Professor! Dr. Trowell’s research interests include mathematics classroom norms & proportional reasoning, and she teaches courses on curriculum & methods for teaching mathematics.

Congratulations to PAGET faculty member Dr. Dereth Drake for her promotion to Full Professor! Dr. Drake’s research interests include plasma stability and planetary entry modeling for Jupiter and Titan. She also teaches courses on plasma physics and thermodynamics.

CoSM Welcomes New Faculty for Fall 2021 Semester

The College of Science and Mathematics wants to extend a warm welcome to our new faculty members who will be joining Valdosta State this fall. Each of these individuals bring a wealth of knowledge to their respective departments, and we are eager to have them on our team as we continue to educate our students in the fields of Aerospace Studies/AFROTC, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics, Astronomy, Geosciences & Engineering Technology (PAGET).

V-State Computer Science welcomes new faculty member, Assistant Professor Dr. Ahana Roy Choudhury. She holds a PhD in Computer Science and her research interests are in the fields of Computer Vision and Machine Learning, working on medical imaging problems and drone localization.

V-State Computer Science welcomes new Assistant Professor, Dr. Krishnapriya Kottakkal Sugathan who earned her PhD in Computer Science. Her research focus is Cybersecurity, Biometrics and Artificial Intelligence, with specific interest in increasing accuracy of facial recognition systems.

V-State Chemistry welcomes new Assistant Professor Dr. Shipra Gupta. As a photochemist, her current research focus is using photochemical pathways to synthesize industrially relevant compounds and designing smart materials using natural resources.

V-State Biology welcomes new Assistant Professor Dr. Ansul Lokdarshi, a biochemist who uses biochemical, cellular and molecular methods to understand plant responses to environmental stresses. He is also active in K-12 outreach to increase love of plant biology.

V-State Biology congratulates Mr. Joshua Brown (M.S. in Biology) on his recent appointment as Lecturer. He will be teaching introductory biology labs and courses in Anatomy & Physiology. His research interests focus on population & molecular genetics.

V-State Mathematics congratulates Ms. Anna Lane (M.S. in Mathematics) on her recent appointment as Lecturer. She will be teaching courses in College Algebra and Trigonometry.

V-State PAGET welcomes new Lecturer Ms. Neda Shirazi who holds a M.S. in Industrial Engineering. She will be teaching courses in our Industrial Engineering Technology program; her research interests include supply chain engineering and operations research.

V-State PAGET welcomes new Assistant Professor Dr. Billy Quarles. His research focuses on the evolution of planetary systems including how our Solar System began and planetary orbits of binary star systems as well as the discovery of new planets in these systems.