Auburn University Geosciences Department

The rain and overcast skies made for cooler temperatures but higher water levels during field work in the Cahaba River watershed.

Auburn Family 👀

We’ll see you on the road again this summer with Geo Explorer Auburn.

Want to hear more about where we’re headed and why? Take a listen to the Everything Auburn podcast!🎙️

Learn more about Dr Mark Peters, Geology graduate from 1986. We are so inspired by his career journey. Thanks for sharing your passion with our graduates!

War Eagle! 🦅

From Auburn geology to national innovation, Mark Peters returns to the Plains From Auburn geology to national innovation, Mark Peters returns to the Plains. The 1986 Auburn graduate and MITRE CEO reflects on scientific training as preparation for leadership across disciplines.

Listen to Dr. Chandana Mitra, a professor of Department of Geosciences and Director of Earth System Science (ESS) PhD program talk about her background, passion for earth-related research and community service through education and outreach, on this podcast by AmericaView (https://americaview.org/), a USGS funded project where she is a Co-Investigator.
https://americaview.podbean.com/e/human-brains-work-on-short-time-frames-with-chandana-mitra/

Human Brains Work on Short Time Frames with Chandana Mitra | Spatial Signals Chandana Mitra from Auburn University joins us to talk about games with paper atlases, being a Geography Geek, GIS in school in India, quantifying the growth of Kolkata, the perils of old digitizing techniques, teaching GIS, AlabamaView, Earth As Art highlighting Alabama, collaborations within the A...

Exciting research news from Auburn University!

Co-PIs Rogers and Ojeda have secured $212,000 in funding from the Gulf of America Alliance (flow-through support from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) for a 1.5-year research project beginning in May 2026.

The project, “Understanding Spatiotemporal Dynamics of OWTS Water Pollution Potential in the Gulf Region,” will investigate long-term surface and groundwater quality in Alabama communities at high risk of onsite wastewater pollution.

This important work will:
🔹 Support long-term environmental monitoring
🔹 Fund one graduate student fully
🔹 Provide resources for fieldwork, travel, publications, and research support
🔹 Advance understanding of water quality challenges affecting Gulf communities

Congratulations to the research team on this impactful award and commitment to protecting water resources in the Gulf region! 🌎💧

Ready for field camp! 🏕️

The travel trailer has a show room shine with some new graphics and fresh scenes. Look for us as travel out west and back to Field Camp beginning May 12.

Congratulations to the Auburn University Geosciences Department Imperial Barrel Award (IBA) Team! 🛢️🌍

We are incredibly proud of our Auburn Geosciences IBA Team and their mentor, Dr. Ashraf Uddin, on a truly successful semester. The team presented exceptionally well this week as part of their final work this semester. They were clear, confident, and professional. Their hard work, especially toward the end of the semester, really showed.

Thank you as well to the faculty and graduate students who came out during finals week to support the team.

Well done to everyone involved—an outstanding effort from start to finish! 👏



🔈 Geology Alumnus is Our Commencement Speaker 🔈

Commencement is always a special week on the Auburn campus, and this year is especially meaningful for the Auburn University Geosciences Department and Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics.

Dr. Mark Peters, a 1986 Geology alumnus and President and Chief Executive Officer of MITRE is serving as our keynote speaker for tomorrow’s commencement ceremony. We’re so lucky to have him back on The Plains to inspire our students as they embark on the next stage of their journey.

As Chair of Geosciences, Dr. Hawthorne had the honor of joining Dr. Peters yesterday for a COSAM executive team roundtable. It was a fantastic, forward‑thinking conversation about the future of science, technology, and engineering. It’s inspiring to see one of our GEO alumni making an impact on the world, whiling sharing time and knowledge with the university.

Thank you for spending time with us on The Plains, Dr. Peters. We look forward to continuing the conversation about how the Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics and the Auburn University Department of Geosciences can collaborate on big questions that support society.

Read more about Dr. Peters and the other commencement speakers at: https://www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/commencement/speakers/2026/spring/

War Eagle!

Distinguished alumni and global leaders to address Auburn’s Spring 2026 graduates As Auburn University prepares to celebrate more than 5,400 graduates during its spring commencement ceremonies, the university will welcome five distinguished speakers, including several notable Auburn alumni, who will address the institution’s newest graduates across its eight ceremonies May 1–...

🏟️ ONE FINAL BOUNCE BEFORE WE BOUNCE! 🏀

Earlier this week, we celebrated the end of the Coliseum Era of Auburn Geosciences the only way we know how—with food, science, sneakers, graduate honors, and plenty of Geo spirit.

Our end‑of‑year community gathering honored our graduates, marked another ROCKING year in Geosciences, and gave our historic home a proper send‑off. One last bounce on the Coliseum floor included basketball‑themed fun and ultra‑competitive (and spirited) half‑court games featuring faculty, staff, and students.

From lunch and informal graduate recognition to laughter, friendly rivalries, and meaningful moments, the afternoon was one to remember. Huge thanks to the Auburn Adaptive Athletics basketball team (this year’s national champions!) for sharing their space, and to Dr. Boston for the fun and fitting idea to close out this chapter.

👟 Sneakers squeaked, knees held out (mostly), and Geo pride was on full display. 🎓 Most importantly, we celebrated our ROCKSTAR graduates across undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs.

We’ll always cherish the memories made in the Coliseum—but we’re excited to bounce forward into our next era this summer in the brand‑new STEM+Ag Complex, home to the newest and most state‑of‑the‑art Geosciences building in the country. 🧡💙



Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics Auburn University Geosciences Department Auburn Alumni Association Auburn University

Good luck on all of those finals, papers and projects, Auburn Family!