UW-Milwaukee Geosciences

During Giving Days, we're celebrating the amazing public outreach events in Geosciences' Greene Museum. Make sure we can keep bringing these events to the public by designating your gift to the "T.A. Greene Family Collection Fund" at https://give.uwmfoundation.org/414-for-uwm-giving-days-2025

Student field experiences are key to a Geosciences education. During giving days, consider supporting Geosciences student field experiences by designating your gift to the "Geosciences Program & Student Support Fund" at https://give.uwmfoundation.org/414-for-uwm-giving-days-2025

A few weeks ago, Professor Lindsay McHenry and PhD student Nancy Carman traveled to Houston for the Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference! They spent five days immersed in Planetary Science, catching up on all the latest research on Mars, Venus, Astrobiology, Asteroids, Icy Moons, and more. Nancy had a persistent crowd for her poster entitled "Preservation of Biosignatures in Active and Inactive Hydrothermal Deposits: Insights from Lassen Volcanic National Park," while Lindsay presented a poster (co-authored by Dr. Gayantha Kodikara, who could not attend) entitled "Applying a Wide and Deep Learning Model to Core-Scan XXF Element Data to Predict Paleolake Mineral Assemblages, Case Study Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania." Good times were had!

Geosciences Paleomagnetism Group was recently featured on Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin talking about their recent expedition to the Southern East Pacific Rise!

UWM paleomagnetism researchers study volcanic rocks found in the Pacific Ocean They’re studying the Pacific Rise, an underwater mountain range formed by repeated volcanic eruptions over millions of years.

UW-Milwaukee geological museum receives international recognition for rare collection This "time capsule" of 19th-century geological collecting includes about 55,000 fossils and 12,000 minerals from the area.

Last week, UWM Geosciences celebrated all the great research our students are doing at the Geosciences Student Research Symposium!

Geosciences Associate Professor Julie Bowles visited WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR Lake Effect this week to talk about her group's recent expedition to the Southern East Pacific Rise.

UWM scientist dives into deep-sea volcanoes Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: a volcano scientist who does her work in the middle of the Pacific Ocean—at the ocean floor. That’s where you can find one UWM professor.

Our 4th Darwin Day event was a huge success - bigger and better than ever! More than 280 people braved the snow and ice to come learn about our Earth and environment. This would not have been possible without more than 50 student volunteers; guest speakers Mel Reusche, Dr. Michelle Thaller, and Dr. Jonathan Hendricks; sponsors Shannon & Wilson, Inc and The Sigma Group; community partners UWM Planetarium, Mequon Nature Preserve, Wisconsin Geological Society, Inc, Kettle Moraine Geological Society, Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey, and Coffeeshop Astrophysics; and event collaborators UWM Biological Sciences, UWM Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, UWM Department of Physics, Milwaukee Public Museum, Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, Weis Earth Science Museum, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District - MMSD, and Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program.

Please join us this Saturday, Feb. 15, 10AM-3PM, as we celebrate Darwin Day with a series of family-friendly activities and events! Don't miss the keynote lecture at 12:30 featuring retired NASA Astrophysicist and Deputy Director of Science Communication, Dr. Michelle Thaller! More information here: https://uwm.edu/geosciences/event/darwin-day-at-the-thomas-a-greene-geological-museum/

Associate Professor Julie Bowles's recent expedition to the Southern East Pacific Rise is featured is this month's L&S In Focus. Graduate students Vera Soltes, Mike Anderson, and Terra Johnson share their experiences at sea!

Here there be volcanoes: Geosciences researchers venture beneath the waves for volcano studies While most folks were sleeping off their Thanksgiving turkey and preparing for Christmas, UWM geoscientist Julie Bowles and three of her graduate students were studying volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean. Or, more accurately, they were studying volcanoes underneath the Pacific …

Join us Saturday, February 15 for our annual Darwin Day celebration of family-friendly science fun! Explore the internationally-acclaimed Greene Geological Museum and see ancient Wisconsin fossils and cool glowing minerals. Take our scavenger hunt through dozens of exhibits and activities. Sit in on fascinating talks and chat with current UWM researchers. There's something for everyone! More info: https://uwm.edu/geosciences/event/darwin-day-at-the-thomas-a-greene-geological-museum/

UWM Geosciences' Thomas A. Greene Museum was recently featured on Milwaukee CBS Channel 58! Check out the spot featuring our own Rob Graziano and recent graduate Steph Fones.

'This is a natural treasure in Milwaukee': University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's fossil collection is envy of researches worldwide MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Ellie Nakamoto-White visits the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Thomas A. Greene Geological Museum, home to one of the world's most complete collections of fossils.

Rob Graziano, an instructor and academic staff member of our department, was interviewed last month by WPR about UWM's very own Thomas A. Greene Geological Museum! In the interview, Rob discusses the history of the museum, why its fossil collection was recently designated as a Geological Heritage Geo-Collection, and some future opportunities and plans for the museum going forward.

Check out the interview here below!

Joint Finance budget priorities, Wisconsin fossils, Stand-up comedy in the Badger State We talk with the Republican senator co-chair of the budget-influencing state Joint Finance committee. Then we learn about a recently named Wisconsin fossil as well as distinguished fossil collection. And Wisconsin comedians give us the low-down on stand-up in the state.

Congratulations to all of our Geosciences students who graduated this past Sunday! We'd also like to give a special shout out to Stephanie Fones, who is one of the students featured in the official UWM commencement post below!