EMU Geography & Geology

08/14/2026

Emeritus Professor of Urban Planning Norm Tyler recently passed away and MLive did this story on him.

Norm Tyler, an architect, planner, professor and book author who was active in Ann Arbor’s civic scene and a supporter of the local arts, has died. He was 81.

07/01/2026

Nice article in the Echo about GeoClub winning AIPG Student Chapter of the Year.

Every year, the American Institute of Professional Geologists names their Student Chapter of the Year award. This year, Eastern Michigan University’s GeoClub tied with Western Michigan University’s geology club for the title for the 2026 award.

The Student Chapter of the Year award is decided by the AIPG’s Education Committee based off every chapter’s annual report. The report includes the student officers, all members, number of meetings per year, activities within the university, activities within the community, fundraisers and any interactions with the local section of the AIPG.

Christopher Gellasch, a professor in Eastern’s geography and geology department, has been the faculty advisor for the GeoClub for eight years. Gellasch said Western is at an advantage with a much bigger geology program and graduate student involvement in their chapter. The determination of Eastern’s students has a big impact, Gellasch said.

The push for more outreach is part of what cinched the win for Eastern, said 2025-26 GeoClub President Alexander Bashaw. The club has been working towards interacting more with the community. Last year, the club started an event called Ypsi Earth where members educated residents on geology; they also provided a service for people to bring their rocks and minerals to be identified by the students, Bashaw said.

“GeoClub doesn't require you to love geology. It just asks that you have the passion to learn about it,” Bashaw said.

Click the link for more information:
https://www.easternecho.com/article/2026/06/eastern-michigan-universitys-geoclub-wins-award

Writer: Lauren Holloway
Photo: Courtesy of Alexander Bashaw.

06/19/2026

Days 9–11 of the ESSC 255 New England trip took students and instructors from Acadia National Park south to Massachusetts. On the way, students observed evidence of mid-Paleozoic deformation near Portland Head Light before arriving on Cape Cod. The Cape is filled with glacial and coastal landforms similar to those found in Michigan, with the addition of harbor seals and other marine life. The trip back to Michigan began on day 11, with stops in Western Massachusetts to observe rocks associated with the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and associated dinosaur trackways. Day 12 is the final day of the trip and the class is happily traveling west through New York for an evening arrival in Ypsilanti.

06/16/2026

On days 6–8 of the ESSC 255 New England trip, students and instructors traveled from the Green Mountains of Vermont into New Hampshire to visit Mt. Washington (6288'), the highest peak in the New England Appalachians. The following day, the group stayed in the White Mountains region to receive a tour of the Emmons pegmatite mine in Greenwood, Maine. Dr. Al Falster, an experimental chemist and researcher for the William B. Simmons Research Laboratory at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, gave the tour. The EMU van was significantly heavier with samples after leaving the mine! The group then visited the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum before driving east to Acadia National Park.

The group's day in Acadia included exploration of the Cadillac Mountain summit, the rocks of the eastern shatter zone, and an afternoon stop at Sand Beach. Each stop highlighted some portion of Acadia's igneous and glacial history. On June 16th, the class heads south to Cape Cod for the last stretch of the trip.

06/13/2026

Days 3–5 of the ESSC 255 New England trip involved travel through the Adirondack Mountains of New York and spending time in the Green Mountains of Vermont. The Class has been camping at Little River State Park in Waterbury, Vermont and making excursions to classic geologic points of interest. Highlights for this leg of the trip include the Champlain Thrust in Burlington, Vermont; Huntington Gorge in Richmond, Vermont; and Sterling Pond in Stowe, Vermont. The group is managing the hot and humid conditions with both hard- and soft-serve ice cream. On June 13th, the class leaves Vermont to head east into New Hampshire and Maine. To be continued!

06/10/2026

From June 8th-19th, EMU Geoscience's ESSC 255 class is running a field excursion to New England, where students will be exploring the history of mountain-building, rifting, and continental glaciation preserved in the Northeastern US. Days one and two of the trip saw seven EMU students along with Drs. Blatchford and Kolbus traveling to Ithaca, NY via Niagara Falls. Highlights other than Niagara Falls included Watkins Glen State Park, as well as Taughannock and Buttermilk Falls. Tomorrow, the class will travel through the Adirondacks region of New York before landing in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

06/03/2026

Congratulations to the EMU GeoClub for being named Student Chapter of the Year by the American Institute of Professional Geologists. It was a tie between the EMU and WMU chapters in the nationwide competition.

The previous two years the EMU GeoClub was the runner-up and this recognition represents a lot of hard work by the officers to plan geology-related events, field trips, and community engagement activities. The image below is from the EMU Eastern Michigan University Provost briefing for this week. Not pictured is Member-at-Large Mckenzie Hatfield.

Eastern Michigan University College of Arts & Sciences

05/29/2026

This is a great short video showing the latest project for some of our students in the Preservation Studies program. The Davenport-Curtiss house was recently purchased by the City of Saline, and contains original materials dating back to when it was first built in 1875. Very little has changed inside the home in the past century. We love being able to partner with our local communities like this!!

05/28/2026

Mohammed taught urban planning in our department! Congrats to him!

We’re proud to share that Westland’s Director of Planning and Building, Mohamed Ayoub, has been named one of Crain’s Detroit Business’ Notable Leaders in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction!

This recognition highlights his leadership, expertise, and commitment to shaping Westland’s growth through thoughtful planning, development, and community investment. Through his work, Westland continues to make meaningful progress for residents, businesses, and future generations.

Please join us in congratulating Mohamed on this well-deserved honor! 👏

04/14/2026