The Laf

Issue date: 4/9/04 Section: News

Media Credit: Emily Gillespie The Lafayette Geology Department currently has 35 students who either plan to major in the science or have already declared.

While physics, biology and chemistry may often be considered the more popular lab sciences – based on the number of students who are majors in their respective departments – the Lafayette College Geology Department is in the midst of sponsoring its tenth year of a lecture series devoted to this particular branch of science.

According to Associate Professor of Geology Lawrence Malinconico, the series was designed to expose students to “various aspects of geology beyond the walls of Lafayette.” Before the lectures began, a senior seminar class was offered for the same purpose. He says that while a “secondary” effect of these seminars may be to attract students to the geology department, this is not a primary reason for sponsoring these talks.

Malinconico said that many students have been interested in these talks, especially lectures that are general enough for those without any prior knowledge of geology. He said that while going to a lecture is occasionally a class requirement, most in attendance are there purely out of interest.

Geology major and lab TA [Teaching Assistant] Andrew Genco ’06 said that this “nice mix” of lecturers allows students to learn interesting material that is not covered in introductory courses. Geology major and former lab TA Virginia Foulkrod ’05 added that the lectures give insight into “what [students can do with] a geology degree” after graduation.

Malinconico said he agreed with Genco’s belief that many students take introductory geology courses because they believe it will be an easy way “to get that required lab science out of the way.”

Josh Goldstein ’07 is considering taking an introductory geology course to meet a science requirement because he believes that “geology is the easiest option.”

Foulkrod also said that some students take Geology courses because they provide “something different” from the science courses offered in most high schools. However, Malinconico, Genco, and Foulkrod all agreed that many students discover that significantly more work is required than they had originally expected.

The geology department currently has 35 students who either plan to major in geology or have already declared, said Malinconico. This figure has been holding steady for several years. Four of these students are freshmen, he said. However, he also said that it is likely more students will decide to become geology majors after completing introductory courses.

Lectures are given by a wide variety of speakers. Malinconico said that these have included professionals speaking about topics of national or global interest, former Lafayette students, and professors from schools who are attempting to recruit current Lafayette students for graduate work among others.

The next lecture in this series will be held today when Harvard curator Bill Metropolis will speak about “The Stories Minerals Have to Tell....” in Van Wickle Hall 108 at noon.

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