Department of Geosciences Gets a Generous Boost

Baylor’s Department of Geosciences has long been known for providing its students with hands-on learning and research, preparing its graduates for successful careers in industry, academia and government sectors of employment.

The geosciences faculty’s commitment to providing students with such experiential learning was dramatically strengthened in April, when the University announced a gift in excess of $1 million to the geosciences department. This will increase the department’s capacity to provide undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to conduct research under the mentoring guidance of faculty members.

Made by parents of a current Baylor student who wish to remain anonymous, the gift also will significantly enhance the department’s ability to attract outstanding students and to prepare them for successful careers.

“This remarkably generous gift will create more diverse opportunities for our undergraduates to conduct research of their own, which is a growing trend both within Baylor and throughout higher education, as well as strengthen our graduate students’ research activities,” said Dr. Stacy Atchley, chair and professor of geosciences. “This is a gift that will literally put tools into the hands of our students while also providing a strong base of support for academic advancement through research.”

The Department of Geosciences at Baylor is in a period of strong growth. Housed in the Baylor Sciences Building with research space in the adjacent Carlile Geology Research Building, the department emphasizes interdisciplinary study in state-of-the-art courses, and its faculty members pursue research involving one-on-one mentoring of students. The gift is composed of three separate elements: a permanent endowment for undergraduate studies in geology; a permanent endowment for graduate research in geology; and the Hammer-Chisel Endowed Fund, whose proceeds will purchase hammers, chisels and other geological equipment.