Baylor Geology Professor to Speak at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Annual Meeting

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Media contact: Tonya Lewis, (254) 710-4656

WACO, Texas (Feb. 11, 2015) – Steven Driese, Ph.D., professor and chair of department of geology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences, will speak at the 2015 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on Feb. 13 in San Jose, California.

Driese, an expert in paleopedology, clastic sedimentology and environmental sedimentology and fellow of the AAAS, will present a lecture titled, “Applying the Critical Zone Concept to Reconstruction of Ancient Terrestrial Systems,” in which he will offer an innovative idea to predict future climate change.

“I will be discussing a concept called Earth’s Critical Zone, which is simply defined as all of the processes that occur on the skin of the earth,” Driese said. “I will be arguing for taking this concept and applying it to earth’s deep geological past, helping to reconstruct these same ancient processes. I hope to convince the scientific community that this is an important way to examine earth’s climate change in the past and to perhaps predict what might happen in the future as the climate continues to change.”

The AAAS is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to advance science and innovation globally to benefit all people. Driese believes that being a fellow with the AAAS has added prestige to his career.

“It’s provided me with a level of scientific reputation and credibility,” Driese said. “Only a small subset of scientists are elected fellows.”

At its annual meeting, members of the AAAS come together to discuss new findings and present ideas. Driese looks forward to attending his first meeting as a fellow.

“The meeting is designed to allow scientists a chance to promote interactions and exchange information,” Driese said. “Basically, scientists share what they’re doing.”

Driese received his bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

For more information about the AAAS, visit its website.

by Ashton Brown, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

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