iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Congratulations to Assoc Prof Nicholas Schmerr who was awarded the 50 Under 50 Award by a joint initiative of the Geological Society of America (GSA), the Geological Association of Canada (GAC-AGC), and the Sociedad Geológica Mexicana (SGM). This award honors outstanding mid-career geoscientists.

000

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Marcie Occhi (B.S. '09, M.S. '11, @umdgeology.bsky.social) is studying and mapping the ancient geology of Virginia ➡️ go.umd.edu/occhi Marcie's work in the Virginia Department of Energy informs the state's efforts to develop resources, mitigate erosion, predict natural hazards and more. #EnergySky

A close-up of a woman in the woods wearing an orange vest and red hat smiling at the camera

011

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The start of the NFL season means the start of band season for these two #ScienceTerps 🎷💜 Charlotte Norris (B.S. '24, @umdgeology.bsky.social) and Andrea Zeppuhar (Ph.D. '21, chemistry) are members of Baltimore's Marching Ravens and play at home games ➡️ go.umd.edu/marching-ravens

Andrea Zeppuhar plays tenor saxophone for Baltimore's Marching Ravens. Credit: Baltimore Ravens

Charlotte Norris in a purple Ravens polo and black visor standing in front of a red brick building with a lot of windows. Credit: Baltimore Ravens

001

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Is there life beyond Earth? @umdgeology.bsky.social's Ricardo Arevalo was awarded a 3-year, $1.1M NASA grant to help answer that question. His team will develop a tool that could help future space missions identify signs of life on other worlds more effectively and efficiently than ever before. 🔭

go.umd.edu

UMD Scientists Receive $1.1M NASA Grant to Develop Life Detection Instrumentation | College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences | University of Maryland

Their work could double the scientific output of future missions searching for life on Mars, Saturn’s moon Encel

052

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The latest edition of the GeoGram is now available! Look for it in your mailboxes or view it online at www.geol.umd.edu/geogram. Learn about our new faculty, the awards and recognition of our students and faculty, and a letter from our new Chair, Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland.

000

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Congratulations to Distinguished University Professor Richard Walker who was elected to the 2026 class of Meteoritical Society Fellows! meteoritical.org/news/meteori...

000

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

UMD Geologists Measuring Ground Vibration Near an Elephant Enclosure GEPS faculty used seismic monitoring to address a non-traditional challenge (i.e., not earthquakes): investigating ground vibrations around an amusement and safari park in New Jersey #worldelephantday go.umd.edu/2d8t

geol.umd.edu

Celebrating World Elephant Day, August 12: UMD Geologists Measuring Ground Vibration Near an Elephant Enclosure | Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences | University of Maryla...

021

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Water ice buried beneath the lunar surface could keep future astronauts alive—by drinking it, breathing it and even using it as rocket fuel. The problem is finding it. @umdgeology.bsky.social's Nicholas Schmerr and his team discovered that moonquakes could be the key. 🔭

go.umd.edu

Scientists Use Moonquakes to Locate Lunar Ice | College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences | University of Maryland

By studying how seismic waves travel through frozen soil on Earth, a University of Maryland geophysicist helped

042

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Congratulations to undergraduate major Kamirah Billups who received a CMNS Alumni Network Endowed Undergraduate Award to support her attendance at field camp at Bowling Green State University in Ohio this summer. cmns.umd.edu/news-events/...

011

Reposted by UMD Geology

Nature Geoscience @natgeosci.nature.com · 09/07/2026

⚒️ Q&A: Cretaceous oceanic intraplate volcanism, with Ana Ferreira (@es-ucl.bsky.social), @justsomeisotope.bsky.social (@umdgeology.bsky.social), and Jennifer Georgen (Old Dominion University) www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

042

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Understanding volcanoes is important for unlocking the history of our planet and advancing climate science. In today's #RedditAMA, ask @umdgeology.bsky.social's Megan Newcombe your questions about volcanoes on the Earth, the Moon and Mars: redd.it/1u68jcl #astro

Megan Newcombe standing in her lab and holding a laptop promoting her Reddit Ask-Me-Anything on June 15, 2026

022

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Meet the new chair of @umdgeology.bsky.social, Sarah Penniston-Dorland! Since joining the department, Sarah has held various leadership roles on and off campus and mentored over 40 students and postdocs. Read about Sarah's research on metamorphic rocks and more ➡️ go.umd.edu/penniston-dorland

Sarah Penniston-Dorland wearing glasses and a blue blazer

001

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

We pleased to announce that Professor Sarah Penniston-Dorland has been named Chair of the Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, effective July 1, 2026. You can read the announcement here: cmns.umd.edu/news-events/...

Photo of Professor Sarah Penniston-Dorland

000

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Tune in for our 2026 Master's and Graduate Certificate Commencement Ceremony today at 8 a.m. ET! Watch the ceremony—including a speech from Tauksik Anil Kumar (M.S. '26, data science)—on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@UMDscience

Dean Amitabh Varshney in regalia speaking on stage behind a podium, flanked by the platform party

311

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

PhD Student Elizabeth Huang recently competed in the final round of the university-wide Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Elizabeth was one of only 20 3MT Finalists across every college, representing CMNS with her presentation entitled "A Tapestry of Stone." youtu.be/FRIia_5Pxrk?...

youtu.be

2026 3MT Competition at the University of Maryland

YouTube video by UMD Graduate School

000

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Commencement is next week, and we're so excited to celebrate our incredible #ScienceTerp graduates 🎓🎉 CMNS Graduate Commencement: go.umd.edu/1zb9 CMNS Undergraduate Commencement: go.umd.edu/1zbb

Graphic listing 2026 commencement times: CMNS Master's & Graduate Certificate Commencement May 19, 8 a.m., Reckord Armory, CMNS doctoral Commencement May 19, 10:30 a.m., Reckord Armory, CMNS Undergraduate Commencement May 20, 9 a.m., Xfinity Center, CAMPuswide Commencement May 20, 6 p.m., SECU Stadium

102

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Maryland Day was a big success this year! Check out the photo album to see the fun the visitors had at our events. photos.app.goo.gl/8mkzJJ3WUnGo...

Visitors to Maryland Day learn about the mechanics of earthquakes.

000

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

By studying volcanic rocks in the Pacific, @umdgeology.bsky.social's Val Finlayson discovered chemical fingerprints dating back 4.5 billion years. Learn what her team's discovery reveals about Earth's history ⤵️ 🪨

go.umd.edu

Volcanic Rocks Reveal Earth’s Earliest Chemical Secrets | College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences | University of Maryland

UMD researchers find evidence that deep pockets of primordial material remained undisturbed within Earth’s mantl

001

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Jay Kaufman is the recipient of the 2026 the Francis J. Pettijohn Medal for Sedimentology, awarded by the Society for Sedimentary Geology. Jay has been recognized for his "Excellence in Sedimentology." The award ceremony is planned for the 2026 GSA Connects in Denver, October 19-22.

010

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Dr. Sujay Kaushal was named as the Goldschmidt Conference F. Earl Ingersol Lecturer for the upcoming meeting in Montreal. F. Earl Ingerson was a founder and the first president of the Geochemical Society. The Ingerson Lecture is named in his honor, and is awarded annually.

Sujay Kaushal along a stream in the snow.

020

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

At the 2025 University of Maryland Convocation ceremony, Professor Emeritus Michael Brown received the honor of being named a Distinguished University Professor. Watch Provost Rice's citation and Michael's remarks. youtu.be/RlCQxbrUYHw

youtu.be

UMD Convocation 2025 - Provost Rice's Citation and Michael Brown's Remarks

YouTube video by UMD Geology

000

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

@umdgeology.bsky.social's Karen Prestegaard studies the links between precipitation, stream baseflow, stormwater runoff and evapotranspiration in the mid-Atlantic region. Ask Karen your questions about freshwater and stormwater flooding in today's Reddit Ask-Me-Anything: redd.it/1ntaqz0

Karen Prestegaard wearing a blue shirt and glasses, holding a laptop in her lab to promote her Reddit Ask-Me-Anything on September 29, 2025

002

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

New research revealed that Mars' innermost core appears to be a solid hunk of metal just like Earth's. @umdgeology.bsky.social's Nick Schmerr weighed in on these findings with @sciencex.bsky.social, noting that questions regarding Mars' core are far from settled. 🔭 #PlanetaryScience

phys.org

Marsquakes indicate a solid core for the red planet, just like Earth

Scientists revealed Wednesday that Mars' innermost core appears to be a solid hunk of metal just like Earth's.

23010

Reposted by UMD Geology

GSECARS @cars.uchicago.edu · 18/06/2025

Tommaso Mandolini and Travis Hager (University of Maryland) perform hydrostatic mineral carbonation experiments on cylindrical MgO ceramic samples using a triaxial deformation apparatus, GSECARS, June 2025. @umdgeology.bsky.social

Tommaso Mandolini and Travis Hager at GSECARS.

031

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

@umdgeology.bsky.social Professor Sujay Kaushal's body of research has established that freshwater ecosystems are growing saltier year-round. @washingtonpost.com featured Sujay's important work studying and protecting freshwater ecosystems 🛶

wapo.st

A salt crisis is looming for U.S. rivers

The biggest source of salty freshwater in D.C. and other major northern inland cities is an overapplication of road salt to thaw winter ice, which runs off into rivers or the ground.

001

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Tune in for our 2025 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony today at 2:30 p.m. ET! Watch the ceremony—including speeches from Adam Wenchel (B.S. '99, computer science) and Jade LeSchack (B.S. '25, physics; B.S. '25, mathematics)—on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@UMDscience

Graduate raising her hands in the air at the 2024 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony after walking the stage

011

Reposted by UMD Geology

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Tune in for our 2025 Graduate Commencement Ceremony this afternoon at 2 p.m. ET! Watch the full ceremony—including our keynote from DataRobot CEO Debanjan Saha (M.S. '93, Ph.D. '95, computer science)—on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/umdscience

Dean Amitabh Varshney shaking a graduate's hand at the 2024 Graduate Commencement Ceremony

001

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Congratulations to Professor Michael Brown who has been selected as a Distinguished University Professor. The title of Distinguished University Professor is the highest appointment bestowed on a tenured faculty member.

Distinguished University Professor Michael Brown.

010

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

If only real volcanoes were this predictable. #mdday

010

Reposted by UMD Geology

GSECARS @cars.uchicago.edu · 24/04/2025

Wenlu Zhu, Megan Ryan, Tommaso Mandolini, and Travis Hager (University of Maryland) conduct an experimental investigation of chemical-mechanical feedback during mineral carbonation, 13 BMD, April 2025. @umdgeology.bsky.social

Wenlu Zhu, Megan Ryan, Tommaso Mandolini, and Travis Hager at 13 BMD.

011

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Congratulations to professor emerita Ann Wylie who has been elected as a 2024 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) "for distinguished contributions to both the field of mineralogy and university administration." cmns.umd.edu/news-events/...

041

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Last week we had our Helz Distinguished Lecture with Dr. Alexander Halliday from Columbia University. He spoke about climate change and how universities and colleges are well suited for the cross-disciplinary research needed to find solutions. youtu.be/3gprr_ETM-E

youtu.be

Helz Lecture - Alexander Halliday from Columbia University - 3/6/2025

YouTube video by UMD Geology

010

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Geologists Explore Tasmania’s Hidden Gems Through Mud and Mines, Students and Faculty Uncovered Garnets’ Rich Geological Stories today.umd.edu/geologists-e...

From left, geology Assistant Professor Megan Newcombe, master's student Kathryn Bickerstaff '23 and Ph.D. student Kathleen Stepien sort through rocks at Tasmania's Mornington Core Storage Facility.

Photos courtesy of Sarah Penniston-Dorland

010

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

#GivingDayUMD is your chance to support and uplift #ScienceTerps! Even small gifts can have a huge impact. Learn how you can give back to our department programs and support geology students: www.geol.umd.edu/giving

010

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

From the Winter 2025 TERP Magazine... Salt Life: Take a Home Tour to Learn How We’re Worsening Salinity Around the World with Professor Sujay Kaushal. terp.umd.edu/salt-life

A cutaway image of a house with sources of salt shown on top. These are table salt, concrete, household cleaning supplies and fertilizers.

000

UMD Geology @umdgeology.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Congratulations to Fang-Zhen Teng (Ph.D '05) who was awarded a UMD Alumni Excellence Award in Research. This award recognizes alumni that make positive impacts on the world through their research. Read more about his work: alumni.umd.edu/news/excelle...

010