Matthew Siegfried ’08
Earth Science, Computer Science double major
X06-S07 D-plan: R-O (FSP)-L-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite thing is the professors because they are incredibly dedicated to their students and very passionate about their fields.

Important info for potential majors: Look at what you’re interested in. You’ll figure out pretty quickly if you don’t like where you are.

Most valuable academic information learned: How awesome the earth science department is and should be taken advantage of.

Favorite class and professor: EARS 111 gave me a 2 week spring break in Hawaii. It’s hard to top that…

Major classes taken: EARS 5, 34, 62, 64, 111

Major journey: I started with math and chemistry but realized they weren’t exactly what I was looking for. I then switched to EARS and CS, where I could still apply math and chemistry.

Other activities: Bones Gate

Other major-specific activities: Received a grant from the Richter Memorial Fund to fund "Mineral Transformations under Sulfide Induced Iron Oxide Reduction: Complex Data Processing for Synchrotron Radiation Experiments," which applies software development skills to earth science problems in a never-done-before way.

Talk to me if: Talk to me if you like being outside and are curious about the nature of nature.

Elsa Rodriguez ’09
Earth Sciences
F07-S08 D-plan: O-L-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: I really like the size of the Earth Science department, since its smaller it ends up being a very tight group where students can really get to build relationships with the profs in the department. I don’t like the stigma associated with the Major, I was originally going to be a Bio major modified with Earth Science just because I had been convinced that that was a “more legit” major, but my interest was always mostly in earth sciences and I’m very glad I changed my mind.

Important info for potential majors: I advise anyone to explore different departments their freshman year and not commit to a department right away because many times you discover that you love classes in subjects that were not interesting to you before. It’s nice to get some of the prereqs for the major out of the way early on such as Chem and Math, so that you don’t have to worry about that in the future. Also the intro classes for EARS are all pretty interesting and on a number of topics.

Internship experience: I worked with a professor at the University of Chicago the summer after my freshman year at Dartmouth. He was studying trilobites and I helped him with his research. I cleaned the fossils, took photographs and measured them so that we could try to distinguish the different species later on.

Most valuable academic information learned: Do not be afraid to go to your professors when you need help. The majority of profs are very willing to help and after going to them you’ll have a much better understanding of any concept you’re having trouble with.

Favorite class and professor: Chem 3 with Dr. Milde was the best way to learn General Chemistry. She’s a completely understanding prof and will go out of her way to make sure you get the material. In the EARS dept I’ve definitely enjoyed the classes I’ve take with Dr. A. He is just a wealth of knowledge and just has so much experience in the field. In my seminar about homonoids, we ran across his name multiple times in the literature since he was the one who determined the age of the oldest homonoid fossil.

Major classes taken: EARS 1, 7, 31, MATH 3, CHEM 3, BIO 4, 11, 14

Major journey: I came to Dartmouth thinking that I would be a Biology major modified with Earth Sciences, but after taking a few classes in that dept. I realized that it was not the subject I was the most interested in and that I preferred Earth Sciences.

Major specific activities: I did research with a professor at the University of Chicago.

Off Campus Program: Italian LSA + Rome: 06F, the Stretch- EARS FPS: 07F

Other activities: Ultimate Frisbee, Sigma Delta, Gospel Choir, Green Corps

Thesis Status: I’m not sure if I would like to do a thesis at this point.

Emily Koepsell ’09
Major: Earth Sciences, Minor: Engineering, (also possible Minor: Anthropology)
F07-S08 D-plan: O-R-L

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: The earth science professors are amazing and because it is a small department, it has a strong sense of community, as the professors and students all get to know each other fairly well. Because it is one of the smaller departments at Dartmouth, many of the upper level courses are offered only once a year or once every other year, which can make planning your major course schedule rather difficult.

Important info for potential majors: I highly recommend taking EARS 1 if you think you might be interested in Earth Sciences. Because it’s an intro class, it covers a broad spectrum of topics and can help you determine whether or not you may be interested in pursuing an earth science major.

Internship experience: WISP freshman internship with CRREL and the Earth Science Department, 06W-06S; I used a scanning electron microscope to analyze micrometeorites from the South Pole water well as well as to analyze comet particles from the STARDUST project.

Most valuable academic information learned: Going to office hours can not only help you better understand various topics you find confusing, but it is also a great way to get to know your professors.

Favorite class and professor: EARS 28, Environmental Geology with Xiahong Feng, which I took sophomore fall. I really enjoyed the class because due to its small size, I got to know the other students really well. Also, the labs were really neat because we went on field trips to conduct experiments in local streams and preserves.

Major classes taken: EARS 1, 28, 66; ENGS 20, 25, 37; ANTH 3, 12, 22

Major journey: When I came to Dartmouth I thought that I was interested in earth sciences, environmental studies, or geography, so I took a class in each and found that I really enjoyed earth sciences. After my freshman summer, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in which I could use my earth science knowledge to increase our level of sustainability; so, I decided to minor in engineering, and continue a fifth year to get a B.E.

Major specific activities: WISP internship, possibly Presidential Scholar (will receive notification later this term)

Off Campus Program: Archaeology Field School in Belize (not through Dartmouth), 06X; Earth Sciences FSP, 07F

Other activities: Dartmouth Endurance Racing Team (DERT): co-chair; Delta Delta Delta Sorority; Handel Society; Dartmouth Mountaineering Club: leader and climbing gym monitor; Ceili Irish Dancers; marathon training

Talk to me if: you are interested in pursuing a career that involves both earth sciences and engineering.

Thesis Status: I am planning on doing a thesis and I will decide on the topic sometime during my junior year.

Peter Shellito ’09
Major-Environmental Earth Science, Minor-Economics
F07-S08 D-plan: L-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite things about the department are the TA's, professors, and other students love Dartmouth and the outdoors. I remember how I smiled and laughed to myself when, after the Valentine's day snowstorm, I walked up to Fairchild Tower and saw cross-country ski tracks that let right up to the door. I couldn't help but think, "I love this department."
The department at times can focus too much on geochemistry. If I had not had Chem 5 and 6, I would have struggled at times because of the detail they went into.

Important info for potential majors: Don't ever feel like it's too late to take EARS 1, and don't make the mistake of thinking it's just "rocks for jocks." That class is probably the reason I am now a major.

Most valuable academic information learned: The media and faux-scientists try to make global warming into something it's not. I love knowing, in detail, the real causes of global warming as well as differences between glacial/interglacial periods and ice ages/hot houses.

Favorite class and professor: I enjoyed EARS 66 with Professor Carl Renshaw. In this class I saw for the first time what it would be like to become a geologist in the field of hydrogeology.

Major classes taken: EARS 1, 28, 44, 66

Major journey: I spent freshman year taking classes in every department I could. I only took two EARS classes, but when sophomore year came, those classes were the ones I remembered liking the most, and other classes in the department interested me more than any other field. I soon came to realize that a major in earth science would make me happiest.

Major specific activities: I worked in Arjun Heimsath's lab winter and spring of 2007.

Off Campus Program: Earth Science FSP in Western US, 07F

Other activities: The Dartmouth Cords; Sigma Alpha Epsilon-Programming and Service Chair; Triathlon Club.

Talk to me if: you feel intimidated by a professor or others in your class and don't like to speak up to ask questions.

Thesis Status: Intended, but I don't know what subject or with whom yet.

Katie Ammons ’08
Earth Science and Studio Art Major
F07-S08 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: For me, the best part of the Earth Science department has been my professors. The STRETCH (The FSP) is one of the most amazing opportunities on campus. It is an awesome opportunity not only to experience the western US, but also to get to know many different professors and the work they do. It is required for the major and minor, though, so it’s necessary to commit to a term off campus if you want to study rocks.

Important info for potential majors: Taking prerequisites early on is extremely helpful—particularly ones not offered every term.

Internship experience: Himalayan Education Lifeline Project, volunteer teacher, Spring 06, Ladakh, India. I taught English for three months at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in East Kashmir, the very northern tip of India.

Most valuable academic information learned: In Earth Science, The most valuable skill I have learned is how to conduct field research and synthesize data to write effective papers on my work.

Favorite class and professor: Sculpture 1 with John Lee was an absolutely amazing course that really got my excited about art and the creative process. The STRETCH has been the highlight for me in Geology, but I also really liked Carl Renshaw’s Hydrogeology course.

Major classes taken: MATH 3; CHEM 3, 6; EARS 1, 34, 45, 46, 47, 55, 66

Major journey: I had no idea what I wanted to study when I came. I thought about everything from Neuroscience to English to History to Earth Science. I really wanted to go on the stretch, so that required at least a minor. After taking drawing 1 and painting 1 I knew I wanted to study art. I ultimately decided on both Studio Art and Earth Sciences because I like both department's small size and intimate feel.

Major specific activities: WISP internship at CRREL on the porosity of drilled ice cores.

Off Campus Program: Earth Science FSP, 06F

Other activities: Ledyard Canoe Club – previously treasurer; Cycling Team; DMC; Gospel Choir.

Talk to me if: if you want advice about double majoring, Environmental Earth Science – particularly Hydrology, or Sculpture.

Thesis Status: As of now, I am just beginning to formulate research with Brian Dade focusing on the movement of fluvial base sediments.