Cal Poly Experts Directory - Earth Sciences
Geology • Geophysics • Soil Physics
Geology
Larry Balthaser, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Geology
(805) 756-2656/2448 e-mail: lbalthas@calpoly.edu
Area of expertise:
* geology of the San Luis Obispo area and California Central Coast
David Chipping, Ph.D.
Professor of Geology, Emeritus
(805) 756-1695/2448 e-mail: dchippin@calpoly.edu
Author of Geology of San Luis Obispo County.
Consultant to Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Fish & Game Department and Coastal Conservancy on groundwater and other topics.
Areas of expertise:
* geology and geohydrology
* earthquakes and other earth hazards
* mine reclamation
* general identification of geologic problems
* evaluation of water resources
* geology and distribution of plant communities
Geophysics
Kenneth A. Hoffman, Ph.D.
Professor of Physics
(805) 756-1357/2448 e-mail: khoffman@calpoly.edu
Chairman, Division I (internal fields) International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (1995-99).
Chairman, working group in paleomagnetism, International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (1989-93).
Fellow, American Geophysical Union (1992).
Editor of Journal of Geophysical Research (1986-90).
Author of article on field reversals in Scientific American and several publications in Nature.
Recipient, Outstanding Professor of the CSU system (1988).
Areas of expertise:
* geomagnetism and paleomagnetism
* seismology and earthquakes
* behavior of Earth's magnetic field during reversals and reversal models
* rock magnetism
* paleomagnetism methodology
Physics
Richard B. Frankel, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Physics
(805) 756-1666/2448 e-mail: rfrankel@calpoly.edu
Authority on iron oxides and iron sulfides in bacteria, very small particles of biological magnetite (an iron oxide), and criteria for distinguishing biological and nonbiological magnetite.
Involved in analysis of meteorite believed to contain evidence
of life on Mars.
Areas of expertise:
* iron oxides and iron sulfides
* biological magnetite / magnetic material in living creatures
* the question of life on Mars
Soil
Gregg L. Fiegel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
(805) 756-1307/2947 e-mail: gfiegel@calpoly.edu
Geotechnical engineering consultant with special interest in geotechnical earthquake engineering.
Member, American Society of Civil Engineers and Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.
Areas of expertise:
* earthquake and geotechnical engineering
Thomas J. Rice, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Soil Science
(805) 756-2420/2261 e-mail: trice@calpoly.edu
Certified professional soil scientist.
Author of Land Use Planning (1994) and Soil Resource Inventory (1995) lab manuals.
Author of Clean Lakes Assistance Program for Lake Nacimiento (1994) and Morro Bay Watershed Monitoring Program (1994) and professional journal articles on soil science and soil geomorphology.
Consultant and expert witness in cases involving land development and subdivisions, soil erosion, personal injury due to landslide, water quality monitoring, and mercury and chromium levels in stream sediments.
Areas of expertise:
* soil resource inventories
* soil classification and mapping
* environmental assessment of soil
* environmental quality monitoring
* land-use management
* wetlands characterization
* mineralogical analysis
* agricultural management
Ronald Taskey, Ph.D.
Professor of Soil Science
(805) 756-1160/2261 e-mail: rtaskey@calpoly.edu
Participant, Soil Survey of the High Sierra (summer 1995).
Member, Soil Science Society of America, Society of American Foresters.
President, Soil and Water Conservation Society, California Chapter (1995).
Past president, California Forest Soils Council.
Certified professional in erosion and sediment control, professional soil scientist, and professional soil classifier.
Author of articles on undergraduate education and curriculum, wilderness, old-growth forests, and wildfire.
Areas of expertise:
* soil maps and land use
* wildfire and emergency rehabilitation
* landslides
* soil erosion and watersheds
* wilderness