OSU Geologist Scales the Heights
Carolyn Gonzales
Communications Services
Oklahoma State University
(405) 744-6260
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Richard Marston, OSU geology professor, is shown on the Juneau Icefield in southeastern Alaska when he was one of the scientists affiliated with the Juneau Icefield Research Program, which allows students to work with scientists who are conducting research on glaciers and other geological forms on the icefield. Two of Marston’s OSU undergraduate students, Kyla Coker and Nathan Zimmerman, are currently participating in the program. |
Dr. Richard Marston’s career has
taken him to great heights, both figuratively and literally.
Marston came to
His specialty is geomorphology, which is the study of land forms and processes
that create them. He is particularly interested in the instability of rivers
and hillslopes, and his research on them often takes
him high into the
One of Marston’s current projects involves relating
the features of rock glaciers on Earth to possible rock glaciers on Mars. The
information is useful to researchers who are studying climate changes on Mars
and could help future space travelers find water deposits on the planet.
He is one of a number of OSU scientists affiliated with the
Marston enjoys collaborating with other scientists
and has a number of other joint projects in the works.
Recently, he and fellow OSU Geologist Elizabeth Catlos
received a National Science Foundation grant to map a fault line that marks the
boundary of two tectonic plates; the Indian and Eurasian Plates. Their research
will be conducted in the
Marston says three major earthquakes, which have
resulted in great loss of life and property, probably have been associated with
the fault. Scientists are anxious to gain more knowledge about the fault and
its connection to earthquakes.
Marston also is working with Dr. Bill Fisher, who is
affiliated with the Oklahoma Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit and OSU’s Zoology Department. They are trying to come up with a
model that will predict fish abundance in eastern
In addition, Marston is collaborating with four other
OSU faculty members in creating an Earth science sequence for the Star Schools
project, which provides public middle school science teachers with innovative
teaching methods and materials.
The OSU group is developing hands-on experiments that will be used by the
teachers. The information will be posted on the web.
Marston says the main idea of the project is to
promote hypothesis-based learning in which students develop a hypothesis for
how Earth processes are working and gather information to support their ideas.
He also advises OSU geology and environmental science students and edits the
international journal, “Geomorphology.”
Marston earned his undergraduate degree at the
Prior to coming to OSU, he held positions as professor at the
Marston says he and his wife Linda, daughter Brooke
(12), and son Bryce (16), enjoy living in
For information about this page, send e-mail to Carolyn Gonzales.
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