Provost's General Education Teaching Award: Geosciences Professor George Gehrels is an Instructor Who Likes a Challenge

Tina Alvarez
May 11, 2000


In his classroom, geosciences Professor George Gehrels' students explore the depths of the ocean or examine a make-believe continent. In his research, he takes his undergraduate students to the faraway lands of Nepal, China and Alaska to study the tectonic evolution of the earth.

One of four who received the Provost's General Education Teaching Award, Gehrels is an instructor who likes a challenge. When it was necessary to change 100-level courses to be consistent with the new General Education requirements, Gehrels undertook the task, creating a major set of visual resources that are used by his colleagues in teaching a variety of Earth Science courses.

"He led the department of geosciences into completely rethinking and revamping our 100-level offerings to make them consistent with, and of use to, the Tier 1 Science category of the new requirements," said Clement G. Chase, professor of geosciences.

Together with Professor Peter Kresan, Gehrels developed an innovative set of lab exercises called "Lost Continent" which leads students through concepts of geology in a sophisticated exploration of a make-believe continent.

He also led a team of faculty to create the Tier-2 course on oceanography. No small feat, the course was developed to have a physical and biological science component, as well as a discussion section and field trips. That course has become so popular it had to be capped at 550 students in two sections.

"Oceanography is the perfect subject to teach at the Tier-2 level because basic physical principles can be used to understand many aspects of the oceans," Gehrels said. "The course is quite popular largely because students are fundamentally curious about the oceans. This class creates a great springboard for exploring a part of the world that people find interesting, exciting and beautiful."

In addition he serves as the undergraduate policy chair for the department and interviews each student every semester said Joaquin Ruiz, professor and department head.

"I feel very fortunate to be an educator," Gehrels said. "The way I earn the right to be in this position is by helping students become life-long learners, find a profession that suits their needs and desires, and become better caretakers of our world."

Besides teaching classes in the fall and spring, Gehrels' research in his laboratory consists of dating rocks by U-Pb geochronology. When the summer arrives, he's off to do research in other countries.

"Another aspect of my job that I love is working with students in the field," he said. "We take undergraduate students with us on most of our research projects in Alaska, Nepal and China, mainly to give them a chance to conduct semi-independent research.

"This allows the students to apply the knowledge that they gather in their courses and also to become familiar with the process of conducting research," Gehrels said.

Ruiz noted that Gehrels has impacted the general education of the UA through leadership in policies as a member of the General Education Committee, the Undergraduate Council and as a Faculty Fellow.

"I'm honored to be recognized by the University community. I have personally benefited from the UA for most of most of my life - helping my dad at the UA telescope on Mount Lemmon at age 6, as a skateboarder on the Mall at age 10, on a UA junior swim team in Middle School, working out with the UA gymnastics team while in high school, as a Geoscience major and diver at the UA while an undergrad, and on the faculty in Geosciences since 1985," he said. "So I'm very pleased to contribute something back to the University."

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