Idaho LAUNCH
Idaho LAUNCH grants provide graduating high school seniors with an opportunity to have up to 80% of their tuition and fees covered, up to $8,000, for programs leading to in-demand careers, including Earth and Environmental Systems. Additionally, students who receive Idaho LAUNCH grants have the option to combine them with other scholarships offered by Idaho State University.
How to Support ISU Geosciences
- Pick a fund from the list below.
- Go to the ISU Donation Page.
- Enter the name of the fund where it says: “Direct your gift to another area, fund or scholarship by typing it below.”
Field Camp Scholarship
The Shirley Sargent Scholarship Endowment (Fund 160) supports ISU Students attending Geology Field Camp.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Donations to the James D. Stephens Geology Scholarship (Fund 960) help offset the educational expenses of Undergraduate Geoscience majors.
Lost River Field Station
Donations to the David E. Fortsch Endowment Fund (Fund 657) help sustain the operations of the Lost River Field Station where we teach Geology Field Camp.
Graduate Research Support
Donations to the Brad Thompson Sedimentary Geology Fund (Fund 936) help offset costs of research on Sedimentary Rocks.
Donations to Jeff Geslin Geoscience Research Endowment Fund (Fund 917) support the cost of graduate research including field work, analytical expenses, and travel to present research.
Chair's Discretionary Funds
Donations to the Drs. James W. and Carol L Mahar Endowment (Fund 974) provide unrestricted support to the department at the discretion of the Department Chair.
Field-Based Learning
Donations to the Paul Link Field Trip Endowment (Fund 1159-31) help offset the cost of our field-based learning experiences such as Seminar and other courses.
ISU Geosciences Newsletter 2024
Read our 2024 Newsletter to catch up on all things ISU Geosciences.
Department of Geosciences
We take advantage of our location in the Northern Rockies and offer students affordable tuition and cost of living. Our courses include hands-on learning, field exercises, laboratory experience, and the latest geotechnologies. It is our mission to train students for professional positions or further study. Our programs have a strong record of student career placement in government, industry, and education. Our professors have helped write the book and map for Idaho Geology. We are proud to host a nationally recognized summer field camp at Lost River Field Station, north of Mackay, Idaho. Discover what ISU Geosciences has to offer.
Not only do we claim a strong field-based program, we have a legacy of national awards to prove it!
- In 2022, ISU MS alum, Kathleen "Kat" Autenrieth (at Kinross Gold) was recognized as one of the top 100 inspirational Women In Mining
- In 2022, ISU PhD-Geosciences student Tyler Paladino received the prestigious USGS Mendenhall Research Fellowship.
- In 2020, ISU PhD-Geosciences student Stuart Parker won Best Student Geologic Map at the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. He is now a staff geologist with the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology.
- In 2019, ISU MS Geology student Dan Brennan won Best Student Map for his work in Custer County, Idaho. He is now a staff geologist with the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology.
- In 2016, Dr. Ryan Anderson, ISU Assistant Professor and Field Camp Director won Best Student Map for his WSU PhD work in Bolivia.
- In 2013, ISU MS Geology student Robert Mahon won Best Student Map for his work in Death Valley, CA.
Read this article about the value of a Geosciences degree: Geology and civilization.
Do you like Podcasts? Considering a career in the Geosciences? Take a listen to "Pathways: A Career Podcast from the Idaho State University Career Center"
- Dr. Ben Crosby: Applying Personal Passions to Career Choices.
- Dr. Leif Tapanila: Combining Interests to Find a Passion.
- ALL Nature of Idaho podcasts. Great content!
- Dr. Sarah Godsey: Water in Idaho: Food, Farming, Forests, Fish and the Future
- Dr. Shannon Kobs Nawotniak: Space, Volcanoes, and Things that go Boom!
Fall 2024 Pacific Northwest Seminar Trip
Learn more about our Seminar class trip taken in September of 2024.
Additional Support for Geology Students
Tutoring Services:
- ISU's Content Area Tutoring supports GEOL 1100 students: https://www.isu.edu/tutoring/
Advising:
- Undergraduate - EES: Sarah Godsey (godsey@isu.edu), Geology: Kendra Murray (kendramurray@isu.edu);
- Graduate - Geology/PhD: Glenn Thackray (glennthackray@isu.edu), Geotechnologies/GIS: Carrie Bottenberg (bottcarr@isu.edu)
Student Resources:
- Please reach out to your Professors with course-specific questions
- Please reach out to your advisor (see above) with degree or advising questions
- For any other questions, reach out to Department Chair, Shannon Kobs Nawotniak (shannonkobs@isu.edu)
Semester Office Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8am- 5pm.