Academic Opportunities
Field Education
The Geosciences Department faculty is committed to students' success by offering as many field experiences as possible. We offer many styles of opportunities for students to experience the natural setting of many of the in-class topics studied through the curriculum.
Field trips have included:
- Hawaii
- The American West (Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks)
- The Adirondacks
- Maine
Trips to Europe are planned.
Annual Department Field Trip
Each fall semester, the department (co-sponsored by the Geology Club) offers a field trip to all students in our major programs, with several faculty members attending. Trips include parts of Ontario, central New York, and even central and southern Maine. Field courses provide opportunities to experience geology and geological phenomena farther than our course-related trips.
Upper-division and graduate-level courses have studied in:
- Grand Canyon
- San Francisco Volcanic Field
- Havasupai Indian Reservation with the Havasu Falls in Arizona
- Zion National Park
- Veyo Volcanic Field in Utah
- Long Valley Caldera and Mono Lake in California
- Death Valley
- Meteor Crater in Arizona
Other trips have included:
- Hawaiian volcanos
- the Swiss Alps
- Volcanoes of the greater El Salvador area in Central America
Contact: Gary Solar at (716) 878-6731
Research Projects
Research opportunities are available to students in the study of rocks, fossils, environmental issues, and geological processes. Laboratory work and hands-on outdoor data collection are central investigation techniques applied by Earth Science majors.
Each year, our students present their work at the Student Research and Creativity Conference.
Internships
About Our Internships
Our internships are designed to provide students seeking careers in the geosciences with professional work experience. Our department offers several field-based courses and has strong relationships with local companies and government agencies which help to provide opportunities for hands-on experiences and work-related internships.
The student will have junior or senior standing. Internship opportunities are advertised within the department, but may also be initiated by the student. A written agreement between the student, field supervisor and a faculty supervisor will be formulated.
Locations
Students have completed internships at:
- Erie County Department of Environment and Planning
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Ecology and Environment Inc.
- URS Corporation
- Buffalo Museum of Science
- The Fresh Air Fund
- Journey's End Refugee Services
- Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehab Center
- Steel Plant Museum
Prerequisites
GEG 488
- GEG 101 and 6 credit hours of geography or planning coursework at the upper-division level
- Background of courses or experience within area of interest and department approval
- Minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.5
GES 488
- Practical work on an individual basis with a participating organization.
- Requires department application and approval.
- Minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.5
Student Clubs
Astronomy Geology Club
The AstroGeo Club is a club focused on 4 simple things: space, rocks, fun people, and free food! Learning about the rocks beneath our feet and the grand universe in which we reside.
The group meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. in SAMC 106
EcoBengals Environmental Club
EcoBengals is a campus environmental student club. The club meets on select Thursdays at 12:15 pm in SAMC 106. Affiliated with EcoBengals in our student chapter of the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA). NYWEA has professional chapters at the state and federal levels. Local NYWEA professionals organize presentations, field trips and help prepare students for careers in the environmental field.
Highlights
The Golden Snowball Award
The Golden Snowball Award is an annual award presented to the city in Upstate New York that receives the most snowfall in a season.
During the winter of 2021–2022, Buffalo, NY, won two snow-related awards. With a seasonal total of 97.4 inches, Buffalo was the snowiest city in New York State (Golden Snowball Award) and the snowiest city (100,000+) in the United States (Snow Globe Award). Stephen Vermette serves as custodian of the trophy while in Buffalo.
Snow Pipes
The Snow Pipes display, located in Buckham Hall's A-wing, shows how much snow Buffalo gets on average, its greatest annual snowfall (199.4 inches). These pipes represent Buffalo's snowfall history...and present. The "most recent year" pipe starts at zero inches and is added to throughout the season.
Raised-Relief Maps
Located in Buckham Hall's A-wing, large, raised-relief, plaster-cast models date back to 1913. Created long before aerial photography and satellite imagery, these maps provided a visual tool used in schools and museums. The maps were donated to Buffalo State by the Buffalo Museum of Science.