Location: Hubbard Hall, Room 208

Geologic fieldwork as cutting-edge science: Recognition of new patterns leads to major advances.

John Wakabayashi is a professor of geology at California State University, Fresno. During his applied geologic career, he worked on a variety of different projects in engineering and environmental geology, but also conducted and published research in varied aspects of tectonics and tectonic geomorphology. He also conducts research on long-time and length-scale geomorphology and linkages between surface processes and the clastic sedimentary record, including research on the topographic evolution of the Sierra Nevada. A common theme of all of his research is the application of mobile reference frames to better understand the essentially four-dimensional processes of tectonics and/or geomorphology. Intensive field work, including detailed geologic mapping and petrography are also foundational components of much of his work.