Tracy Frank
@drtracydfrank.bsky.social
Geology professor born at 321 ppm CO2. Sedimentologist and geochemist who studies deep time paleoclimate. #Fulbright Alumna. Opinions are my own.
If only that were true, my job would be easy!
November 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
If only that were true, my job would be easy!
In case it's helpful, I leave the lid on until the last 10-15 minutes. Lovely loaf!
November 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
In case it's helpful, I leave the lid on until the last 10-15 minutes. Lovely loaf!
There are also a lot of physical resources in the department that will now go unused. Moreover, the department has had outstanding alumni backing, with endowed professorships, endowments to support students, as well as support to build computational facilities for geology and meteorology. 💔
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
There are also a lot of physical resources in the department that will now go unused. Moreover, the department has had outstanding alumni backing, with endowed professorships, endowments to support students, as well as support to build computational facilities for geology and meteorology. 💔
True, but it can't happen overnight (unfortunately).
November 9, 2025 at 9:34 PM
True, but it can't happen overnight (unfortunately).
If there's a local orienteering club, they might have some beginner level maps for nearby areas.
October 1, 2025 at 2:53 PM
If there's a local orienteering club, they might have some beginner level maps for nearby areas.
I think they want the employer to pay it, but in any case this is a terrible idea.
September 20, 2025 at 8:57 AM
I think they want the employer to pay it, but in any case this is a terrible idea.
It also eliminates the geology programs at all levels.
September 16, 2025 at 8:14 PM
It also eliminates the geology programs at all levels.
The collections I think you are referring to are held by the NU State Museum, although some EAS faculty serve as curators. They should be safe.
September 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The collections I think you are referring to are held by the NU State Museum, although some EAS faculty serve as curators. They should be safe.
I saw it, too. What's shocking is that they are proposing eliminating faculty lines to cover the cuts. I guess no union hurts. The combined research & teaching capacity and other tangible resources will be a big loss. This department has a very strong alumni following, and I hope that they can help.
September 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I saw it, too. What's shocking is that they are proposing eliminating faculty lines to cover the cuts. I guess no union hurts. The combined research & teaching capacity and other tangible resources will be a big loss. This department has a very strong alumni following, and I hope that they can help.
Beyond the fact that this is not an appropriate venue for our president to discuss this topic, it's a fact that some sparsely populated red states really rely heavily on mail in voting. They've been doing it for years, but apparently it's suddenly a problem?
August 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Beyond the fact that this is not an appropriate venue for our president to discuss this topic, it's a fact that some sparsely populated red states really rely heavily on mail in voting. They've been doing it for years, but apparently it's suddenly a problem?
This, and grain size is both a reflection of depositional energy and what happens to be living there. Was it Ginsburg or James who coined "Carbonate sediments are born, not made"?
August 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
This, and grain size is both a reflection of depositional energy and what happens to be living there. Was it Ginsburg or James who coined "Carbonate sediments are born, not made"?
There are a lot of non-humanities programs on that list, too.
August 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
There are a lot of non-humanities programs on that list, too.
Thank you! I moved here from the Midwest, where I paid about 50-67% of what I now pay in CT. The very high "delivery" and "supply" charges are an anomaly and don't help the situation. I realize part of the problem is the heavy reliance on natural gas, but sheesh!
August 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Thank you! I moved here from the Midwest, where I paid about 50-67% of what I now pay in CT. The very high "delivery" and "supply" charges are an anomaly and don't help the situation. I realize part of the problem is the heavy reliance on natural gas, but sheesh!
I started drinking coffee in grad school. Luckily, it was in the 90s, when independent, Italian-style coffee shops were popping up like microbreweries.
August 5, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I started drinking coffee in grad school. Luckily, it was in the 90s, when independent, Italian-style coffee shops were popping up like microbreweries.
Thank you!! The attacks on higher ed are ridiculous.
July 31, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Thank you!! The attacks on higher ed are ridiculous.
Dang. I know a US student who specifically wants to study fossil fish. DM me if interested.
July 31, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Dang. I know a US student who specifically wants to study fossil fish. DM me if interested.
Thanks for sharing these date. They are interesting.
July 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Thanks for sharing these date. They are interesting.
The Penn State data you show are for the College of Earth and Mineral Science, of which Geosciences is one department. The pre major isn’t a degree program. The geosciences department programs seem to have 80-90 students all together, which is quite healthy.
July 29, 2025 at 9:43 PM
The Penn State data you show are for the College of Earth and Mineral Science, of which Geosciences is one department. The pre major isn’t a degree program. The geosciences department programs seem to have 80-90 students all together, which is quite healthy.
That makes sense. It's a huge school, with 50 tenure-system faculty (>3 times more than the average) and myriad research scientists, located in the oil patch. That department is an anomaly. At most universities, 60-70 undergrad majors (not counting grad students) in geosciences is a big program.
July 29, 2025 at 7:21 PM
That makes sense. It's a huge school, with 50 tenure-system faculty (>3 times more than the average) and myriad research scientists, located in the oil patch. That department is an anomaly. At most universities, 60-70 undergrad majors (not counting grad students) in geosciences is a big program.
Which department boasts 600 geoscience majors? Genuinely curious.
July 29, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Which department boasts 600 geoscience majors? Genuinely curious.