NEW MASTER OF ENGINEERING ONLINE PROGRAM APPROVED

The M.E. in Geotechnics degree has been approved and the first courses will be offered in Fall 2004. This is an online degree program for working professionals and those wishing to earn a non-research graduate degree without leaving their current location. Please visit the web site devoted to this new program at:

M.E. Degree in Geotechnics

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Dr. Leslie Gertsch joins the Geological Engineering program

Dr. Gertsch joined the program on January 1, 2003, as an Assistant Professor in Geological Engineering and also as a Research Assistant Professor in the Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center. Dr. Gertsch earned her Ph.D. at Colorado School of Mines and has been a professor at Colorado School of Mines and at Michigan Tech. Her areas of research include rock fragmentation and excavation, rock discontinuity analysis, innovative drilling techniques, and she also works on a project team trying to figure out how to drill and sample the rocks of Mars. Welcome Dr. Gertsch!

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Dr. Cawlfield is named Chair of the Department of Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Jeff Cawlfield became Chair of the department on January 1, 2003, upon the retirement of Dr. Lenn Koederitz. Dr. Koederitz had served as Chair since 2001 when Dr. Rockaway retired. Dr. Koederitz will teach on a 50% appointment in Petroleum Engineering for the next academic year.

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Dr. J. David Rogers is named Fred Hasselman Chair in Geological Engineering

The department of Geological and Petroleum Engineering at the Universityof Missouri-Rolla is pleased to announce that Dr. J. David Rogers has joined the faculty as Hasselmann Chair in the geological engineering program. This Chair was established through a gift from the K. F. Hasselmann Endowment Fund for ensuring faculty excellence in Geological Engineering. Dr. Rogers comes to UMR from the University of California, Berkeley, and he also is well-known for his consulting work throughout the nation and the world. Dr. Rogers is a specialist on geologic hazards and has published widely on some of the spectacular disasters and failures in history. He appears on the Discovery channel in two specials: Great Dam Failures of the World, and Great Flood Disasters. His book on the failure of the St. Francis Dam which occured early in this century is considered the authoritative text on that disaster.

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Dr. Curt Elmore Joins Faculty

Dr. Curt Elmore has joined the UMR faculty as of the fall semester 2001. Curt comes to UMR from the consulting industry where he has worked on a wide variety of subsurface environmental projects. Curt obtained his B.S in Geological Engineering from UMR in the mid-1980's and then earned a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. Dr. Elmore is teaching Risk Assessment, Senior Design, and Subsurface Exploration during his first year at UMR. His research interests include groundwater circulation well technology and development, and alternative energy sources for groundwater remediation.