Calvin College - GEO Department

Research

Department research activities reflect the diverse interests of the faculty.

Current Research

Lake Michigan Coastal Dunes

Dr. Deanna van Dijk and a number of department students are studying the geomorphology of Lake Michigan coastal dunes. One of the outcomes of the research is a website on Lake Michigan coastal dunes, which includes a section describing the research.

Ada Bible Church Mastodon

Ada Mastadon Site

In 1999, Dr. Ralph Stearley and a number of students excavated a mastodon at the Ada Bible Church. Reconstruction and research on the mastodon materials continue.

Spatial Homeland Security Assessment using GIS

Homeland Security Mapping

Dr. Jason VanHorn is currently engaged in research investigating the use of GIS for homeland security for the protection of people and property. He has built two spatial models to model terrorism threat to the urban environment in U.S. cities.

Great Barrier Island, New Zealand

New Zealand Coast

Dr. Janel Curry is studying the views of different stakeholders in the development of a Marine Reserve on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand.

Books by Faculty

Mind Over Magma: The Story of Igneous Petrology
By Davis A. Young, Professor Emeritus of Geology

Community On Land: Community , Ecology, and the Public Interest
By Janel M. Curry, Professor of Geography

Other Faculty Research Projects

*a study of pioneering Christian gegrapher Arie Van Deursen (Henk Aay)

*a study of attitudes toward nature among seminary students (Janel Curry)

* development of inquiry-based science teaching (Ken Bergwerff)

*articles on Christian Philosophical Foundations for geography (Henk Aay)