Second Annual Geology Day

After the rousing success of the inaugural Geology Day last year, with over 150 students coming to CSUB to learn about academic and career opportunities in Geological Sciences, we decided to go even bigger and better this year. Thanks to the organizational efforts of Dr. Anna Cruz, Dr. Tony Rathburn, Shauna Van Grinsven, and Cecily Rink, as well as the efforts of many others in the department, we were able to host almost 250 high school students for the second annual Geology Day on October 16!

We also want to extend our thanks to the sponsors of Geology Day: NSME Grants & Outreach (NSME GO) and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Pacific Coast Section. We could not have made this event happen without their support!

This year, we opened the festivities with the Dean of NSME, Jane Dong. Dr. Dong had many glowing words for the Department of Geological Sciences (we are great, after all!). Department chair Dr. Rathburn then introduced the two keynote speakers: KVPR reporter Kerry Klein and long-time marine technician Jeremiah Brower. They discussed how geology opened up new ways of seeing the world and interesting career opportunities they never imagined for themselves.

Welcome sign for 2026 Geology Day
Dr. Rathburn introduces Geology Day in the MPR
Dean Dong talks to the visiting students
Kerry Klein addresses the visiting students
Jeremiah Brower addresses the visiting students

After that, the students split up, with groups rotating between stations including:

  • A career opportunities panel with Kerry, Jeremiah, CalGEM employee and CSUB alumn Matt Van Grinsven, and CRC employee and CSUB alum Raj Dhillon, moderated by geology professor Katie O'Sullivan
  • A student experience panel with current CSUB students Virpal Kaur, Alessa Linares, Brooklyn Macross, Eder Tavera, Ryan Tengelsen, and Jose Zaragoza
  • A hands-on technology station outside, where visiting students could interact with some of the tools we use in the department and faculty and students who use them for education and research, as well as some of the organizations associated with the department (including PCS-SEG, the Kern County Mineral Society, and more!)
  • A department opportunities talk by geology professor Matt Herman
Dr. Krugh and Dr. Guo talk about their drone studies
Kern County Mineral Society hosts a booth at Geology Day
PCS-SEG members Chris Sine and Catherine Thacher talk to visiting students
Students Izzy and Jack show visiting students the stream table
Student Brooklyn talks to the visiting students about her research experiences
Student Ryan talks to the visiting students about his research experiences
Students Ryan, Alessa, Virpal, Brooklyn, Jose, and Eder talk to the visiting students about their experiences
Career panelists Kerry Klein, Raj Dhillon, Jeremiah Brower, and Matt Van Grinsven discuss their experiences with moderator Katie O'Sullivan
Dr. Herman talks about opportunities in and out of the department with visiting students

Visiting students seemed excited and engaged, and we hope to see many of them on campus next fall! Check out some photos from the event below!