Cavechat.org

I'm looking for a grad school that offers a degree in speleology or something similar does anyone have any suggestions?

Eric,

I don't know if there are any programs in the US that offer a degree in speleology. However there are differnt programs that offer emphasis on caves and karst - and the best ones are usually supported by a professor who has a lot of interest in cave and karst (though there are exceptions to that).

People you might try contacting for more insight and information include Drs. Art Palmer, John Mylroie, Nick Crawford, Chris Groves, Carol Wicks, Calvin Alexander, to name a few.

There may be some other folks on the DB who can provide more info.

Contact info for those listed above is in the NSS Directory which just came out or you can probably google them.

Pat K.

If you're into cave-based microbiology, think of Dr. Hazel Barton (NKU) or Dr. Diana Northup (UNM) who also does insects.

Check with Nick Crawford at Western Kentucky University.

I am sure there are others, too.

Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F

P.S. I suspect job opportunities are limited. Good luck!

I'm interested in the same thing. I'm just getting started on getting a geology bs, but I'd like to know as much as possible about speleology programs, as (of course) that is my real interest.

Larry E. Matthews wrote:
P.S. I suspect job opportunities are limited. Good luck!

Mr. Mathews good idea has. Even geology work limited if one not also businessman or teach or know other skills like computer or know somebody. Not many persons care about rocks. Where are rock museums, rock zoo or parks only because of rocks. Are few, but not many. If like sparkly rocks and caves is good, but make living elsewhere. Geology persons break rocks, cave persons save rocks. Talk to each other not much.
Plethodon

while it's still in development, the Section of Cave Geology and Geography has a site devoted to karst geoscience programs in the us. You can find it at:

http://www.caves.org/section/geogeo/programs.html

Plethodon wrote:

Larry E. Matthews wrote:
P.S. I suspect job opportunities are limited. Good luck!

Mr. Mathews good idea has. Even geology work limited if one not also businessman or teach or know other skills like computer or know somebody. Not many persons care about rocks. Where are rock museums, rock zoo or parks only because of rocks. Are few, but not many. If like sparkly rocks and caves is good, but make living elsewhere. Geology persons break rocks, cave persons save rocks. Talk to each other not much.
Plethodon

I resemble that remark! Well, at least partly. I'm a geologist, and job prospects are quite scarce! I'm currently employed as an Engineering Specialist. I'll disagree with you about your disparity between geologists and cavers. There's a big overlap. I have several friends who work for oil companies. Certainly you can argue about the policies of some oil companies, but the geologists are just hunting for oil. They tend to LOVE the environment. And I drive a car, and I need oil. Yep, I want more and more earth-friendly cars and alternatives (like bicycles!). But I don't blame geologists for the problems.

Squirrel Girl wrote:.... I'll disagree with you about your disparity between geologists and cavers. There's a big overlap. I have several friends who work for oil companies. Certainly you can argue about the policies of some oil companies, but the geologists are just hunting for oil. They tend to LOVE the environment..... But I don't blame geologists for the problems.

Miss Squirrel Girl,
No offence please. Like geologists...need rock materials for metal and houses and other things. Is true however geologists do how you say--qaurries--place where limestone rocks become little limestone rocks for on roads? I know geologist. Carry hammer everywhere, bang on rocks, ground--maybe geologist I know is strange. Geologists not run oil companies. Oil companyes run by businessman, have geologist work for them. Maybe American geologists not have hammers. I do not know. Sorry again if offend you.

Plethodon wrote: Carry hammer everywhere, bang on rocks, ground--maybe geologist I know is strange. Geologists not run oil companies. Oil companyes run by businessman, have geologist work for them. Maybe American geologists not have hammers. I do not know. Sorry again if offend you.

Yep. American geologist like to have hammers and bang on rocks. It breaks the rocks so you can get a look at a fresh surface to be able to identified the rock better. My guess is that geologists who aren't in the know about caves, are probably as good or bad as the rest of the world in regards to taking cave of caves.

By the way Plethodon, where are you from? Maybe you've said, but I don't know.

I do have a lot of concerns about eventually finding employment I can live with.

A friend once told me that the only two morally acceptable forms of employment are in art and activism. Other than a couple exceptions, like being a nun or something like that, I think he was right.

Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F

P.S. I suspect job opportunities are limited. Good luck![/quote]

I joined the NSS when I was a mine geologist. I never found a conflict with cave conservation and my then profession. In fact, my professional experience is of great use now reading the rock and cave fill. You may not use your Masters directly except in my present field of academia.

Jon Barker
NSS #28435-RE