TEACHING
Teaching Philosophy:
I aspire to teach innovative, memorable courses by making
the material interesting and tractable regardless of its conceptual
difficulty. This task is achieved in different ways in different instructional
settings, which have ranged from First Year seminars, to large natural
science distribution and major recruitment courses, to rigorous majors
requirements, challenging graduate courses, and strenuous field experiences.
I design my own laboratories and problem sets for my classes to better
integrate lecture and laboratory material and to take advantage of
Lehigh’s location in the Appalachian Mountains. I find that laboratories
are especially powerful learning environments because of the positive
impact of hands-on, experiential learning. I integrate numerous field
trips into my courses and require students to make measurements and
collect data in the field so that they are practicing scientists, not
simply passively learning. I strive to keep a positive atmosphere in
the classroom, field, and laboratory by being fair, clear on expectations,
available and approachable in class and out, respectful at all times,
and accommodating of students with disabilities; all while attempting
to be as rigorous and demanding as possible.
Undergraduate Courses
EES 21. Introduction to Planet Earth (4) Natural Science
distribution
Processes within the Earth and dynamic interactions among the solid
earth, the atmosphere, and the oceans. Lectures, laboratories, and
field trips. Anastasio (NS)
EES 223. Structural Geology and Tectonics (4) EES
requirement
Application of basic concepts of stress, strain, and material properties
to the study of folds, faults, and rock fabrics. Plate tectonic processes
and plate margin deformation. Introduction to map and field techniques.
Lectures, laboratories, and two all-day field trips. Prerequisite:
EES 21. Anastasio (NS)
EES 326. Geologic Evolution of North America (4) EES
Elective Senior Seminar
A senior seminar on the lithologic, tectonic, and morphologic evolution
of North America; developed within the framework of the plate tectonic
theory. Prerequisite: EES 21, EES 31, plus 5 additional EES courses.
Anastasio (NS)
EES
341. Field Geology (8) Summer EES Requirement
Field study and geologic mapping of sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic,
and glacial deposits in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Wyoming
and southeastern Idaho. Additional short studies in the Badlands and
Black Hills of South Dakota, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone Park, Craters
of the Moon Park, and other areas in the Rocky Mountain region. Six
weeks in the field; summer session. Prerequisite: consent of Field
Camp Director Evenson (students must apply through the Lehigh Field
Camp Program); major in EES, EES 21 and 131 (EES 112, 113, 223 recommended).
Evenson, Myers, Anastasio, Bebout (NS)
Graduate Courses
EES 427. Orogenic Belts (3)
Geometry, kinematics, and mechanics of compressional
orogenic belts. Course will emphasize deformational, depositional,
and metamorphic processes in forearc and backarc regions. Lectures,
seminars, and field trips. Prerequisites: EES 131, EES 213, EES 223,
or their equivalents. Anastasio
EES 428. Stress and Strain in Rocks (3)
Theory of continuum mechanics and application to analytical
methods of geological strain analysis; rock material properties and
micro-mechanisms of rock deformation; tectonic fabric development;
kinematic analysis. Lectures and laboratories. Prerequisite: EES 223
or equivalent. Anastasio