Dr. Rick Giardino

Research Interests & Projects

Earth is my home. Because it is my only home, I can’t help but be very interested in how it works and changes over time. And, to re-phase the old saying  about charity, to “study begins at home” is the driving force behind my study of Earth processes. As a student of Earth, I am a geomorphologist. I am interested in the surface features of Earth. How did they develop? How long will they be here?  How do they impact humans and our spread of our human-made structures across the surface of Earth? I am especially interested in glacial, periglacial, and mass-wasting processes that form and change arctic and alpine environments, the flow of water over the surface of Earth, as well as engineering geology.

My students and I are currently engaged in several projects. We are using ground penetrating radar (gpr) to investigate the internal structure of rock glaciers and landslides in several research locations in Colorado. We are using the grp to reconstruct water- flow pathways in rock glaciers. We are also mapping landslides in three areas of Colorado.

We are developing a new approach that allows the mapping of landslide parameters from single landslides to multiple scales of landslides over an entire region and we have extended our geomorphic studies to two locations in Alaska.  We are also looking at various aspects of streams, investigating the relationships between water chemistry of alpine streams to the step-pool structure of these streams. In addition, we are studying the long-term impact of stream restoration on streams in the Austin, TX area.

My interest in Earth history influences my concern and attention to global warming and change. Many of my current investigations are influenced by a desire to provide substantial answers to the following question: Is global warming impacting alpine environments and, if so, what will the changes look like? To this end my students and I are investigating changes in permafrost conditions associated with rock glaciers and alpine systems.

In addition to our research projects, my students and I enjoy working with elementary and secondary school teachers to enhance experiences of Earth for them and their students, who are the Earth’s future.

Experience

• Department Head, Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, 2011 to present
• Professor of Geology and Geophysics and Water Management and Hydrological Science, Texas A&M University, 1988 to present
• Dean of Graduate Studies, Texas A&M University, 1998 to September 2007
• Fellow, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Summer 2000
• Associate Director of the Office of Graduate Studies, Texas A&M University, 1996 to 1998
• Department Head, Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, 1989 to 1996
• Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, 1984 to 1988
• Director, Remote Sensing Applications Unit (RSAU) of the International Center for Arid and Semiarid Land studies (ICASALS), Texas Tech University, 1983 to 1984
• Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University, 1978 to 1984
• Acting Head, University of Zambia. 1973 to 1974
• Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Colorado, Summer 1983
• Instructor, Science Division, Doane College, 1977 to 1978
• Visiting Distinguished Professor, University of California-Chico, Fall 1974
• Lecturer, University of Zambia, 1972 to 1974
• Instructor, Southern Colorado State College, 1971 to 1972

Awards & Honors

• Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Southern Colorado, 2001
• Texas A&M Former Students Association University-Level Distinguished Teaching Award, 1996
• Meritorious Service Award, Geological Society of America, 1995
• Award for Support and Encouragement, Hispanic Graduate Student Association of Texas A&M University, 1995
• National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teaching Award, 1995
• Texas A&M Former Students Association College-Level Distinguished Teaching Award, 1989
• Almon Fellow, Hockaday School, Dallas, Texas, 1989
• Fellow, Geological Society of America, 1984
• Fellow, Royal Geographical Society, England, 1980

Selected Publications

• Regmi N.R., Giardino J.R., Dangol V., Mapping Landslide Hazards in Western Nepal: A GIS Approach. Environmental and Engineering Geosciences (in review)
• Giardino, J.R., Vitek, J.D., Gillespie, B.M. Conceptual Development of an Introductory Geology Course for Non-Majors. Journal of Geoscience Education (in review).
• Marks, Steve K., J. D. Vitek, John R. Giardino, and K. C. McQueen, “Creating Curricula Change: Needs in Grades 8-12 Earth Science,” Geomorphology Special Edition, (in press).
• Degenhardt, J.J., Giardino, J.R., Pitty, A.F., and Marston R.A., Interpretation of a Block Stream in Tom Mays Canyon, Franklin Mountains, TX and the San Juan Mountains, CO USA, Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie (in press).
• Norwine, James R., John R. Giardino, and Sushma Krishnamurthy. Water for Texas: 2000 and Beyond,Texas A&M University Press, 2005, 271 p.
• Aly, M. H., Giardino, J. R., & Klein, A. G. (2005). Suitability assessment for New Minia City, Egypt: A GIS approach to engineering geology. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, 11(3), 259-269.

Affiliations

• Editorial Board Member, Geomorphology
• Editorial Board Member, The Open Geology Journal
• State of Texas Professional Geoscientist No. 2438
• Member, American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Member, Association of Engineering Geologists
• Member, National Association of Geology Teachers (NAGT)
• Member, International Permafrost Association (IPA)
• Member, National Science Teachers Association

Links

• Environmental & Engineering Geosciences and Hydrogeology