About Carol de Wet
Research
Deep Time & Carbonate Rocks; Sedimentological and Stratigraphic Reconstruction of Ancient Environments and Climate, Diagenesis of Freshwater and Marine Limestones
My recent research on terrestrial carbonates spans the northern and southern hemispheres with field sites in Chile (Atacama Desert), Tanzania (Olduvai Gorge), and eastern North America (Nova Scotia to Georgia). The sedimentary strata range in age from Middle Cambrian (~503 Ma), to Triassic-Jurassic (~250-150 Ma), to Miocene-Pliocene (~5.3 Ma), to the Pleistocene (~2 Ma) and Holocene (thousands of years). My research integrates sedimentological and stratigraphic data to interpret depositional environments and paleoclimates, utilizing field study, petrography (stained thin sections, cathodoluminescence, Scanning Electron Microscopy), stable isotopes (carbon and oxygen), and elemental geochemistry (X-Ray Diffraction, Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometry, Energy Dispersive SEM (EDAX)).
Miocene-Pliocene lake and wetland limestones, exposed in the Atacama Desert, indicate that carbonates may accumulate even during periods of aridity, as long as there is sufficient groundwater flow to feed a lacustrine/palustrine system and/or spring discharge, leading to tufa development (3 papers published, 1 in prep).
Freshwater limestones, with their particular sensitivity to climate, are excellent markers for distinctive depositional conditions. Triassic-Jurassic freshwater carbonates associated with the Newark Supergroup rift basins reflect periods of relative tectonic quiescence coupled with Milankovitch-scale wet-dry cycles (5 papers published).
Similarly, groundwater may circulate through regional faults to precipitate spring carbonates at discrete discharge sites or accumulate in marshy areas where groundwater seeps indicate topographic intersection with a shallow water table. These sites may have been a source of freshwater for Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania hominids in shallow lakes or ponds (4 papers published).
Marine shallow water limestones, may yield some paleoclimate information, at least in terms of arid vs humid climates, and tropical vs cool water temperatures. Evaporate minerals suggest a relatively arid climate where subaerial exposure of supratidal shoreline facies resulted in evaporite precipitation. The presence of early dolomite likely indicates a relatively warm and arid to semi-arid depositional setting, based on modern analogs. My research on marine limestones is also important in understanding burial processes and diagenetic alteration of primary carbonate (9 papers).
In addition to my geological research, I have been deeply involved with issues relating to Women in Science and Academic Leadership, based on my own experience and scholarship. For example, I have written about the value of shared or split academic positions for both an institution and a science couple (3 publications). I have also worked on the “time crunch” women face in terms of the ticking biological and tenure clocks (1 paper), and most recently, my focus is on women in academic leadership roles (1 paper).
Student – Faculty Collaborative Research Since 1990
KEY: title of student's study; (Honors) = awarded departmental honors; source of funding, particularly if external to F&M; * = graduate school attended; publications in italics
2021-2022
Catherine Caterham '22 (Honors) Comparison of travertine/tufa from El Sifon and Chintoraste, Calama Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile
*University of Tennessee.
2020-2021
Jamila Gowdy ’21: Fossil gastropods in the Opache Formation. *Graduate school pending.
Catherine Caterham ’22: Microbial forms in Chiu-Chiu Formation tufas; algae and cyanobacteria as paleoenvironmental indicators.
2019-2020
Elizabeth Driscoll ’20: Quaternary freshwater tufas as paleoclimate indicators in the Atacama Desert, Chile. ½ Hackman, summer 2019. de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; Two Abstracts: NE-SE GSA March, 2020; * attending Colorado State University for graduate school, First place winner Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists Student Poster Competition 2020, winner of F&M’s Rawnsley Science Prize, M.Sc. degree from Colorado State University.
Alaekya Shetty ’22: Laboratory research assistant, diatom extraction for Chiu-Chiu Formation tufas
2018-2019
Dylan Jones ’19: Ocean acidification and aragonite dissolution in corals: A Scanning Electron Microscope study; *Florida Gulf Coast Univ. MSc.
2017-2018
Sam Patzkowsky ‘20: diatoms in the Opache Formation, informal research through the academic year plus ½ Hackman summer 2018; de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; * Washington University graduate school
Elizabeth Driscoll ‘20: stromatolite cyanobacteria and algae, Opache Formation, Directed Reading Spring 2018 plus ½ Hackman summer 2018
Stephen Sherbahn ‘18: 490 Fall 2017; aragonite and calcite in corals and tufas
2016-2017
Informally worked with alumnus Leah Houser ’15 on Olduvai Gorge limestones; Ashley, G.M., de Wet, C.B., Houser, L.M., and Delaney, J.S., 2020, Widespread freshwater carbonate in the Olduvai Basin, a pre-cursor to a major eruption in the East Africa Rift System, The Depositional Record, online available Jan. 2020. *MSc Utah State Univ.
Informally worked with Samuel Patzkowsky ’20 on Atacama limestones
Supervised 390 research with Grace (Niquin Ni) ’16 Loyalhanna Formation, Mississippian limestone, Somerset Co. PA
Summer 2017 Hackman Samuel Patzkowsky: Diatoms in the Opache Fm, Atacama Desert
2015-2016
Informally advised Chi Xi ’16 and Sophia Gigliotti ’16 on the Atacama project;
Summer 2016: worked with Amy Moser ’15, Katie Oxman ‘14 and Erin Peck ’14;
de Wet, C.B, Moser, A.*, Oxman, K., and Peck, E., 2016, Semi-arid climate and cyclic carbonates; Deposition and diagenesis of the Middle Cambrian Buffalo Springs Formation, Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Geology, v. 46, p. 3-20; *Moser: MSc Utah State Univ.; PhD pending, UC Santa Cruz
2014-2015
Chi Xi ‘16 and Sophia Giglioti, ‘16 presented poster at 2014 Fall Research Fair
Carbonate Deposition and Diagenesis in Freshwater Limestones, Calama Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile; Hackman Scholars, summer 2014; de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; *Yale University – Chi Xi
2012-2013
Theresa O’Reilly ‘13
Carbonate Deposits from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Ashley, G., de Wet, C., Karis, A., O’Reilly, T., and Baluyot, R., 2014, Freshwater Limestone in an Arid Rift Basin, A Goldilocks Effect, Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 84, p. 988-1004.
2010-2011: hiatus due to duties as Associate Dean of the Faculty
2008-2009
Megan Hays
2009: Collaborating with the Community: Franklin and Marshall College and the School District of Lancaster – Science Teaching Internship Program
F&M Spring Research Fair
*University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical School
2007-2008
Monica Arienzo
2008: Dedolomitization in the Cambrian “white marbles”, south-central PA
2007: Temporal and spatial distribution of corals, Taque Bay & Buck Island reefs, St Croix, USVI (Honors)
-Keck Geology Consortium
*Univ. of Miami Ph.D.
de Wet, C.B., Arienzo, M., Dinterman, P., and Hopkins, D., 2017, Depositional Facies Influence on Shallow Burial Dolomitization, and Triassic Dedolomitization, Middle Cambrian Ledger Formation, York, Pennsylvania, Characterization and Modeling of Carbonates – Mountjoy Symposium I, SEPM Special Publication No. 109, Society for Sedimentary Geology, ISBN 978-56576-353-1, doi:dx.doi.org/10.2110/sepmsp.109.08
2006-2007
Stephanie Strouse
2006: Chemostratigraphy of Cambrian formations in York and Lancaster Counties,
- Leser Summer Research Award. F&M Fall Research Fair.
-*Boston University M.Sc.
2005-2006
Lida Teneva
2003: Oncoids as paleoenvironmental indicators and
2006: The rise and demise of a Holocene coral reef complex, Dominican Republic: the coral-climate connection (Honors).
- KECK Geology Consortium + 2 F&M Leser Grants + F&M Travel Award. F&M Research Fairs.
-* Columbia University; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, M.Sc.
Ph.D. Stanford Univ.
-Teneva, L. T., Greer, L., de Wet, C.B., 2006, Isotope variability in early-Holocene Acropora Cervicornis from the Enriquillo Valle, Dominican Republic, Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v, 38, p. 66.
- Teneva, L.T., de Wet, C.B., and Greer, L., 2006, Vital Effects in Acropora cervicornis Corals: Evidence from Trace Elements and Stable Isotopes, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts, p, 75.
- Teneva, L.T., Greer, L., and de Wet, C.B., 2005, , Isotope variability in early-Holocene Acropora Cervicornis from the Enriquillo Valle, Dominican Republic, Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstracts, v. 8.
- Teneva, L.T., de Wet, C.B., and Greer, L., Vital effects in Acropora cervicornis Corals: Evidence from Trace Elements and Stable Isotopes, Submitted to Coral Reefs winter 2006..
2004-2005
Rachel Dvoretsky
2004: Unusual microbial forms discovered in a Middle Cambrian reef system, Ledger Fm., York, PA and
2005: Climatic and tectonic influence in an East African rift system, Pleistocene paludal tufa development in an arid climate, Lake Baringo, Kenya
- F&M Hackman Scholars. F&M Research Fair.
-*University of Kansas, M.Sc., Chevron Petroleum Co.
- Roure, Cara, Ashley, Gail, de Wet, Carol, Dvoretsky, R., Park, L., Hover, V., Owen, B., and McBrearty, Sally, 2009, Tufas as a record of perennial freshwater in semi-arid rift basin, Kapthurin Formation, Central Kenya, Sedimentology v. 56, p. 1115-1137.
de Wet, C. B., Hopkins, D., Rahnis, M., Murphy, M. and Dvortetsky, R., 2013, High Energy Shelf Margin Carbonate Facies: Microbial Sheet Reefs, Ooid Shoals, and Intraclast Grainstones; Ledger Formation (Middle Cambrian), Pennsylvania, in Wilson, J.L., Derby, J., Morgan, W., and Fritz, R., eds., Great American Carbonate Bank, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Special Publication.
2003-2004
Justin C. Gosses
Sedimentology of the Tsagantsav Formation: A lowermost Cretaceous lacustrine synrift formation, Tavan Har, Southeast Mongolia (Honors)
- KECK Geology Consortium. F&M Research Fair.
-*University of Wisconsin, Madison, M.Sc.
-PB Petroleum Corporation
- Gosses, J.C., and de Wet, C.B., 2004, Sedimentology of the Tsagantsav Formation: A lowermost Cretaceous lacustrine synrift formation, Tavan Har, Southeast Mongolia Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstract, v. 6.
2002-2003
co-advised with D. Merritts, Lauren Manion, A Study of Sedimentation Patterns in the Little Conestoga Creek Watershed
2001-2002
Bond, Joanna J.
Exploration of the Conococheaque Group in Morgantown, PA
Sunderlin, Kimberly
Diagentic Alterations in Carbonate Glacial Lake Sediments; Hardin County, Ohio
- KECK Geology Consortium.
- * East Carolina University, M.Sc.
- Sunderlin, Kimberly and de Wet, Carol, 2002, Diagenetic Alterations in Carbonate Glacial Lake Sediments: Hardin Co., Ohio, Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstract, v. 5.
2000-2001
Bruno, Caroline R.
Cement Stratigraphy within the Ledger Formation (Middle Cambrian), York Co., PA
- ACS-PRF funding
- de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
- * University of Washington, M.Sc., Great Basin College Associate Professor
2000-2001
Murphy, Megan
Grainstone Beds within Cambrian shelf margin Microbialites, the Ledger Formation, York County, Pennsylvania
- ACS-PRF and PA Geological Survey funding
- * East Carolina University, NC. M. Sc., University of California, Davis, Ph.D.
Chevron Petroleum Corp., San Ramon, CA
1998-1999
Frey, Holli
Shelf-Margin Instability and the Formation of Meter-Scale, Horizontal Submarine Cavities in Cambrian Microbialite
- Leser Award + ACI-PRF Grant Support
- * University of Michigan, Ph. D., Union College Associate Professor
[1] Frey, H. and de Wet, C.B., 1999, Shelf-margin instability and the formation of meter-scale, horizontal submarine cavities in Cambrian microbialite [abst] AAPG Annual Meeting, TX, April 1999.
[2] de Wet, C.B., Dickson, J.A.D., Wood, R.A., Gaswirth, S.B., and Frey, H.M., 1999, A New Type of Shelf Margin Deposit: Rigid Microbial Sheets and Unconsolidated Grainstones Riddled with Meter-Scale Cavities, Sedimentary Geology, v. 128, 13-21.
[3] de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B. Mora, C. I., ,Rahnis,
M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and
Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger
Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p.
914-923.
1998-1999
Kissinger, Laura
Microbial Fabrics in a Middle Cambrian Microbial Complex, the Ledger Formation, York Co., PA
- ACI-PRF Grant Support
- Kissinger, L. and de Wet, C.B., 1999, Renalcis-like fabrics win the Ledger Formation [abst] NEGSA Annual Meeting, March, 1999
1998-1999
Midla, Brendan
Depositional Fabrics in the Kinzers Fm., Southdown Mine, York Co., PA
- Internship for Credit Program.
1997-1998
Dinterman, Philip
Patterns of Dolomitization within the Ledger Limestone, York Co., PA
- ACI-PRF Grant Support
- *New Mexico State University, M.Sc.
de Wet, C.B., Arienzo, M., Dinterman, P., and Hopkins, D., 2017, Depositional Facies Influence on Shallow Burial Dolomitization, and Triassic Dedolomitization, Middle Cambrian Ledger Formation, York, Pennsylvania, Characterization and Modeling of Carbonates – Mountjoy Symposium I, SEPM Special Publication No. 109, Society for Sedimentary Geology, ISBN 978-56576-353-1, doi:dx.doi.org/10.2110/sepmsp.109.08
1997-1998
Cucolo, Steve
Geochemistry and Trace Element Analysis of Newark Supergroup Lacustrine Limestones
de Wet, C. B., Mora, C. I., Gore, P., and Gierlowski-Kordesch, E., and Cucolo, S. J., 2002, Deposition and geochemistry of lacustrine and spring carbonates in Mesozoic rift basins, eastern North America, in Renaut, R. and Ashley, G. M., Eds., Sedimentation in Continental Rifts, Society for Sedimentary Geology Special Pub. No. 73, p. 309-325.
- *George Washington University, M.Sc.
1996-1997
Gaswirth, Stephanie
Geochemical Variations Within Cambrian Fibrous Cements, The Ledger Formation, York County, Pennsylvania
- (Honors) - ACI-PRF Grant Support
- *Rutgers University (M.Sc. 1999), University of Colorado, Boulder, Ph.D., USGS Denver, CO
[1]Gaswirth, S.B.* and de Wet, C.B., 1997, Geochemical variations within mid-late Cambrian fibrous cements, York County, Pennsylvania [Abst.], Geological Society of America, Northeast Section.
[2] de Wet, C.B., Dickson, J.A.D., Wood, R.A., Gaswirth, S.B., and Frey, H.M., 1999, A New Type of Shelf Margin Deposit: Rigid Microbial Sheets and Unconsolidated Grainstones Riddled with Meter-Scale Cavities, Sedimentary Geology, v. 128, 13-21.
[3] de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
1995-1996
- on junior faculty leave
1994-1995
Burrell, Shondricka
Variable Exposure Periods from Stacked Calcrete Horizons in the Triassic New Oxford Fm., Rife Farm Core, south-central PA
- Hackman Scholars Program
- *University of Missouri
1994-1995
Slovinsky, Peter
Changing Beach Profiles Due to Storms and Longshore Drift, Coastal Delaware
- *University of North Carolina, M.Sc.
1993-1994
Yocum, Daniel
Deposition and Diagenesis of Lacustrine Carbonates in the Gettysburg Basin, (Triassic) PA
- (Honors) - Hackman & Marshall Scholars funds
- *Univ. of Wisconsin, M.Sc.
[1] Freshwater Carbonate Deposits of the Gettysburg Basin (Triassic), Pennsylvania [abstr], Northeastern section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p. 81.
[2] de Wet, C.B. & Yocum, D.A., 1994, Carbonate Lakes as Sensitive Indicators of Paleoclimate and Tectonics: the Triassic Gettysburg Basin, south-central Pennsylvania [abstr], AAPG Annual Meeting, Denver, p. 133.
[3] de Wet, C.B., Yocum, D.A. & Mora, C.I. Carbonate Lakes In Closed Basins: Sensitive Indicators of Climate and Tectonics; an example from the Gettysburg Basin (Triassic), Pennsylvania - in, Shanley, K.W., and McCabe, P.J., eds., 1998, Relative Role of Eustasy, Climate, and Tectonism in Continental Rocks, Society of Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) Special Publication No. 59, Tulsa, OK, p. 191-209.
1993-1994
Brennan, Sean
Depositional Histroy of Providence Limestone Member (Pennsylvanian), Hopkins County, western Kentucky
- summer research funded through Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR): Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship
- *Univ. of Kansas (M.Sc. 1998)
- *SUNY Binghampton, Ph.D. 2002
[1] Brennan, S.T., The Depositional History of the Providence Limestone, Illinois Basin, Western Kentucky [abstr], 1994, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p.8
[2] de Wet, C.B., Moshier, S.O., Hower, J.C., de Wet, A.P., Brennan, S.T., Helfrich, C.T. and Raymond, A.L., 1997, Disrupted Coal and Carbonate Facies within Two Pennsylvanian Cyclothems, Southern Illinois Basin, USA, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 109, p. 1231-1248.
1993-1994
Watts, Samuel
Stratigraphy and Depositional Environments, Triassic Rheems Railroad Cut, Gettysburg Basin, PA
Watts, S. and de Wet, C.B., Triassic Fluvial Sandstones and Overbank Mudstones, Rheems, PA [abstr], 1994, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p. 79.
1993-1994
Daniels, Stephanie
Factors Influencing Female Undergraduate Students to Take Upper Level Science Courses
- co-supervised with Dr. Linda Aleci, as a Women's Studies minor Independent Study
1992-1993
Dudkiewicz, George
Recognition of Parasequences and their Diagenesis in Cambrian Carbonates, Morgantown, PA
-Recognition of Parasequences and their Diagenesis in Cambrian Carbonates, Morgantown, PA [abstr], American Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, 1993, New Orleans, LA, p.94.
- *Vanderbilt University – Law degree – environmental law specialty
1991-1992
Berk, Wendy
Deposition and Carbonate Diagenesis of a Mixed Siliciclastic-Carbonate System: The Centerfield Biostrome, Stroudsburg, PA
- (Honors) - Hackman Scholars Program
Carbonate Diagenesis of a Mixed Siliciclastic-Carbonate Environment, The Centerfield Biostrome, Stroudsburg, PA, [abstr], 1992, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Harrisburg, PA, p. 7.
- *Univ. of Massachusets
1991-1992
Burns, Christine
Quartz Fabrics and Clay Mineralogy As Indicators of Depositional and Diagenetic History: Examples From the Centerfield Biostrome Near Stroudsburg, PA
- (Honors) - Hackman Scholars Program
Quartz Fabrics and Clay Mineralogy as Indicators of Depositional and Diagenetic History: Examples from a Middle Devonian Bioherm near Stroudsburg, PA [abstr], 1992, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Harrisburg, PA, p. 10.
- *Univ. of North Carolina, M.Sc.
Folk, Robert
- summer research funded by Hackman Scholars Program
- *Univ. of Pennsylvania
Klinger, Joseph
Offshore Dynamics and Sedimentary Characteristics of La Malbaie, Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec
- Keck Consortium
Offshore Sediment Dynamics in the Baie De Malbaie, Gaspe Penisula, Quebec, Fifth Keck Research Symposium in Geology, Lexington, VA, 1992, p. 53-55.
*Univ. of Rhode Island, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Rahnis, Michael
Diagenesis of the King's Falls Limestone of the Ordovician Trenton Group in central New York state: a petrographic and geochemical study
- Keck Consortium
- de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
- Diagenesis in the King's Falls Member of the Trenton Group, Fifth Keck Research Symposium in Geology, Lexington, VA, 1992, p.191-194.
- *Univ. of Texas, Austin, M.Sc., Ph.D.
1990-1991
Hammack, Lauren
The Effects of Environmental Change and Euopean Settlement on the Floodplain of Pequea Creek
- (co-supervised with Dorothy Merritts)
- *Colorado State University, M.Sc.
Shane, Brendan
The Effects of Agriculture: An Historical and Sedimentological Study on the Floodplain Sediments of the Pequea Creek at Colemanville, Pennsylvania
- (co-supervised with Dorothy Merritts)
- *University of Maryland, M.Sc.
Summary:
42 students involved in research
8 received Departmental Honors for their thesis
Summary of Undergraduate Involvement Research Funding:
Franklin & Marshall College Hackman Scholars and Lesor Scholars; Keck Consortium; Council on Undergraduate Research Fellowship; PA State Geological Survey; American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund Grant Support
Summary of Undergraduate Co-Authored Journal Articles (excluding abstracts): 15 peer reviewed articles with student co-authors.
Summary of Graduate School Attendance: ~40 of the 44 students I have supervised have gone or are going to graduate school in sedimentology or a related field; 10 are now in Ph.D. programs or have completed Ph.D.’s., 1 recently was awarded tenure at Union College, 2 work for the USGS, others work for state surveys, many work in the energy industry, 2 teach at community colleges
© 2004 Franklin & Marshall College | PO Box 3003 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604-3003 | 717.291.3911
Carol de Wet C. V.
CAROL B. DE WET
Department of Earth and Environment 1500 Hillcrest Road
Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster PA 17603
Lancaster PA 17604
(717) 471-2502
(717) 385-4283
Education
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, England
Ph.D. degree; Geology, October 1989
Dissertation: Deposition and diagenesis of the Corallian Formation (Oxfordian) within the Wessex Basin, southern England
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, Amherst, Massachusetts
M.Sc. degree; Geology, September 1984
Thesis: The Sedimentology of the Scots Bay Formation
SMITH COLLEGE, Northampton, Massachusetts
B.A. degree; Geology and English Literature double major, May 1981
Honors & Experience
ACTIVE RESEARCH PROFESSOR EMERITA, 2022 - present
BRADLEY R. DEWEY AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP, FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE'S HIGHEST AWARD FOR RESEARCH, Spring 2022
OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD, ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN GEOSCIENTISTS, 2021
Elected FELLOW OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, May 2016
Appointed to ENDOWED CHAIR: THE DR. E. PAUL & FRANCES H. REIFF PROFESSOR OF GEOSCIENCE, 2013 - present
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, FACULTY CENTER, 2013-2014
ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE FACULTY, 2009 - 2012, Franklin & Marshall College
CHRISTIAN R. AND MARY F. LINDBACK FOUNDATION AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED TEACHING. REGIONAL
USA AWARD, 2008.
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES, Fall 2008- Spring 2009, Franklin & Marshall College
PROFESSOR, 2006-present, Franklin & Marshall College.
Courses taught: The Earth, Environment and Humanity (Geo. 114); Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (Geo. 324); Advanced Sedimentology (Geo. 470); Coral Reefs in Time and Space; Supervising Independent Study Projects (Geo. 490)
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND PROVOST ON WOMEN AND FAMILY ISSUES, 2006 –2007, Franklin & Marshall College
DIRECTOR, GEOSCIENCE FOUNDERS SOCIETY, Dept of Earth & Environment Alumni Society, 2003-2013
DEPARTMENT CHAIR: Dept. of Earth & Environment, 2001-2005, Franklin & Marshall College
Geological Society of America BIGGS EARTH SCIENCE TEACHING AWARD for Recognition of Exceptional College Teaching. 2000
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, 1999-2006, Franklin & Marshall College
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, 1991-1998, Franklin & Marshall College
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH, 1990-1991, University of Kentucky; study of Providence Limestone (Pennsylvanian), Western Kentucky
TUTORIAL SUPERVISOR, 1986-1987, Giving small group supervisions to Earth Science undergraduate students, University of Cambridge
RESEARCHER AND CORE CURATOR, May-Aug. 1980, Scientific and organizational responsibilities for recent marine sediment cores, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Courses Taught
ENE 221: History of the Earth
GEO/ENE 324: Sedimentology & Stratigraphy
GEO 470: Advanced Sedimentology
GEO/ENE 114: Earth, Environment & Humanity
ENE 372/471: Scholarly Research: Concepts and Practices
ENE 377: Coral Reefs and Climate Change
NSP 295: Coral Reefs in Time and Space
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Public Service and Outreach *=DEI focused
*Invited speaker: Diversity and Career Pathways, Smith College, March 2021
Association of Women Geoscientists Panelist: Careers in Geoscience, March 2021
*Mentor for 9 undergraduate first-generation students from underserved populations: Cooperman & Hamilton Scholars, 2020-2022.
*Geological Society of America, panelist in technical and special sessions devoted to women and diversity, 1990-present
Association of Women Geoscientists, member for 30 years: participated in multiple trips; served as panelist and discussion facilitator in numerous venues; published AWG newsletter article.
Full of Plastics - Our Oceans, Our Environment, Ourselves, an invited public lecture; Lancaster County Democrats, July 2019, and Lancaster Rotary Club January 2020, Homestead Village Retirement Community October 2021.
*Co-convener, Pardee Symposium: The Changing Face of Geoscience in the 21st Century: Increasing Diversity and Inclusion to Solve Complex Problems, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, 2017 Abstracts v. 49, no. 8
*Appointed to Geological Society of America Diversity in Geoscience Committee 2015-2018. Elected Chair-Elect Nov. 2015, Chair 2017
Member, Geological Society of America Public Service Award Committee, 2017-2019, Chair-Elect, 2017, Chair 2018
*Mentor for On To the Future program, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, 2015, 2016, 2017
*Taught College Prep summer course for high school juniors from underserved populations and first-generation college students, 2017
SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Research) Honorary Membership Committee, 2012-2014
*Initial participant: Diversity in Undergraduate Geoscience Alliance, 2012-present
NSF-funded, Advance grant speaker on Women in Academia, Skidmore and Union Colleges, 2012
Invited by faculty and/or Dean of Bowdoin, Skidmore, and Union Colleges to speak on Women Faculty in STEM; Progress and New Policies
*Founded and directed Experiential Elementary Science Teaching Program with School District of Lancaster, whose demographics include 60% Hispanic, 17% African-American, 13% Caucasian, 10% Asian-American, 1999-2004, 2008-2010
Served as Special Assistant to the President and Provost on Women & Family Issues: researched and developed Childbirth and Adoption Policy for faculty; created flex-time for staff; dispelled myths via data collection and dissemination at faculty meetings about tenure success & faculty gender, student evaluation responses by gender, salaries by gender, hiring by gender; reviewed and consolidated policies relating to family-related issues at F&M, 2006-2007
National Science Foundation & Association for Women Geoscientists workshop panelist in Washington, D.C., 2003
*Appointed Representative for the Geological Society of America Committee on Minorities and Women in Geology, 2000-2002
Presenter during Millersville University STEM Career Days, 1990-1995
Presenter for Buchanan School Career Days, 1990-1995
Public Service Publications
de Wet, Carol.2010. Reaching Critical Mass: Women in Faculty and Administrative Roles. Forum on Public Policy Online. Vol. 2010, No. 2. http://www.forumonpublicpolicy.com/archive07/Reachingcriticalmass:womeninfacultyandadministrativeroles.pdf
de Wet, C.B., 2008, Career Scientists and the Shared Academic Position, in, Monosson, E., ed., Motherhood, The Elephant in the Laboratory, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, p. 83-87.
de Wet, C.B., Ashley, G.M., and Kegel, D.P.,(MD), 2002, Biological Clocks and Tenure Timetables: Restructuring the Academic Timeline, Geological Society of America Today, Nov. issue.
de Wet, C. B. and de Wet, A.P., 1997, Sharing Academic Careers: An alternative for pre-tenure and young family dual-career faculty couples, Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, v. 3, p. 203-212.
de Wet, C.B. and de Wet, A.P., 1995, Making it work together: Spouses on the tenure track, Geotimes v. 40, p. 17-19.
Awards & Grants
ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION GRANT $700,000.00 for FACULTY CENTER, Member of Proposal Team, March 2014
SHERMAN FAIRCHILD FOUNDATION coauthor and P.I. for environmental science equipment institutional grant, $499,473.00. 2011
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Major Research Instrumentation Grant, $123,695 for Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer. 2001
PETROLEUM RESEARCH FUND FELLOWSHIP, Funding to travel to northwestern Australia for field work and ongoing collaboration with Univ. of CA, Davis, colleague. 2000
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY: PETROLEUM RESEARCH FUND. $30,000.00 for 2 years: Paradoxes in Cambrian Sea-floor Relief: Algal Reef-Builders and Herringbone Calcite Cement, the Ledger Formation, York Co., PA. 1998
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY: PETROLEUM RESEARCH FUND. $20,000.00 for 2-year study of Cambrian algal reef complex, York Co., PA. 1995
COUNCIL ON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH. Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship; competitive program to provide funding for undergraduate research. 1993
Peer Reviewed Publications (* denotes undergraduate student author)
de Wet, C., B., Driscoll, E.,* de Wet, A., Godfrey, L., Jordan, T., Luethje, M., Caterham, C. *, and Mortlock, R., 2022, Exceptional preservation in Quaternary Atacama Desert tufas: Evidence for groundwater and surface water in the Calama Basin, Atacama, Chile, The Depositional Record, https://DOI: 10.1002/dep2.221
Ashley, G.M., de Wet, C.B., Houser, L.M.*, and Delaney, J.S., 2020, Widespread freshwater carbonate in the Olduvai Basin, a pre-cursor to a major eruption in the East Africa Rift System, The Depositional Record, 2020.;00:1-21. https://DOI:10.1002/dep2.105
de Wet, Carol B., de Wet, Andrew P., Godfrey, Linda, Driscoll, Elizabeth*, Patzkowsky, Samuel*, Xu, Chi,* Gigliotti, Sophia*, and Feitl, Melina, 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin, available December 2019 online, print 2020 v. 132, pg. 1795-1816. DOI: 10.1130/B35227.1
de Wet, C.B., Arienzo, M*., Dinterman, P.*, and Hopkins, D., 2017, Depositional Facies Influence on Shallow Burial Dolomitization, and Triassic Dedolomitization, Middle Cambrian Ledger Formation, York, Pennsylvania, Characterization and Modeling of Carbonates–Mountjoy Symposium I, SEPM Special Publication No. 109, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), ISBN 978-56576-353-1 doi: dx.doi.org/10.2110/sepmsp.109.08
Ashley, G.M., de Wet, C.B., Barboni, D., and Magill, C.R., 2016, Subtle signatures of seeps: Record of groundwater in a dryland, DK, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, The Depositional Record, doi:10.1002/dep2.11
de Wet, C.B, Moser, A.*, Oxman, K.,* and Peck, E.*, 2016, Semi-arid climate and cyclic carbonates; Deposition and diagenesis of the Middle Cambrian Buffalo Springs Formation, Morgantown, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Geology, v. 46, p. 3-20
de Wet, C.B., Godfrey, L., and de Wet, A.P., 2015, Sedimentology and Stable Isotopes from a Lacustrine-to-Palustrine Limestone Deposited in an Arid Setting, Climatic and Tectonic Factors: Miocene-Pliocene Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology v. 426, p. 46-67. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003101821500111X
Ashley, G.M., de Wet, C.B., Dominguez-Rodrigo, M., Karis, A.M., O’Reilly, T.M* and Baluyot, R.D., 2014, Freshwater Limestone in an Arid Rift Basin: A Goldilocks Effect, Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 84, p. 988-1004. http://geology.rutgers.edu/images/Publications_PDFS/Ashley_et_al._2014_JSR_Limestones.pdf
de Wet, C. B., Hopkins, D., Rahnis, M*., Murphy, M*, and Dvortetsky, R*., 2012, High Energy Shelf Margin Carbonate Facies: Microbial Sheet Reefs, Ooid Shoals, and Intraclast Grainstones; Ledger Formation (Middle Cambrian), Pennsylvania, in Wilson, J.L., Derby, J., Morgan, W., and Fritz, R., eds., Great American Carbonate Bank, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Special Publication, p.421-450.
de Wet, Carol.2010. Reaching Critical Mass: Women in Faculty and Administrative Roles. Forum on Public Policy Online. Vol. 2010, No. 2. http://www.forumonpublicpolicy.com/archive07/Reachingcriticalmass:womeninfacultyandadministrativeroles.pdf
de Wet, C. B. and Davis, K., 2010, Preservation Potential of Microorganism Morphologies in Tufas, Sinters, and Travertines Through Geologic Time, Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, v. 90, p. 139-152.
Roure, C.A., Ashley, G.M., de Wet, C.B., Dvoretsky, R*, Park, L.E., Hover, V.C., Owen, R.B., and McBreaty, S., 2009, Tufa as a record of perennial freshwater in a semi-arid rift basin, Kapthurin Formation, Central Kenya, Sedimentology v. 56, p. 1115-1137.
de Wet, C.B., 2008, Career Scientists and the Shared Academic Position, in, Monosson, E., ed., Motherhood, The Elephant in the Laboratory, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, p. 83-87.
de Wet, C.B. and Hopkins, D., 2006, Ooid shoals, microbialite reefs and shoreface sands, the Ledger Formation, LWB Refractories site, York County, Pennsylvania, in de Wet, A.P. ed., Four Field Trips in Central Pennsylvania, Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America 41st Annual Meeting Field Trip Guidebook, p. 1-26
de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M*, Gaswirth, S. B.*, Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A*, and Bruno, C.R.*, 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
de Wet, C. B., Mora, C. I., Gore, P., Gierlowski-Kordesch, E., and Cucolo, S.J.*, 2002, Deposition and geochemistry of lacustrine and spring carbonates in Mesozoic rift basins, Eastern North America, in, Renaut, R.W. and Ashley, G. M., eds. Sedimentation in Continental Rifts, SEPM Special Publication No.73, p. 309-325.
de Wet, C.B., Ashley, G.M., and Kegel, D.P., (MD), 2002, Biological Clocks and Tenure Timetables: Restructuring the Academic Timeline, Geological Society of America Today, Nov. issue.
de Wet, C.B., Dickson, J.A.D., Wood, R.A., Gaswirth, S.B*., and Frey, H.M*., 1999, A New Type of Shelf Margin Deposit: Rigid Microbial Sheets and Unconsolidated Grainstones Riddled with Meter-Scale Cavities, Sedimentary Geology, v. 128, p.13-21.
de Wet, C.B. and Gaswirth, S.B.*, 1999, Depositional History of the Ledger Formation, York Co., PA, in Beck, B.F., Pettit, A.J., and Herring, J.G., eds., Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology of Sinkholes and Karst, Balkema, Rotterdam, p. 449-456.
de Wet, C.B., 1999, Deciphering the Sedimentological Expression of Tectonics, Eustasy and Climate: A Basinwide Study of the Corallian Formation, Southern England, - Reply, Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 69, p. 966-976.
de Wet, C. B., 1998, Deciphering the Sedimentological Expression of Tectonics, Eustasy and Climate: A Basinwide Study of the Corallian Formation, Southern England, Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 68, p. 653-667.
de Wet, C. B., Yocum, D.A.* and Mora, C.I., 1998, Carbonate lakes in closed basins: sensitive indicators of climate and tectonics; an example from the Gettysburg Basin (Triassic), Pennsylvania, USA, in Shanley, K. & McCabe, P., eds. 1998, Relative Role of Eustasy, Climate and Tectonism in Continental Rocks, SEPM Spec. Publ. No. 59, SEPM, Tulsa. OK, p. 191-209.
de Wet, C.B., Moshier, S.O., Hower, J.C., de Wet, A.P., Brennan, S.T*., Helfrich, C.T., and Raymond, A.L., 1997, Disrupted Coal and Carbonate Facies within Two Pennsylvanian Cyclothems, Southern Illinois Basin, USA, Geological Society of America Bulletin v. 109, p.1231-1248.
de Wet, C. B. and de Wet, A.P., 1997, Sharing Academic Careers: An alternative for pre-tenure and young family dual-career faculty couples, Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, v. 3, p. 203-212.
de Wet, C.B. and de Wet, A.P., 1995, Making it work together: Spouses on the tenure track, Geotimes v. 40, p. 17-19.
de Wet, C.B., Moshier, S.O., Hower, J.C., and Rimmer, S.M., 1991, Deposition and diagenesis of a marine-swamp margin: The Providence limestone and adjacent coals, western Kentucky, in Lomando, A.J., and Harris, P.M., eds., SEPM Core Workshop No 12, Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic Sequences, SEPM, Tulsa, p. 169-204.
Birney-de Wet, C., and Hubert, J.H., 1989, The Scots Bay Formation, Nova Scotia, Canada: a Jurassic lake with silica-rich hydrothermal springs, Sedimentology v. 36, p. 857-874.
Suchecki, R.K., Hubert, J.F., and Birney de Wet, C., 1988, Isotopic imprint of climate and hydrogeochemistry on terrestrial strata of the Triassic-Jurassic Hartford and Fundy rift basins, J. Sed. Petrology v. 58, p. 801-811.
de Wet, C.B., 1987, Deposition and diagenesis in an extensional basin: the Corallian Formation (Jurassic) near Oxford, England, in Marshall, J.D. ed., Diagenesis of Sedimentary Sequences, Geological Society Special Publication No. 35, p. 339-353.
Recent Abstracts
Cannato, Julianna, Godfrey, Linda, Bainbridge, Christina, de Wet, Carol B. and de Wet, Andrew, (2023) Mio-Pliocene Climate Record Of The Atacama Desert From Geochemistry And Ages Of Freshwater Carbonates Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 55, No. 6, doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-394172
Godfrey, Linda, de Wet, Andrew, de Wet, Carol, Herrera, Christian, Driscoll, Elizabeth, Mortlock, Richard and Jordan, Teresa, 2023, Drainage Evolution And Carbonate Deposition Based On Uranium Isotopes In Groundwater And Tufa Forming Within The Calama Basin Of Northern Chile Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 55, No. 6, 2023 doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-394281
de Wet, C.B., Driscoll, E*., de Wet, A., and Godfrey, L., 2020, Quaternary Freshwater Tufa Facies, Calama Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Northeastern-Southeastern Section Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 52, No. 2 doi: 10.1130/abs/2020SE-344946
de Wet, A., Godfrey, L., Cochrane, D*., de Wet, C. and Driscoll, E.*, 2020, Distribution and 3D modeling of Quaternary Freshwater Tufa Facies, Calama Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Northeastern- southeastern Section Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 52, No. 2 doi: 10.1130/abs/2020SE-345094.
Ashley, G. M., de Wet, C.B., Houser, L.M*., 2017, Widespread Freshwater Carbonate in the Olduvai Basin, A Pre-cursor to a major volcanic eruption in East Africa Rift System, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 49, no. 8.
de Wet, C.B., de Wet, A.P., Gigliotti, S*., Xu, C*., and Godfrey, L., 2016, Biological and Physical Events in an Arid Palustrine Setting, Miocene-Pliocene Carbonates, Opache Fm., Atacama Desert, Chile (Invited Presentation), Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 48, no. 7.
Xu, Chi*, Gigliotti, S*, de Wet, C.B., de Wet, A.P., and Godfrey, L., 2015, Palustrine Origin for Western Opache Fm (Miocene-Pliocene), Calama Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 47, no.3, p.21.
de Wet, C. B., and Dvoretsky*, R., 2012, Cryptic, oval microbialites (endolites) from the Middle Cambrian Ledger Fm., South-central Pennsylvania, USA, Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 44, No. 2, p. 57.
de Wet, C.B., Godfrey, L., and de Wet, A., 2012, Miocene-Pliocene Tufas and Palustrine Limestones, Opache Fm., Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 44, No. 7, p. 581.
Teneva, L. T.*, Greer, L., de Wet, C.B., 2006, Isotope variability in early-Holocene Acropora Cervicornis from the Enriquillo Valle, Dominican Republic, Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v, 38, p. 66.
Ashley, G.M., Roure, C.A., de Wet, C.B., and Hover, V.C., 2004, A tufa ‘event’ in an arid rift valley (Kenya): Climate or Tectonics?, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts, p. 250.
de Wet, C.B., 2003, Preservation Potential of Calcified Extremophile Microbial Forms Through Geologic Time, Geological Soc. Of America Annual Meeting Abstracts, v. 35, p. 85.
Rasbury, T., and de Wet, C.B., 2003, U-Pb age of stromatolite calcite from the Triassic Passaic Fm. Of the Newark Basin, Geological Soc. Of America Annual Meeting Abstracts, v. 35.
de Wet, C.B., 2000, Submarine cement stratigraphy within microbial reef cavities, Middle Cambrian Ledger Fm., south-central PA, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts, v. 32, p. 7.
de Wet, C.B., 2000, Marine cement stratigraphy in Cambrian microbial reef cavities, International Association of Sedimentologists Annual Meeting Abstracts, Dublin, Ireland
Davis, K., Wehmiller, J.F., O’Donnell, T. and de Wet, C.B., 2000, Diagenetic alteration of fossil Mercenaria from Gomez Pit, VA: An explanation for unexpected variability in amino acid enantiomeric ratios?, Geol. Soc. Of America Annual Meeting Abstracts, v. 32, p. 20.
de Wet, C.B., 2000, Submarine Cement Stratigraphy within Microbial Reef Cavities, Middle Cambrian Ledger Fm., south-central Pennsylvania, [Abst], Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Reno, Nevada
Bruno, C.R*, and de Wet, C.B., 2000, Cement Stratigraphy of the Cambrian Ledger Formation, York Co, PA, [Abst], Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Annual Meeting, v. 32, p. A8.
Murphy, M.A*, and de Wet, C.B., 2000, Grainstone beds within Cambrian Shelf Margin Microbialites, The Ledger Formation, York, PA, [Abst], Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Annual Meeting, v. 32, p. A61.
(* denotes undergraduate student co-author)
Professional Service
External reviewer, Geology Dept., Skidmore College, 2019
External reviewer, Geology Dept., Mount Holyoke College, 2017
External reviewer, Geology Dept., Union College, 2016
External reviewer, Geosciences Dept., Smith College, 2012
External reviewer, Geology Dept., Washington & Lee University, 2007
Elected Chair for Sedimentary Geology Division, Geological Society of America 2004-2005
Elected Representative for Joint Technical Program Committee, Sedimentary Geology Division, Geological Society of America. 1998-2001
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) proposal reviewer: Jan. 1992, Dec. 1992 (Chairperson), Dec. 1993
Reviewer for journals (Jour. Sed. Research, Geology, AAPG, IAS Spec. Publ., Journal of Paleolimnology, Marine & Petroleum Geology, Sedimentology, etc.) and grant agencies (NSF, PRF-ACS, Sigma Xi), 1990--present
Substantial College Service
Mentor for 9 Cooperman & Hamilton Scholars 2020-2022
Academics Planning Group Ad hoc Committee 2021
Taught College Prep summer course for potential first-generation high school students, summer 2017
Elected to Professional Standards Committee, 2008-2009 & 2015-2017 (Tenure and Promotion Committee)
Organized Teaching Science Internships; F&M College science majors teach science in local elementary schools, 1999-2004, 2008-2010. Supervised >120 F&M student internships
Department Chair, Dept. of Earth & Environment, 2000-2004: Instituted two new majors; Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, overhaul of full department curriculum, new department name; finalist in College’s Student Awards for Departmental Activities, 3 successful tenure-track hires; 1 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) former director hired as Visiting Assistant Professor; significant improvement in department technical help and PC computer support.
Director, Geoscience Founders Society 2003-2013. Raised >$400,000.00 from Department Alumni. The Society sponsors alumni events, produces bi-annual newsletters, provides student & faculty grants.
Served as Special Assistant to the President and Provost on Women & Family Issues: researched and developed Childbirth and Adoption Policy for faculty; created flex-time for staff; dispelled myths via data collection and dissemination at faculty meetings about tenure success & faculty gender, student evaluation responses by gender, salaries by gender, hiring by gender; reviewed and consolidated policies relating to family-related issues at F&M, 2006-2007
Elected to Grievance Committee, 2003-2005; Provost Search Committee, 2005; Trustee Committee for Civic Engagement, 2003-2006; Maternity Policy Working Group, 2005-2006
Ph.D. Committees & Tenure Reviews
Promotion Review for a faculty member, Smith College, 2019
Cindy Luitkus, Ph.D. Candidate, Rutgers University, 2005
Kathy Davies, Ph.D. Candidate, Univ. of Delaware, 2000
Tenure Reviews for faculty at Lawrence University, 1996; Lafayette College, 2004; Bryn Mawr College, 2005, Occidental College, 2021
Professional Affiliations
International Association of Sedimentologists
Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists/Society for Sedimentary Geology
Geological Society of America
Fellow of Cambridge Philosophical Society
St. Catharine's College, Cambridge
Association of Women Geoscientists
Student – Faculty Collaborative Research Since 1990
KEY: title of student's study; (Honors) = awarded departmental honors; source of funding, particularly if external to F&M; * = graduate school attended; publications in italics
2020-2021
Jamila Gowdy ’21: Fossil gastropods in the Opache Formation. *Graduate school pending.
Catherine Caterham ’22: Microbial forms in Chiu-Chiu Formation tufas; algae and cyanobacteria as paleoenvironmental indicators.
2019-2020
Elizabeth Driscoll ’20: Quaternary freshwater tufas as paleoclimate indicators in the Atacama Desert, Chile. ½ Hackman, summer 2019. de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; Two Abstracts: NE-SE GSA March, 2020; * attending Colorado State University for graduate school, First place winner Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists Student Poster Competition 2020, winner of F&M’s Sigma Xi Science Prize; Department Geology Award, Sedimentology Award.
Alaekya Shetty ’22: Laboratory research assistant, diatom extraction for Chiu-Chiu Formation tufas
2018-2019
Dylan Jones ’19: Ocean acidification and aragonite dissolution in corals: A Scanning Electron Microscope study; *Florida Gulf Coast Univ. MSc.
2017-2018
Sam Patzkowsky ‘20: diatoms in the Opache Formation, informal research through the academic year plus ½ Hackman summer 2018; de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; * Washington University graduate school
Elizabeth Driscoll ‘20: stromatolite cyanobacteria and algae, Opache Formation, Directed Reading Spring 2018 plus ½ Hackman summer 2018
Stephen Sherbahn ‘18: 490 Fall 2017; aragonite and calcite in corals and tufas
2016-2017
Informally worked with alumnus Leah Houser ’15 on Olduvai Gorge limestones; Ashley, G.M., de Wet, C.B., Houser, L.M., and Delaney, J.S., 2020, Widespread freshwater carbonate in the Olduvai Basin, a pre-cursor to a major eruption in the East Africa Rift System, The Depositional Record, online available Jan. 2020. *MSc Utah State Univ.
Informally worked with Samuel Patzkowsky ’20 on Atacama limestones
Supervised 390 research with Grace (Niquin Ni) ’16 Loyalhanna Formation, Mississippian limestone, Somerset Co. PA
Summer 2017 Hackman Samuel Patzkowsky: Diatoms in the Opache Fm, Atacama Desert
2015-2016
Informally advised Chi Xi ’16 and Sophia Gigliotti ’16 on the Atacama project;
Summer 2016: worked with Amy Moser ’15, Katie Oxman ‘14 and Erin Peck ’14;
de Wet, C.B, Moser, A.*, Oxman, K., and Peck, E., 2016, Semi-arid climate and cyclic carbonates; Deposition and diagenesis of the Middle Cambrian Buffalo Springs Formation, Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Geology, v. 46, p. 3-20; *Moser: MSc Utah State Univ.; PhD pending, UC Santa Cruz
2014-2015
Chi Xi ‘16 and Sophia Giglioti, ‘16 presented poster at 2014 Fall Research Fair
Carbonate Deposition and Diagenesis in Freshwater Limestones, Calama Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile; Hackman Scholars, summer 2014; de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; *Yale University – Chi Xi
2012-2013
Theresa O’Reilly ‘13
Carbonate Deposits from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Ashley, G., de Wet, C., Karis, A., O’Reilly, T., and Baluyot, R., 2014, Freshwater Limestone in an Arid Rift Basin, A Goldilocks Effect, Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 84, p. 988-1004.
2010-2011: hiatus due to duties as Associate Dean of the Faculty
2008-2009
Megan Hays
2009: Collaborating with the Community: Franklin and Marshall College and the School District of Lancaster – Science Teaching Internship Program
F&M Spring Research Fair
*University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical School
2007-2008
Monica Arienzo
2008: Dedolomitization in the Cambrian “white marbles”, south-central PA
2007: Temporal and spatial distribution of corals, Taque Bay & Buck Island reefs, St Croix, USVI (Honors)
-Keck Geology Consortium
*Univ. of Miami Ph.D.
de Wet, C.B., Arienzo, M., Dinterman, P., and Hopkins, D., 2017, Depositional Facies Influence on Shallow Burial Dolomitization, and Triassic Dedolomitization, Middle Cambrian Ledger Formation, York, Pennsylvania, Characterization and Modeling of Carbonates – Mountjoy Symposium I, SEPM Special Publication No. 109, Society for Sedimentary Geology, ISBN 978-56576-353-1, doi:dx.doi.org/10.2110/sepmsp.109.08
2006-2007
Stephanie Strouse
2006: Chemostratigraphy of Cambrian formations in York and Lancaster Counties,
- Leser Summer Research Award. F&M Fall Research Fair.
-*Boston University M.Sc.
2005-2006
Lida Teneva
2003: Oncoids as paleoenvironmental indicators and
2006: The rise and demise of a Holocene coral reef complex, Dominican Republic: the coral-climate connection (Honors).
- KECK Geology Consortium + 2 F&M Leser Grants + F&M Travel Award. F&M Research Fairs.
-* Columbia University; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, M.Sc.
Ph.D. Stanford Univ.
-Teneva, L. T., Greer, L., de Wet, C.B., 2006, Isotope variability in early-Holocene Acropora Cervicornis from the Enriquillo Valle, Dominican Republic, Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v, 38, p. 66.
- Teneva, L.T., de Wet, C.B., and Greer, L., 2006, Vital Effects in Acropora cervicornis Corals: Evidence from Trace Elements and Stable Isotopes, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts, p, 75.
- Teneva, L.T., Greer, L., and de Wet, C.B., 2005, , Isotope variability in early-Holocene Acropora Cervicornis from the Enriquillo Valle, Dominican Republic, Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstracts, v. 8.
- Teneva, L.T., de Wet, C.B., and Greer, L., Vital effects in Acropora cervicornis Corals: Evidence from Trace Elements and Stable Isotopes, Submitted to Coral Reefs winter 2006..
2004-2005
Rachel Dvoretsky
2004: Unusual microbial forms discovered in a Middle Cambrian reef system, Ledger Fm., York, PA and
2005: Climatic and tectonic influence in an East African rift system, Pleistocene paludal tufa development in an arid climate, Lake Baringo, Kenya
- F&M Hackman Scholars. F&M Research Fair.
-*University of Kansas, M.Sc., Chevron Petroleum Co.
- Roure, Cara, Ashley, Gail, de Wet, Carol, Dvoretsky, R., Park, L., Hover, V., Owen, B., and McBrearty, Sally, 2009, Tufas as a record of perennial freshwater in semi-arid rift basin, Kapthurin Formation, Central Kenya, Sedimentology v. 56, p. 1115-1137.
de Wet, C. B., Hopkins, D., Rahnis, M., Murphy, M. and Dvortetsky, R., 2013, High Energy Shelf Margin Carbonate Facies: Microbial Sheet Reefs, Ooid Shoals, and Intraclast Grainstones; Ledger Formation (Middle Cambrian), Pennsylvania, in Wilson, J.L., Derby, J., Morgan, W., and Fritz, R., eds., Great American Carbonate Bank, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Special Publication.
2003-2004
Justin C. Gosses
Sedimentology of the Tsagantsav Formation: A lowermost Cretaceous lacustrine synrift formation, Tavan Har, Southeast Mongolia (Honors)
- KECK Geology Consortium. F&M Research Fair.
-*University of Wisconsin, Madison, M.Sc.
-PB Petroleum Corporation
- Gosses, J.C., and de Wet, C.B., 2004, Sedimentology of the Tsagantsav Formation: A lowermost Cretaceous lacustrine synrift formation, Tavan Har, Southeast Mongolia Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstract, v. 6.
2002-2003
co-advised with D. Merritts, Lauren Manion, A Study of Sedimentation Patterns in the Little Conestoga Creek Watershed
2001-2002
Bond, Joanna J.
Exploration of the Conococheaque Group in Morgantown, PA
Sunderlin, Kimberly
Diagentic Alterations in Carbonate Glacial Lake Sediments; Hardin County, Ohio
- KECK Geology Consortium.
- * East Carolina University, M.Sc.
- Sunderlin, Kimberly and de Wet, Carol, 2002, Diagenetic Alterations in Carbonate Glacial Lake Sediments: Hardin Co., Ohio, Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstract, v. 5.
2000-2001
Bruno, Caroline R.
Cement Stratigraphy within the Ledger Formation (Middle Cambrian), York Co., PA
- ACS-PRF funding
- de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
- * University of Washington, M.Sc., Great Basin College Associate Professor
2000-2001
Murphy, Megan
Grainstone Beds within Cambrian shelf margin Microbialites, the Ledger Formation, York County, Pennsylvania
- ACS-PRF and PA Geological Survey funding
- * East Carolina University, NC. M. Sc., University of California, Davis, Ph.D.
Chevron Petroleum Corp., San Ramon, CA
1998-1999
Frey, Holli
Shelf-Margin Instability and the Formation of Meter-Scale, Horizontal Submarine Cavities in Cambrian Microbialite
- Leser Award + ACI-PRF Grant Support
- * University of Michigan, Ph. D., Union College Associate Professor
[1] Frey, H. and de Wet, C.B., 1999, Shelf-margin instability and the formation of meter-scale, horizontal submarine cavities in Cambrian microbialite [abst] AAPG Annual Meeting, TX, April 1999.
[2] de Wet, C.B., Dickson, J.A.D., Wood, R.A., Gaswirth, S.B., and Frey, H.M., 1999, A New Type of Shelf Margin Deposit: Rigid Microbial Sheets and Unconsolidated Grainstones Riddled with Meter-Scale Cavities, Sedimentary Geology, v. 128, 13-21.
[3] de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B. Mora, C. I., ,Rahnis,
M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In Cambrian
Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
1998-1999
Kissinger, Laura
Microbial Fabrics in a Middle Cambrian Microbial Complex, the Ledger Formation, York Co., PA
- ACI-PRF Grant Support
- Kissinger, L. and de Wet, C.B., 1999, Renalcis-like fabrics win the Ledger Formation [abst] NEGSA Annual Meeting, March, 1999
1998-1999
Midla, Brendan
Depositional Fabrics in the Kinzers Fm., Southdown Mine, York Co., PA
- Internship for Credit Program.
1997-1998
Dinterman, Philip
Patterns of Dolomitization within the Ledger Limestone, York Co., PA
- ACI-PRF Grant Support
- *New Mexico State University, M.Sc.
de Wet, C.B., Arienzo, M., Dinterman, P., and Hopkins, D., 2017, Depositional Facies Influence on Shallow Burial Dolomitization, and Triassic Dedolomitization, Middle Cambrian Ledger Formation, York, Pennsylvania, Characterization and Modeling of Carbonates – Mountjoy Symposium I, SEPM Special Publication No. 109, Society for Sedimentary Geology, ISBN 978-56576-353-1, doi:dx.doi.org/10.2110/sepmsp.109.08
1997-1998
Cucolo, Steve
Geochemistry and Trace Element Analysis of Newark Supergroup Lacustrine Limestones
de Wet, C. B., Mora, C. I., Gore, P., and Gierlowski-Kordesch, E., and Cucolo, S. J., 2002, Deposition and geochemistry of lacustrine and spring carbonates in Mesozoic rift basins, eastern North America, in Renaut, R. and Ashley, G. M., Eds., Sedimentation in Continental Rifts, Society for Sedimentary Geology Special Pub. No. 73, p. 309-325.
- *George Washington University, M.Sc.
1996-1997
Gaswirth, Stephanie
Geochemical Variations Within Cambrian Fibrous Cements, The Ledger Formation, York County, Pennsylvania
- (Honors) - ACI-PRF Grant Support
- *Rutgers University (M.Sc. 1999), University of Colorado, Boulder, Ph.D., USGS Denver, CO
[1]Gaswirth, S.B.* and de Wet, C.B., 1997, Geochemical variations within mid-late Cambrian fibrous cements, York County, Pennsylvania [Abst.], Geological Society of America, Northeast Section.
[2] de Wet, C.B., Dickson, J.A.D., Wood, R.A., Gaswirth, S.B., and Frey, H.M., 1999, A New Type of Shelf Margin Deposit: Rigid Microbial Sheets and Unconsolidated Grainstones Riddled with Meter-Scale Cavities, Sedimentary Geology, v. 128, 13-21.
[3] de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
1995-1996
- on junior faculty leave
1994-1995
Burrell, Shondricka
Variable Exposure Periods from Stacked Calcrete Horizons in the Triassic New Oxford Fm., Rife Farm Core, south-central PA
- Hackman Scholars Program
- *University of Missouri
1994-1995
Slovinsky, Peter
Changing Beach Profiles Due to Storms and Longshore Drift, Coastal Delaware
- *University of North Carolina, M.Sc.
1993-1994
Yocum, Daniel
Deposition and Diagenesis of Lacustrine Carbonates in the Gettysburg Basin, (Triassic) PA
- (Honors) - Hackman & Marshall Scholars funds
- *Univ. of Wisconsin, M.Sc.
[1] Freshwater Carbonate Deposits of the Gettysburg Basin (Triassic), Pennsylvania [abstr], Northeastern section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p. 81.
[2] de Wet, C.B. & Yocum, D.A., 1994, Carbonate Lakes as Sensitive Indicators of Paleoclimate and Tectonics: the Triassic Gettysburg Basin, south-central Pennsylvania [abstr], AAPG Annual Meeting, Denver, p. 133.
[3] de Wet, C.B., Yocum, D.A. & Mora, C.I. Carbonate Lakes In Closed Basins: Sensitive Indicators of Climate and Tectonics; an example from the Gettysburg Basin (Triassic), Pennsylvania - in, Shanley, K.W., and McCabe, P.J., eds., 1998, Relative Role of Eustasy, Climate, and Tectonism in Continental Rocks, Society of Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) Special Publication No. 59, Tulsa, OK, p. 191-209.
1993-1994
Brennan, Sean
Depositional Histroy of Providence Limestone Member (Pennsylvanian), Hopkins County, western Kentucky
- summer research funded through Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR): Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship
- *Univ. of Kansas (M.Sc. 1998)
- *SUNY Binghampton, Ph.D. 2002
[1] Brennan, S.T., The Depositional History of the Providence Limestone, Illinois Basin, Western Kentucky [abstr], 1994, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p.8
[2] de Wet, C.B., Moshier, S.O., Hower, J.C., de Wet, A.P., Brennan, S.T., Helfrich, C.T. and Raymond, A.L., 1997, Disrupted Coal and Carbonate Facies within Two Pennsylvanian Cyclothems, Southern Illinois Basin, USA, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 109, p. 1231-1248.
1993-1994
Watts, Samuel
Stratigraphy and Depositional Environments, Triassic Rheems Railroad Cut, Gettysburg Basin, PA
Watts, S. and de Wet, C.B., Triassic Fluvial Sandstones and Overbank Mudstones, Rheems, PA [abstr], 1994, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p. 79.
1993-1994
Daniels, Stephanie
Factors Influencing Female Undergraduate Students to Take Upper Level Science Courses
- co-supervised with Dr. Linda Aleci, as a Women's Studies minor Independent Study
1992-1993
Dudkiewicz, George
Recognition of Parasequences and their Diagenesis in Cambrian Carbonates, Morgantown, PA
-Recognition of Parasequences and their Diagenesis in Cambrian Carbonates, Morgantown, PA [abstr], American Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, 1993, New Orleans, LA, p.94.
- *Vanderbilt University – Law degree – environmental law specialty
1991-1992
Berk, Wendy
Deposition and Carbonate Diagenesis of a Mixed Siliciclastic-Carbonate System: The Centerfield Biostrome, Stroudsburg, PA
- (Honors) - Hackman Scholars Program
Carbonate Diagenesis of a Mixed Siliciclastic-Carbonate Environment, The Centerfield Biostrome, Stroudsburg, PA, [abstr], 1992, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Harrisburg, PA, p. 7.
- *Univ. of Massachusets
1991-1992
Burns, Christine
Quartz Fabrics and Clay Mineralogy As Indicators of Depositional and Diagenetic History: Examples From the Centerfield Biostrome Near Stroudsburg, PA
- (Honors) - Hackman Scholars Program
Quartz Fabrics and Clay Mineralogy as Indicators of Depositional and Diagenetic History: Examples from a Middle Devonian Bioherm near Stroudsburg, PA [abstr], 1992, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Harrisburg, PA, p. 10.
- *Univ. of North Carolina, M.Sc.
Folk, Robert
- summer research funded by Hackman Scholars Program
- *Univ. of Pennsylvania
Klinger, Joseph
Offshore Dynamics and Sedimentary Characteristics of La Malbaie, Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec
- Keck Consortium
Offshore Sediment Dynamics in the Baie De Malbaie, Gaspe Penisula, Quebec, Fifth Keck Research Symposium in Geology, Lexington, VA, 1992, p. 53-55.
*Univ. of Rhode Island, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Rahnis, Michael
Diagenesis of the King's Falls Limestone of the Ordovician Trenton Group in central New York state: a petrographic and geochemical study
- Keck Consortium
- de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
- Diagenesis in the King's Falls Member of the Trenton Group, Fifth Keck Research Symposium in Geology, Lexington, VA, 1992, p.191-194.
- *Univ. of Texas, Austin, M.Sc., Ph.D.
1990-1991
Hammack, Lauren
The Effects of Environmental Change and Euopean Settlement on the Floodplain of Pequea Creek
- (co-supervised with Dorothy Merritts)
- *Colorado State University, M.Sc.
Shane, Brendan
The Effects of Agriculture: An Historical and Sedimentological Study on the Floodplain Sediments of the Pequea Creek at Colemanville, Pennsylvania
- (co-supervised with Dorothy Merritts)
- *University of Maryland, M.Sc.
________________________________________________________________________
Summary:
47 students involved in research
7 received Departmental Honors for their thesis
Summary of Undergraduate Involvement Research Funding:
Franklin & Marshall College Hackman Scholars and Lesor Scholars; Keck Consortium; Council on Undergraduate Research Fellowship; PA State Geological Survey; American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund Grant
Summary of Undergraduate Co-Authored Journal Articles (excluding abstracts): 15 peer reviewed articles with student co-authors.
Summary of Graduate School Attendance: ~40 of the 44 students I have supervised have gone or are going to graduate school in sedimentology or a related field; 10 are now in Ph.D. programs or have completed Ph.D.’s., 1 recently was awarded tenure at Union College, 2 work for the USGS, others work for state surveys, many work in the energy industry, 2 teach at community colleges
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