Sedimentary Geology

KU Sedimentary Geology – including the University’s renowned carbonates program – is one of the most celebrated programs of its kind in the nation. Established more than a century ago by the founders of the field, KU Sedimentology boasts of faculty members who work daily with the energy industry and bring in millions in grants and contracts. For students, KU Sedimentology also provides lucrative scholarships and fellowships along with research funding and opportunities that can take them around the world.

More than a dozen energy companies send representatives to recruit at KU every year. KU also hosts a thriving industry-academic partnership called the Kansas Interdisciplinary Carbonates Consortium, which provides students with the opportunity to work with companies that could hire them after they graduate. With new faculty hires joining the program and a new building in the planning stage, KU Sedimentology provides an ever-expanding list of opportunities.

Financial Support

Backed by generous geology alumni and a university foundation with more than $1 billion in assets, KU Sedimentology provides financial support for research, travel and other expenses. These scholarships and fellowships are in addition to the financial aid that is provided by KU.

Curriculum

KU Sedimentology offers a variety of classes, but the key to the program is the balance between student experiences in the classroom, laboratory and field. KU Sedimentology offers several field courses every year. Recent trips have studied deepwater deposits in southern California, the regional geology of Puerto Rico and the sediments of Sapelo Island, GA. KU Sedimentology also partners with industry, bringing alumni like Shell’s Brad Prather to campus to teach short a course and sending students to Chesapeake Energy for a core workshop, for example.

Kansas Interdisciplinary Carbonates Consortium

This industry-academic collaboration is based at KU, allowing students to work with companies before they graduate. Current industry participants in the Kansas Interdisciplinary Carbonates Consortium are Chesapeake Energy, Chevron, BHPBilliton, Devon, Saudi Aramco, ConocoPhillips, Shell, Pioneer Natural Resources, Repsol YPF, SandRidge Energy, and HighMount Exploration and Production.

Kansas Geological Survey

Based at KU, The Kansas Geological Survey expands KU Sedimentology’s expertise and facilities, and provides an even greater access to field equipment.

There is more information on KU Geology's sedimentary programs at the Sedimentary Geology site.