Larry Coats

Larry Coats serves as Associate Professor (Lecturer) at the University of Utah's School of Environment, Society and Sustainability since July 2021, following prior roles as Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in Geography (2017-2021) and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Geography (2005-2017). His academic career spans nearly two decades at the University of Utah, focusing on interdisciplinary environmental research and sustainability education.

His educational background includes:

• BS in Psychology from Northern Arizona University (1978)
• MS in Quaternary Sciences from Northern Arizona University (1997)
• Teacher Certification in Secondary English from University of Colorado (1993)

Dr. Coats' research integrates paleoclimatology with archaeology to investigate long-term environmental changes and human adaptations. His work employs innovative methodologies including packrat midden analysis, radiocarbon dating, and optically stimulated luminescence to reconstruct Holocene climate systems. Key investigations focus on ancient water resource management in the American Southwest, vegetation migration patterns, and climate-driven cultural shifts among prehistoric societies. His Antarctic research examines penguin population responses to ice sheet dynamics over millennia.

Analysis of his scholarly output reveals consistent emphasis on using geological and biological archives to address sustainability questions. His publications demonstrate expertise in multi-proxy paleoenvironmental reconstruction, with particular attention to how ancient societies adapted to hydrological changes. A recurring theme involves correlating climatic shifts with archaeological evidence to understand societal resilience.

Dr. Coats actively contributes to academic training through diverse courses including Climate Change Foundations, Natural Hazards, Paleo Field Methods, and specialized topics like the Geography of Skiing. His teaching portfolio shows consistent engagement with undergraduate research mentorship and field-based instruction, reflecting his commitment to experiential learning in environmental sciences.