Meaghan Wetherell

Meaghan Wetherell is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona's College of Information Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Geology and a bachelor’s degree in Biology, with interdisciplinary research spanning archaeology, paleontology, sedimentology, and sociology. Her primary research focuses on spatiotemporal drivers of mammalian extinction and diversification, complemented by work in effective science communication, vertebrate paleontology, and educational game design.

• Affiliations: Core Faculty in Communication and Society, Data Management, and Environmental Sciences
• Teaching: Remote courses in R programming, statistics, data visualization, game design, and science communication

Her research integrates geospatial analysis, paleohydrology, and faunal turnover studies. Notable contributions include work on Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions, fish isotope-based paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and the application of digital tools to detect academic misconduct. She has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2014, with recent work focusing on 3D fossil preservation mechanisms and contract cheating detection in online exams.

Wetherell is a media contributor to PBS and National Geographic, and maintains an active public outreach presence through her website (www.meaghanwetherell.com). She currently operates from central Washington while maintaining academic ties to the University of Arizona’s Tucson campus.