Nan Crystal Arens

Nan Crystal Arens is a Professor of Geoscience and Chair of the Geoscience Department at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), where she has been a faculty member since 2001. She holds degrees from The Pennsylvania State University (B.S., M.S.) and Harvard University (M.A., Ph.D.). Her academic work bridges geoscience, environmental studies, and science education.

• B.S., The Pennsylvania State University, 1987
• M.S., The Pennsylvania State University, 1988
• M.A., Harvard University, 1991
• Ph.D., Harvard University, 1993

Her research spans paleobotany, macroevolution, and Earth history, with recent emphasis on environmental microplastics and the application of remote sensing to pollution mapping. She is particularly known for the 'Press-Pulse' theory of mass extinction, developed with Ian D. West, which has found applications beyond paleontology, including in cancer research. Collaborating with Prof. Emily Fisher in Psychological Science, she investigates how science education can reduce motivated reasoning about climate change. Her work often involves student co-authors, reflecting her commitment to undergraduate research mentorship.

Her publications reveal a strong interdisciplinary trend, combining geoscience with psychology, environmental health, and data analytics. Key themes include climate change education, fossil flora analysis, and innovative methods for detecting environmental contamination. She teaches courses such as Introduction to Geology, Earth History, and Data Analytics Capstone, emphasizing research, statistical methods, and scientific communication.

• Geoscience education and motivated reasoning
• Environmental microplastics in precipitation
• Remote sensing of mercury pollution
• Press-Pulse theory of extinction
• Angiosperm evolution in the Cretaceous

Nan Crystal Arens is actively engaged in professional service, including board membership at the Paleontological Research Institute and editorial work for the American Fern Journal. Her scholarly collaborations extend across disciplines and institutions, and she has mentored numerous undergraduate researchers. She has also contributed to science communication through public relations and freelance writing earlier in her career.