Tara M Curtin

Tara M Curtin is an Associate Professor of Geoscience at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she has been a faculty member since 2001. She is based in the Department of Geoscience within the School of Geoscience and contributes to interdisciplinary programs in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies.

• Education: Ph.D., University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
• M.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• A.B., Colgate University, Honors in Geology, cum laude

Her research centers on the relationship between sedimentation, mountain building, and global climate change, particularly focusing on the transition from a greenhouse to an icehouse world approximately 50 million years ago, as recorded in sedimentary rocks from NE Spain. She also investigates modern climate variability using layered lake deposits in Seneca Lake and other regional lakes to infer seasonal or episodic changes.

Dr. Curtin teaches a diverse range of courses including FSEM 034 The Analytical Methods of Sherlock Holmes, FSEM 144 Parched: The Past, Present and Future of Water, GEO 140 Environmental Geology, GEO 186 Introduction to Hydrogeology, GEO 220 Geomorphology, GEO 270 Paleoclimatology, GEO 299 Geoscience Field Studies, and GEO 320 Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. Many of these courses involve field trips and hands-on data collection, emphasizing experiential learning.

She is professionally affiliated with the American Geophysical Union, Geological Association of America, Society of Sedimentary Geologists (SEPM), International Association of Sedimentologists, National Association of Geology Teachers, and the Council on Undergraduate Research, underscoring her active engagement in the geoscience community.

• Email: curtin@hws.edu
• Office: Lansing Hall
• Phone: (315) 781-3928

Dr. Curtin mentors undergraduate students through research and field-based projects, although specific advisees are not listed. There are no scientific awards mentioned in the provided text. Her scholarly work bridges modern and ancient environmental systems, contributing to broader understanding of Earth’s climatic and geological evolution.