(Angel's Landing, Zion Canyon; Grand
Canyon - Both photos from Minnesota State students on the Fall 2018
Geog 440/Geog 610 field excursion )
THANK YOU FOR VISITING
ME!
My name is Phillip Larson (Phil) and I'm a geo-dad, earth
scientist, outdoors fanatic, mac and cheese enthusiast,
Minnesota sports misery devotee, marvel/DC/star trek nerd,
and public lands enthusiast.
I am a Full Professor, Director of
Earth Science Programs, and founder and Co-Director of the
AGES (Archeology, Geography, Earth Science)(now EARTH
Systems Laboratory) at Minnesota State University in
Mankato, MN. In addition, I am a graduate faculty member
at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Earth
and Environmental Sciences and member of the MNiMORPH
research group with my friend and colleague, Andy Wickert.
If you would like to work with me, we have a M.S. program
in Geography at Minnesota State and M.S. and Ph.D. program
at the University of Minnesota in Earth and Environmental
Sciences. If you're interested in working with me as a
graduate student, please send me an email
(phillip.larson@mnsu.edu)!
My professional life revolves around
taking part in scientific research with incredible earth
scientists. My goals as a scientist and professor are to
explore and investigate the landscapes of our planet with
an inquisitive eye aimed at understanding process, form,
and rates of change on the earth's surface. Understanding
how natural processes and phenomenon interact with
anthropogenic factors is crucial to this endeavor - thus,
I am an environmental scientist and am beginning to work
in geoarcheology, too. More specifically, I focus on
understanding "landscape evolution" primarily through
investigating geomorphic processes (fluvial, aeolian,
weathering, mass wasting, glacial, etc.) by using the
landforms and sedimentary deposits left behind as markers
of dynamic processes that shape the surface of our planet.
Not only do I look at these processes through the geologic
past, but also how they operate in the present.
Understanding these processes today and comparing them to
the past is crucial to understand how humanity is impacted
by and influences the behavior of these natural
systems. Thus, my work commonly dovetails with
research threads in climate change, land-use, and natural
hazards. Ultimately, it boils down to a passion for
understanding the natural world and our place in it. That
passion leads me to want to educate and share my
excitement about our planet. For years to come, I hope to
teach and learn from a multitude of students as they
become the new scientists that shape our understanding of
the world.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phillip
H. Larson, PhD
Professor
Director
of Earth Science Programs
Co-Director,
EARTH
Systems Laboratory
Minnesota
State University, Mankato
Graduate
Faculty
University
of Minnesota, Earth and Environmental Sciences
(Colorado River,
northeast Utah; Victoria Glacier, Alberta)
“The
problem with ... Iceland is that you’re basically confronted
by a new soul-enriching, breath-taking, life-affirming
natural sight every five goddamn minutes. It’s totally
exhausting.” - S.
Markley