Student Organizations
Earth Sciences students have the opportunity to participate in one or more of three student organizations affiliated with the Department. These groups conduct activities that enrich the learning environment, provide leadership experience, and just plain have fun!
- Kent State Geological Society
- Sigma Gamma Epsilon, Gamma Zeta Chapter (National Geological Honor Society)
Kent State Geological Society
Since its inception in 1949, the goals of the Kent State University Geological Society (KSGS) have been to promote scientific interest in the field of geology and to foster camaraderie among Geology/Earth Sciences majors and graduate students in the Department. In recent years KSGS has sponsored the following geological and social activities: Mammoth Cave field trip, geode/fossil/mineral-collecting trips, whitewater-rafting, camping, caving, bowling, laser tag, and behind-the-scene visits to the Carnegie and Cleveland natural history museums.
Annually, KSGS sponsors the Fall Picnic involving food as well as volleyball and softball games. At its Spring Luncheon, a program is presented by various students and faculty members. Highlights of the previous Summer Field Camp (slides and commentary) are always a big hit as are miscellaneous slide shows and entertainment presentations offered by students and/or faculty. A major part of the program consists of student awards given by the department and each of the student organizations. KSGS awards include the following: Outstanding Faculty Member, Faculty Blunder-of-the-Year, Outstanding Teaching Assistant. KSGS generates funds to support its activities by its sale of rocks/minerals/fossils, and by means of raffles. If you would like to donate worthy samples for sale by KSGS, please ship the material to President, Kent State Geological Society, Department of Geology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242.
Sigma Gamma Epsilon, Gamma Zeta Chapter
2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the Gamma Zeta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) at Kent State University. In fact, SGE has been a vital part of the department since its founding in 1968. Eligible students can be elected to the Kent State Chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, a national geological honorary society active in a variety of service, professional, and social areas, and dedicated to professionalism and advancement of geology.
SGE at Kent State promotes professionalism through the encouragement of graduate student presentation of papers at national and regional meetings. Each year, SGE awards between $1000 and $2000 in scholarships to reduce the burden of field camp expenses. In addition to these activities, the chapter has sponsored entire issues of The Compass on five occasions in: 1969, 1971, 1980, 1990, and 2004. This is possibly a record number nationally!
Kent State's chapter of SGE organizes the Spring Banquet and Fall Icebreaker which promotes intermingling of returning and newly-arriving undergraduate majors and graduate students in a local setting where food and beverages are provided. SGE also hosts the Holiday Party at the end of Fall semester where, again, food and beverages are provided.
SGE operates a major fund-raising project, the long-standing production of grain-size folders. These handy folders contain actual grains to provide a pocket-size guide to sizes, shapes, roundness, and angularity. Folders are $5.00 each for fewer than 100. For orders larger than 100 folders, contact SGE at (330) 672-2680 or earthsci@kent.edu. Send check or money order payable to "SGE, KSU" to SGE, Department of Earth Sciences, Kent State University, Kent OH 44242. Include your physical mailing address and contact information, please.
Forestry Suppliers (to purchase less than 100 Grain Size Folders)
