Sedimentologists study both modern environments and ancient rocks to understand ancient depositional environments. Sedimentology is a highly applied aspect of geology that is of fundamental importance to industry as sedimentary rocks are the most important reservoirs for petroleum and water resources.
The following faculty members have ongoing sedimentological research programs.
Dr. Karem Azmy (Carbonate Sedimentology, Isotope Stratigraphy, Diagenesis)
Dr. Rick Hiscott (Ancient depositional environments- especially turbidites)
Dr. Duncan McIlroy (Ancient depositional environments, sequence stratigraphy, ichnology, reservoir geology)
Paleontologists study evidence for ancient life to learn about evolution, to determine the environment that sedimentary rocks were deposited in, and importantly to provide information on how old the host sediments are. Paleontological data are used to address palaeobiological and palaeoenvironmental issues, as well as enabling correlation of rock units. Paleontologists at Memorial study palynology (pollen), ichnology (e.g. burrows and tracks) and conventional body fossils to address issues of relevance to the petroleum industry, but also fundamental academic problems in palaeobiology, palaeoclimate and evolution.
The following faculty members have current research programs of a paleontological nature.
Dr. Ali Aksu (Micropalaeontology and palaeoclimate)
Dr. Elliott Burden (Palynology and petroleum geology)
Dr. Duncan McIlroy (Ichnology; Early animal life)