Environmental Studies
Dr. Bill Elliott
Associate Professor of Geology
Department of Environmental Studies
541-552-8185
Science 066
elliottw@sou.edu
Education
Ph.D. in Geological Sciences, Indiana University, 2002
M.S. in Geological Sciences, Indiana University, 1998
B.S. in Geology, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, 1995
Background and Research Interests
Dr. Elliott started his career at Southern Oregon University in 2002 and specializes in the study of earth surface processes, low temperature geochemistry, and sedimentary geology. He is actively involved in several research projects with undergraduate students investigating sedimentary rocks in southern Oregon, reservoir sediments deposited above Gold Ray Dam on the Rogue River, and acid mine drainage from the abandoned Blue Ledge Mine in northern California. His long term research goals are to evaluate the impact of tectonically induced climate on the distribution of depositional systems in ancient sedimentary basins and resolve Mesozoic tectonics and sedimentation in the western United States. Dr. Elliott has been awarded over $350,000 in external funding from the Murdock Charitable Trust, National Science Foundation, Oregon department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and the Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society.
University Service and Professional Activities
- Chair of the university Faculty Development Committee and SOU liaison for the prestigious Goldwater and Udall Scholarship programs.
- Secretary and former President (2005-07) of the Southern Oregon Chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. The mission of the Chapter focuses on inducting undergraduate students into membership in recognition of their research accomplishments.
- Facutly advisor to the Geology Club at SOU. The faculty advisor assists the students in planning events, organizing field trips, and coordinating outreach in the community. Recently the Club led a field trip to explore the geology of John Day National Monument, the Blue Mountain, and the Wollowa Mountains of eastern Oregon.
- Member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG), American Geophysical Union (AGU), Geological Society of America (GSA), International Association of Sedimentologists, National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), and the Society of Sedimentary Geology (SEPM).
