Variety of Research and Learning Opportunities

Whether you are exploring oversized maps of underground mines, learning to use survey-grade GIS equipment, imaging microfossils or minerals on the scanning electron microscope, or investigating earthquake focal mechanisms, there are opportunities to go beyond the traditional classroom setting in the Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning.

Some of the facilities for use by students in the Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning Department include the:

Spatial Environmental Analysis Laboratory

The Spatial Environmental Analysis Laboratory (SEAL) was designed to allow students to learn advanced environmental data collection and analysis techniques with mental data collection, and analysis techniques with state-of-the-art equipment. The facility allows for the collection and integration of field data with spatial data from a myriad of other sources in order to develop geographic databases and digital mapping products.

James Edward Payne Cartography Lab

The James E. Payne/Ruth Shirey GIS Lab is the main teaching facility for computer cartography and geospatial techniques courses as well as planning and landscape design classes for the Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning. The laboratory allows students to learn advanced environmental data collection and analysis techniques with state-of-the-art equipment, such as GPS, GIS, remote sensing techniques, small unmanned aerial systems (drones), and other devices

IUP Planetarium

The IUP Planetarium seats 75 under a nine-meter dome equipped with a Spitz A3P projector. The planetarium is used extensively in astronomy and planetary science classes for majors in the department, in campus-wide survey courses, and in programs for the general public. Portable telescopes for use in the teaching program include two 3.5-inch Questars, a Coronado Hydrogen-alpha telescope, a five-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope, and several other Newtonian and refractor telescopes.

IUP Scanning Electron Microscope

The ThermoScientific PrismaE Scanning Electron Microscope features a secondary electron detector for surface morphology imaging; an ultra-sensitive, lens-mounted directional backscatter electron detector for compositional contrast; and an energy dispersive spectroscopy for semi-quantitative analyses.  

Geology Laboratories

The shared research laboratories of the Geology Program house equipment to allow faculty and students to conduct research on a variety of topics.  The research focuses on:

  • Marine sediments
  • Paleontology
  • Geochemistry
  • Planetary geology
  • Structural and tectonics
  • Surface hydrology

More detailed information about our new lab equipment and research space in Kopchick Hall coming soon!