OUR DEPARTMENT
The Department of Geological Sciences is in a region of well exposed geologic phenomena readily accessible from the campus. Classroom instruction is related to field occurrences by field trips and independent student observation. A wide variety of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, geologic structures, stratigraphic features, fossils, land forms and mineral deposits are found locally. Many aspects of these are of economic and environmental importance. Field training in geology is an integral part of the Department's program, and consists of one course in field methods offered during the school year and two summer field training courses. Excellent opportunities exist for field research and this is commonly integrated with laboratory research.
PREAMBLE
The Department of Geological Sciences is one of eight departments of the Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University (CMU). The Department was established in 1964, when Chiang Mai University was founded. Originally, 12 students chose geology as their major. However, due to an unfavorable situation, the Faculty of Science decided to suspend the operation of the Department in the following year. In 1966, the undergraduate study program in geology was reintroduced to serve three classes of students via:
(1) professional major students
(2) non-professional major students who wished to build a broad cultural education around a central interest in geological sciences
(3) students in other fields who wished to gain insight into the world from an understanding of geology
Five completed their studies and became the first CMU geology graduates. Since then the number of geology students has increased substantially. Up to 2004 the Department has had 813 B.Sc. graduated.
From 1975, a graduate study program leading to the Master of Science degree in Geology was offered. Up to present, 50 M.Sc. students have successfully completed their studies. The programs cover essentially four broad fields of geological sciences namely:
(1) Field Geology and Structural Geology,
(2) Stratigraphy/ Palaeontology/Sedimentology,
(3) Mineralogy and Petrology
(4) Applied Geology (including Economic Geology, Environmental Geology, Fossil Fuels, Geochemistry, Geothermics, Hydrogeology and Mineral Exploration).
Since 1989, the Doctorate of Science degree in Geology also has been offered. Up to present, 4 Ph.D. students have successfully completed their studies.
In 1991, the Department (in cooperation with Department of Physics) started offering a graduate program leading to a Master degree in Applied Geophysics. Seventeen students have completed this program. The Department (in cooperation with Departments of Physics, Chemistry and Biology) also offered a Master degree in Environmental Science (Environmental Science) in 1992.
In 1995. a B.Sc. program in gemology was introduced and 83 students have now completed this program.
The Department offers the Master of Science program in Petroleum Geoscience snce 2004. Three students have been graduated from this program.
PERSONNEL
At the beginning, there was only one instructor working in the Department. At present, the academic staff numbers 24, with the following qualifications: Ph.D. 17, M.Sc. 5, and B.Sc. 2 The Department's academic-supporting staff numbers four and the administrative staff numbers three.
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
The Department enrolls about 60 geology students and 40 gemology students each year. In addition, service courses are offered for other study programs that require basic knowledge in geology. Elective courses in geology are also available. For post-graduate study, students may choose their field of study from the following: structural geology; stratigraphy, paleontology, and sedimentology; mineralogy and petrology; economic geology; geochemistry; hydrogeology; and applied geology. The Department is capable of enrolling 15-20 post-graduate students (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) each year.
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES
The academic staff of the Department has published textbooks and scientific papers in a number of proceedings and journals. Technical meetings and exhibitions are regularly organized. Short training programs are offered regularly for teachers/instructors from schools and other educational institutes in order to provide a proper understanding of the significant role of earth sciences in natural resource development of the country. For professional geologists, specific short courses, mostly on modern techniques, are offered when requested. Thirteen geologists from Laos have completed such training.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Another important role of the Department is offering technical advice and consulting services. These include material testing, analyses, exploration, and contract research. These services are open to both government agencies and the industrial sector.