Breaking Ground at the Kentucky Geological Survey Annual Seminar: Climate, Landscape, and Real-World Impact

Just got back from the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) Annual Seminar, and wow—this was one hell of a gathering. The room was packed with some of Kentucky’s sharpest minds in earth sciences and environmental research, all digging deep into how climate and landscape shifts are shaking up our state. No fluff, just hard science, real talk, and an unrelenting drive to make a difference.

Rolling Deep with Kentucky’s Earth Science Crew 🤝

I rolled in with fellow CHAOS Lab members and collaborators—solid folks all pushing boundaries in their own right. The energy was electric, the conversations intense, and the networking? Absolutely on point. It’s these kinds of meetups that fuel the breakthroughs, spark new ideas, and remind you why science matters—especially in a place as complex as Kentucky.

The Big Deal: NSF EPSCoR CLIMBS Program 🔥

Mike McGlue, the director at KGS, kicked things off by laying down the mission of the NSF EPSCoR CLIMBS program. This isn’t your average research project. CLIMBS (Climate and Landscape Interactions, Microbial Biogeochemistry, and Sustainability) tackles how climate shifts and changing landforms reshape our ecosystems—straight up essential for Kentucky’s future.

What really hit home was how CLIMBS cuts across disciplines to get ahead of environmental change—building models, making predictions, and crafting strategies that actually matter. Especially when natural disasters keep testing the limits of our communities and infrastructure, this program is all about resilience and real-world solutions.

Ground Zero Reports: What These Labs Are Doing for the Kentucky EPSCoR CLIMBS Program 🧪

The lineup of speakers dropped knowledge bombs on the cutting-edge research fueling the CLIMBS mission:

• Surface Processes & Modeling Lab (Jason Dortch): Mapping and characterizing past and current flooding events to help predict the severity of future floods—key to reducing Kentucky’s flood risks.

• Seismic Monitoring Network (Seth Carpenter): Investigating groundwater characteristics to improve understanding of Kentucky’s subsurface water systems, a vital resource for communities statewide.

• Hydrological Modeling Lab (Junfeng Zhu): Developing sustainable water management strategies across Kentucky’s twelve watersheds to balance human needs and environmental health.

• Landslide Hazards Research Lab (Matt Crawford & Sarah Johnson): Building detailed landslide inventories and assessing susceptibility to protect communities from geological hazards.

• Edge of Field Monitoring & Groundwater Observation (Glynn Beck): Tracking erosion and nutrient runoff at field edges while managing a groundwater observation network in western Kentucky, providing critical data on water quality and landscape processes.

• Sinkhole Mapping & Identification (Desiree Cunningham): Presenting KGS’s ongoing efforts to survey and map sinkholes across Kentucky’s karst regions—essential for mitigating risks to infrastructure and communities.

• Water Quality Policy & Regulation (Sarah Jon Gaddis, Department of Water): Bridging science and policy by guiding water quality monitoring and mapping efforts to ensure effective environmental management.

Wrapping Up: A Seminar with Teeth ⚡

The seminar closed out with a powerhouse panel discussion—real experts with real grit, committed to pushing Kentucky’s environmental research forward. This community isn’t just talking shop; they’re building a foundation to help Kentucky weather the storms—literally and figuratively.

Final Take 🎯

If you want to understand how science fights climate chaos and landscape challenges in Kentucky, the NSF EPSCoR CLIMBS program is where it’s at. Attending this seminar was a reminder that change isn’t waiting—and neither are we. With collaboration, cutting-edge research, and a whole lot of grit, we’re gearing up to protect our homes, our land, and our future.

NSF EPSCoR CLIMBS:
Kentucky’s Climate Chaos Command Center

Watch how Kentucky’s top researchers are tackling climate and landscape chaos head-on—turning raw data into real-world solutions to protect our state’s future.

Where Kentucky’s Land Meets Grit—Research That Changes the Game