Author Archives: Mark Wilson

About Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson is an emeritus Professor of Geology at The College of Wooster. He specializes in invertebrate paleontology, carbonate sedimentology, and stratigraphy. He also is an expert on pseudoscience, especially creationism.

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Mark Wilson June 25, 2009 2:17 am

LONGYEARBYEN, SVALBARD, NORWAY–The sun makes a crazy circle in the sky. Polar bear warnings. Houses on stilts. Muck for soil. (“Don’t worry. You can only sink three feet.”) Russian coal miners. International scientists. Cruise ship tourists. Stunning vistas of rock, … Continue reading →

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A Great Geological Day in Norway

Mark Wilson June 24, 2009 3:54 pm

OSLO, NORWAY–This Wooster geologist had an excellent time here in the capital city of Norway today. I met up with Hans Arne Nakrem, a Norwegian paleontologist with the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, and we looked at specimens he … Continue reading →

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The Åland Islands

Mark Wilson June 20, 2009 2:18 pm

There is an exquisite archipelago of thousands of  islands between Finland and Sweden.  I took a six-hour ferry ride this morning from Turku in southwestern Finland to Mariehamn, capital of the Åland Islands, where I am spending a day and … Continue reading →

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A Wooster Geologist in Helsinki

Mark Wilson June 18, 2009 2:25 pm

I’m between geological field trips right now. I left Russia by train through Karelia to Helsinki, Finland. It was a remarkable trip through woods and villages, with the swampy environs of St. Petersburg giving way to higher and drier ground … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on Future Wooster Geology Research in Russia

Mark Wilson June 17, 2009 1:56 pm

I was very impressed by the Ordovician rocks I saw in the Leningrad Region on this past trip.  I had seen parts of the Ordovician System in Estonia nearby, but not to this extent nor this particular facies.  My model … Continue reading →

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A Wooster Geologist in St. Petersburg, Russia

Mark Wilson June 16, 2009 7:33 am

I am absolutely stunned by the beauty of this city.  The ornate architecture and building colors combined with the water and changing skies, all marinated in more historical drama than any city should bear, is overwhelming.  I can’t imagine a … Continue reading →

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Out of the Russian Woods

Mark Wilson June 16, 2009 1:51 am

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA–This Wooster geologist has emerged from the field. I’m now in beautiful St. Petersburg working at the university. I hope I can get more stable access to the Internet soon so I can post the many blogs I … Continue reading →

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Last Field Day in Russia

Mark Wilson June 14, 2009 2:39 am

NEAR KHAMONTOVO, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–Last night we had our last group dinner (shashlyk — essentially shish kebab — and delicious brown bread) and lively conversation (most of which I missed, of course, but still enjoyed).  There were over a dozen … Continue reading →

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From Spring to Summer in One Hour

Mark Wilson June 13, 2009 2:37 am

NEAR KHAMONTOVO, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–Yesterday’s light rains in the morning gave way wonderful sun, as I described earlier.  Then a massive thunderstorm, almost as large as those in Ohio, crashed through and dropped probably an inch of rain in just … Continue reading →

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The Beauty of the Russian Countryside

Mark Wilson June 12, 2009 2:35 am

SYAS RIVER, LENINGRAD REGION, RUSSIA–The weather today was as has been predicted ever day: “changeable”. It is much warmer than last week, though, and there are more periods of sunlight. Today began with a light drizzle, and then the sun … Continue reading →

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