# Christopher D. Smith

> Geology | GIS | Coastal Wetland Geomorphology


## Posts

- [The SCA and AmeriCorps: The Internship That Changed My Career](https://cdsmithgeology.com/the-sca-and-americorps-the-internship-that-changed-my-career/): Part 2 of the SCA and AmeriCorps Internship Series Why the SCA and Americorps Matter The SCA and AmeriCorps (Student Conservation Association) are more than volunteer organizations. Each internship contributes to preserving our natural resources, historic sites, ecosystems, wildlife, and marine environments. Federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and graduate advisors recognize the value of this experience because it develops practical skills that cannot be learned in a classroom alone. These internships are far more than another line on a résumé. they often become the foundation of a professional career. They provide hands-on field experience, expose you to different career paths, and create […]
- [GIS Is Becoming a Standard Expectation](https://cdsmithgeology.com/gis-is-becoming-a-standard-expectation/): GIS is becoming a standard expectation across the geosciences. Over the past few decades, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have evolved from a specialized technical skill into one of the most valuable tools available to geoscientists. What was once considered an advantage on a résumé is increasingly becoming a baseline expectation for graduates entering the workforce. Whether your interests lie in environmental consulting, hydrology, engineering geology, mining, coastal research, natural resource management, or government, the ability to work with spatial data is quickly becoming as important as understanding field methods or reading a geologic map. The reason is simple: nearly everything in […]
- [Is a Geology Degree Worth It in 2026?](https://cdsmithgeology.com/is-a-geology-degree-worth-it-in-2026/): So much has changed in the past few years. Higher education has become more expensive, the job market continues to evolve, and artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at a pace few could have predicted. It’s understandable that prospective students are asking a simple but important question: Is a geology degree still worth the investment? Is a geology degree worth it? The answer isn’t as straightforward as a simple “yes” or “no.” Like any degree, geology comes with opportunities and challenges. Before committing four years of your life and thousands of dollars to a college education, it’s important to understand both. The […]
- [Why I Take Photographs in the Field](https://cdsmithgeology.com/why-i-take-photographs-in-the-field/): Curiosity and Exploration Why I take photographs in the field started as curiosity; I would always explore areas, even as a kid. I loved traveling and seeing new areas. But I wasn’t being a tourist; I was learning about the area. Why is it different? What has shaped the area? I would go out of my way to mingle and learn more about the community and its people. Most of my photos over the years are off the beaten path and not from tourist areas. I would hike just to see what was around the next bend in the trail, follow […]
- [How Nontraditional STEM Students Can Find Funding](https://cdsmithgeology.com/how-nontraditional-stem-students-can-find-funding/): The Financial Reality of Returning to STEM Tuition at colleges and universities has increased dramatically over the past few decades for STEM students. As funding for public education shifts and younger generations continue to face rising costs, higher education becomes increasingly difficult to access for people of all ages. For returning adult students, the challenge can feel even greater. My own experience in higher education has often cost between $3,500–$4,000 per semester before supplies, field gear, software, books, fuel, and the wear and tear of commuting are factored in. I drive approximately 90 miles a day and have worked anywhere between […]
- [Baraboo Geology: Facies Transitions and Glacial Landscape Change](https://cdsmithgeology.com/baraboo-geology-facies-transitions/): How do facies transitions, glaciation, and erosion shape a landscape through time? Field observations from Wisconsin’s Baraboo region reveal evidence of ancient marine environments, the Great Unconformity, and the processes that continue shaping the modern landscape.
- [Assessing the Environmental Impact of the Frank Borman Expressway in the Calumet Region](https://cdsmithgeology.com/frank-borman-expressway-in-the-calumet-region/): Abstract This research examines how construction of the Frank Borman Expressway transformed landscapes and communities throughout the Calumet Region of Northwest Indiana. Using georeferenced historical aerial imagery, GIS analysis, and landscape interpretation, the project reconstructs patterns of roadway expansion, interchange modification, and community displacement from the late 1940s through the modern era. Research Themes * Environmental change * Floodplain modification * Residential displacement * Geomorphic interpretation * Historical reconstruction Organizations Involved * Indiana University Northwest Conference Presentation This research was presented at the Indiana University Northwest Student Research Conference. The official conference listing for Christopher D. Smith’s Historical Analysis of the […]
- [Cagles Mill Geology: A Pennsylvanian River System](https://cdsmithgeology.com/cagles-mill-geology/): What can sedimentary rocks reveal about ancient landscapes? A field investigation at Indiana’s Cagles Mill emergency spillway reveals evidence of a Pennsylvanian meandering river system preserved within the Mansfield Formation.
- [The Unknown: STEM? It’s About Being There](https://cdsmithgeology.com/the-unknown-stem-its-about-being-there/): I was invited to an IVY Tech Community College- Lake County STEM Club meeting, where I presented “The Unknown”. The objective was to do an outreach/ informational presentation focused on internships, research, and pathways into science through hands-on experience. This presentation explored the role of uncertainty, field experience, and learning through action in STEM. Rather than presenting STEM as a fixed path, this talk explored the importance of curiosity, discomfort, and learning through action. Using my 2025 internship with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station as a case study, the presentation introduced students to field research, […]
- [The Hidden Challenges Facing Non-Traditional STEM Students](https://cdsmithgeology.com/the-hidden-challenges-facing-non-traditional-stem-students/): Oftentimes, the non-traditional STEM students isn’t part of the conversation. The world has changed, and how we think about college students needs to change with it. When many people picture a college student, they imagine someone in their late teens or early twenties moving between classrooms, studying late into the night, and slowly figuring out who they want to become. For many non-traditional students, especially those pursuing STEM fields, reality looks very different. The Reality Behind the Classroom Returning to higher education later in life often means carrying responsibilities that exist far beyond the classroom. Work obligations, finances, long commutes, health […]
- [How Internships Open Doors I Never Expected](https://cdsmithgeology.com/how-internships-open-doors-i-never-expected/): Part 1 of the SCA and AmeriCorps internship series I was 43 years old when I found out how internships open doors, Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge gave me that opportunity through the SCA and AmeriCorps internship program. At the time, I was still trying to understand where I fit within science, conservation, and higher education. I simply knew I wanted to learn. After earning my first Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a focus in Environmental Sustainability, I found myself left with more questions than answers. I had completed the degree, but I still wasn’t sure what direction […]
- [Tracking Changes in Invasive Species](https://cdsmithgeology.com/tracking-changes-in-invasive-species/): Abstract Tracking changes in invasive species through GIS-based environmental monitoring. The project examined changes in invasive wetland plant species within the Beverly Shores region between 2017 and 2019. Using ArcGIS spatial analysis and field survey data collected through the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, the study mapped concentrations of invasive species including Typha species, Phragmites australis, and reed canary grass. Comparative analysis revealed shifting patterns in invasive vegetation distribution over time, providing insight into wetland management effectiveness, habitat restoration efforts, and long-term conservation planning within sensitive coastal ecosystems. Project Overview his GIS-based environmental monitoring project examined the spatial distribution and progression of […]
- [The Stability of Amino Acids within Mars Regolith Simulant](https://cdsmithgeology.com/the-stability-of-amino-acids-within-mars-regolith-stimulant/): Abstract This undergraduate research project investigated the stability of amino acids within simulated Martian regolith environments using Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). Samples containing amino acids and perchlorate salts were exposed to Mars regolith simulant MM2 under varying chemical conditions to evaluate molecular degradation over time. The study focused on understanding whether organic compounds essential to life could remain stable within Martian surface environments. Results demonstrated significant degradation under simulated Martian conditions, contributing to broader discussions surrounding astrobiology, planetary habitability, and the preservation of biosignatures on Mars. Research Focus * Astrobiology * Mars regolith chemistry * UHPLC-MS analysis * […]
- [Graphene-Supported Ni₄ Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation](https://cdsmithgeology.com/graphene-supported-ni%e2%82%84-catalysts-for-propane-dehydrogenation/): Abstract This computational research project examined graphene-supported nickel cluster catalysts for propane dehydrogenation using density functional theory (DFT) methods and VASP modeling. Conducted through collaboration between Valparaiso University and Ivy Tech Community College under the Indiana Space Grant Consortium, the study investigated reaction pathways, activation energies, and the effects of nitrogen doping on catalyst behavior. The project explored alternative catalytic systems to platinum-based propane dehydrogenation processes used in industrial plastics production. Research Themes * Computational chemistry * Density functional theory (DFT) * Catalysis research Materials science * Graphene-supported catalysts * Propane dehydrogenation * VASP modeling * Indiana Space Grant research Research […]

## Pages

- [Introduction](https://cdsmithgeology.com/introduction/): Foundation for Environmental Sustainability & Systems ThinkingEarly study in business and environmental sustainability helped me begin asking how urban development, resource use, funding structures, and environmental decision-making shape the landscapes people live in. That perspective became an early foundation for my later interests in restoration, geology, GIS, and human-driven landscape change. Foundation in Biology & ChemistryHonors-level coursework in biology and chemistry strengthened my scientific foundation through laboratory methods, analytical reasoning, and environmental science. These experiences developed a broader understanding of biological and chemical systems that later informed my interest in geoscience and environmental change. Conservation, Wetlands & Field EcologyHands-on work in […]
- [Learning Without a Map](https://cdsmithgeology.com/learning-without-a-map/): Lessons Learned Along the Way Learning Without a Map is a collection of reflections on returning to higher education later in life, navigating nontraditional STEM education, internships, fieldwork, setbacks, mentorship, and the unexpected opportunities that shaped my path through geology, GIS, and environmental research. For a photographic look into many of the areas, checkout
- [Geology Journal](https://cdsmithgeology.com/geology-journal/): Field Observations, Geological History & Landscape Change The Geology Journal documents field observations, geological interpretation, landscape evolution, and environmental change through field experiences, research, and geologic storytelling. These posts explore how rocks, sedimentary environments, geomorphic processes, and human activity shape the landscapes around us. For a photographic look into many of the areas, checkout
- [Contact](https://cdsmithgeology.com/contact/)
- [Posters and Presentations](https://cdsmithgeology.com/posters-presentations/): The Posters & Presentations page collects academic posters, conference presentations, GIS projects, and research materials documenting environmental change, historical imagery analysis, landscape reconstruction, and geology-related research. Featured work includes poster presentations, environmental GIS analysis, and landscape change studies connected to current and past academic research.
- [Current Research](https://cdsmithgeology.com/current-research/): The Frank Borman Expressway is one of the nation’s most important expressway routes, with over 200,000 traveling on it daily. This research uses historical aerial analysis to examine environmental and landscape change along the Borman Expressway corridor in the Calumet Region of Northwest Indiana. Using georeferenced historical imagery, ArcGIS Pro, and spatial analysis methods, the project reconstructs the timing and progression of highway development from the late 1940s through the modern era. Historical imagery reveals significant differences in how sections of the corridor affected surrounding landscapes and communities. While some areas experienced minimal disturbance, later construction and interchange development resulted in […]
- [About/CV](https://cdsmithgeology.com/about-cv/): Download My CV, Research Experience, and Professional Background.
- [Home](https://cdsmithgeology.com/)
- [Field Notes Through a Lens](https://cdsmithgeology.com/field-notes-through-a-lens/): Want to learn more about what I do?

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