Hello, my name is Dan Gavin. This is my 20th year teaching at UO in the Geography department. My interest is in how our natural environment, especially forests, wetlands, and lakes, change over really long periods of time, such as from the glacial maximum 21,000 years ago to today. This topic is very interdisciplinary because it involves understanding the changing climate as well as the species that are responding to the climate change. Forest fire has been an interest of mine in this context, too. Wildfires are the result of interactions between the climate, the plants, and to some extent people through their manipulation of the ignitions and spread of fire.  I am currently the head of the Geography department and teach Biogeography and Long-Term Environmental Change; in the past I have taught the introductory Natural Environment course, a class on fire ecology, and other upper-division coursers.  My lab specializes in analysis of the geological record of environmental change as it is preserved in the sediments of lakes, by studying the pollen and other contents of the sediment.  I’ve completed this research in British Columbia, Idaho, the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, Oregon (of course) and in Indonesian Borneo. My interest in this topic grew out of a love of forests and trying to understand how they changed in the past as a key to how they will change into the future. I look forward to getting outside with you this fall.

Contact: dgavin@uoregon.edu

Hey! My name is Bella (she/her) and I am so excited to be your FIG assistant for this fall. I will be a third-year BS student majoring in Environmental Science with a double minor in Climate Studies and Planning, Public Policy, and Management.

I’m from Maricopa, Arizona but I have loved becoming a proud Oregonian. I love hiking, riding around on my bike, and being outdoors in this beautiful state. If you ever need hiking recommendations or want to know cool places in Oregon to check out, I am your pal. I love this state and it is amazing how much of it you can see using the local transportation system (Lane Transit District)! When I am not outside, I am probably dancing or watching The Walking Dead! (My email is always open to nerd out about the show!!)

I am super excited to get to know each of you and explore this intersection of fields with you all. My plan is to get you all as excited about the natural environment and city planning as I am! Reach out to say hello, if you have any questions, want to talk about The Walking Dead, or if you want to send pet pictures! 

See you in the fall! :) 

Want to connect with your FA? Email figs@uoregon.edu to get connected!