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Flowers, Becky

Professor

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Research

research overview

  • I am a geochronologist who couples analytical data that provide temporal information with geologic observations to address Earth science problems. I also established and direct a (U-Th)/He geochronology lab, the CU TRaIL (Thermochronology Research and Instrumentation Lab), containing an Alphachron He extraction line, an Agilent 7900 quadrupole ICPMS, a KLA ZETA-20 optical profiler, an ESI NWR193UC excimer laser, and a new custom, low-volume, in-house-built He extraction and measurement system. The goals of the CU TRaIL are to conduct innovative, collaborative, and high-quality research while also providing (U-Th)/He data and training to the broader Earth science community. The CU TRaIL has produced data for 200+ scientists and students and generates thousands of (U-Th)/He analyses annually.

keywords

  • Thermochronology, geochronology, tectonics, geologic time

Publications

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Teaching

courses taught

  • GEOL 2005 - Introduction to Earth Materials
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
    Provides introduction to the classification, composition and properties of the materials that compose the Earth, how these materials are studied, and how they are used to interpret Earth history and processes. Required for the Geology major.
  • GEOL 3090 - Developing Scientific Writing Skills
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018
    Focuses on the development of scientific writing skills. Enhances student ability to write professionally, revise text and review the work of others. Writing assignments integrate the subject matter of different topics in earth science. Department enforced prerequisites: a lower division writing course and two of the following: GEOL 2001 or GEOL 2005 or GEOL 2700 or GEOL 3010 or GEOL 3030 or GEOL 3120 or GEOL 3320 or GEOL 3430 or GEOL 3820.
  • GEOL 5003 - Graduate Writing Seminar
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2024
    Aims at improving graduate student writing, editing, and reviewing skills, while meeting student writing goals. Includes discussion of materials about effective writing, and peer-editing of text that students are producing for their graduate research endeavors.
  • GEOL 5215 - Geochronology and Thermochronology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2020 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2024
    Constraining the timing of events and rates of processes is fundamental to earth science research. The field of geochronology and thermochronology is rapidly evolving. Cutting-edge aspects of geochronologic methods and emerging techniques will be especially emphasized. Lectures will emphasize the principles and assumptions of each technique. Seminar discussions will focus on recent papers that demonstrate state-of-the-art applications to diverse problems. Same as GEOL 4215.
  • GEOL 5216 - Geochronology Reading and Discussion Seminar
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
    The goals of this reading and discussion seminar are to: 1) learn key aspects of a selected geochronology topic, 2) read, critically evaluate, and discuss peer-reviewed scientific papers that include geochronology data, methods, and interpretations, and 3) set up a framework and appropriate environment in which participants will discuss the �next steps� to address the big problems associated with each theme. This course will focus on a different geochronology theme each time that it is offered. A theme will be selected based on conversations among interested participants. At the beginning of the semester, weekly discussion topics and associated papers will be chosen to systematically work through concepts associated with that theme. Previously offered as a special topics course.
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