Bowling Green, Ky. - Dr. Michael May and Dr. Kenneth Kuehn, faculty members in Western Kentucky University’s Department of Geography and Geology, are participating this week in the 42nd Annual National Meeting of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) in Lexington.

The theme of the Oct. 9-14 meeting is “Geologic Information: Racing into the Digital Age.”

On Sunday, the two led a group of 35 professional geologists from across the country on a field trip through the region’s karst terrain. The trip included a tour of Mammoth Cave led by Joe Meiman, National Park Service hydrologist and adjunct faculty member in the WKU Department of Geography and Geology.

On returning to Lexington, Dr. May and Dr. Kuehn made a technical presentation titled, “Who needs NEPA? A Case Study of the Kentucky Transpark.” In another study, Dr. Kuehn teamed with Dr. Jerry Weisenfluh, head of the Geospatial Analysis Section at the Kentucky Geological Survey, to present “Planning for Interstate 66 in South-Central Kentucky: Increasing Public Awareness through Geologic Maps.”

In keeping with the theme of the meeting, unique digital geologic maps were generated for display and the field-trip guidebook, “Karst Geomorphology and Environmental Concerns of the Mammoth Cave Region, Kentucky,” was distributed to participants both in digital and print formats.

"This national meeting offers tremendous networking and information-sharing opportunities with decision-makers in the geosciences from across the nation,” Dr. May said. “Our goal was to familiarize them with the environmental challenges confronting the world-renowned karst landscape here in southcentral Kentucky.”

Dr. David Keeling, head of the Department of Geography and Geology, noted that “many of the themes addressed at the conference are incorporated directly into the geology curriculum at WKU. Our students benefit tremendously from these professional development opportunities, as Drs. May and Kuehn are constantly incorporating new methodologies and ideas into geology courses.”

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For information, contact Michael May at (270) 745-6988 or Kenneth Kuehn at (270) 745-3082.