Teaching
At Penn State I currently teach:
Geosc 202, Chemical Processes in Geosciences, spring semesters Geosc 397, Global Biogeochemistry, every other fall semester Geosc 497, Diversity and Inclusion in Geosciences seminar Geosc 502, Evolution of the Biosphere, every other fall semester (with C. House) Geosc 518c, Isotopes in Oceans and Climate, every other fall semester (with M. Ingalls) Geosc 597, Geochemical Processes of the Seafloor seminar I am developing a course on the Gold Rush to be co-taught with B. Kelley in the next academic year. |
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion/Belonging
My goal is to help establish a welcoming atmosphere that opens the Earth sciences to the broadest community possible because the issues that we work on impact every single person on our planet. My efforts range from my research group to the general Earth, atmosphere, ocean, and planetary sciences community.
I am active in promoting diversity and participation in STEM and the earth sciences at all stages of education. I accomplish this by creating opportunities for graduate students to discuss and learn about gender stereotypes and research-based solutions in science, and through established outreach programs and mentoring opportunities. Our research group regularly reads and discusses issues in diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am on the Department of Geosciences DEI committee, and I also am offering an undergraduate/graduate seminar on Diversity and Inclusion in Geosciences in Fall 2021. Our lab group is a member of the Penn State College of EMS Rainbow Science Network.
As a Chinese-American, my personal identity has played a role in my growth as a scientist and in finding a community within the geosciences. I am a co-founder of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Geosciences (AAPIiG) organization and community with Dan Ibarra and Christine Y. Chen. We host several virtual and in-person events every year and have an active Slack channel for support. With NSF funding, we are launching efforts to expand awareness of and participation in the Earth sciences at AAPI-serving institutions, provide opportunities for undergraduate research, and develop skills within our community. Please check out our project website here!
Graduate-level outreach
Stanford Women in Earth Science seminar series coordinator
Initiated the graduate student invited department seminar series, Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University
Led workshop for "Facilitating Discussion and Question Asking", Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University
Invited mentor, Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE-STEM) for two Ph.D. students in the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences at Stanford University
Undergraduate-level outreach
I am a big believer in using well-designed research projects in undergraduate teaching. Geochemistry projects can easily be designed to teach students quantitative and laboratory skills, critical thinking, and communication in an integrated manner. I have mentored students for summer- and quarter-long research projects lasting up to two years. I have been a:
Undergraduate student conference abstracts (mentees underlined)
Karas, J. and Lau, K.V. (2022) Quantitative modeling of calcium and strontium isotope cycles to the ocean to predict responses to flux perturbations. Northeast Geobiology Symposium, MIT.
Miles, C.M., Lau, K.V., Macdonald, F.A., Maher, K., and Payne, J.L. (2016) Evaluating Uranium as a Tool to Infer Cryogenian Marien Oxygenation. International Geological Congress, South Africa.
O'Keefe, N., Lau, K.V., Macdonald, F.A., and Payne, J.L. (2015) Reconstructing Cryogenian marine oxygen levels from limestone successions in Mongolia. SACNAS National Conference.
Herrera, Y., Jost, A.B., Lau, K.V., Lehrmann, D.J., Yu, M., and Payne, J.L. (2013) Isotopic and chemical variability of calcium carbonate microfacies in Early to Middle Triassic limestones. SACNAS National Conference.
Pre-collegiate and General Public outreach
Symposium speaker, Riverside STEM Academy (grades 5 to 8)
Guest lecturer, Education Program for Gifted Youth, Earth Science at Stanford University (grades 6 to 8)
Geokids, outreach educational program for Bay Area first and second graders
Community outreach for Bay Area Science Festival, Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences, Riverside Long Night
My goal is to help establish a welcoming atmosphere that opens the Earth sciences to the broadest community possible because the issues that we work on impact every single person on our planet. My efforts range from my research group to the general Earth, atmosphere, ocean, and planetary sciences community.
I am active in promoting diversity and participation in STEM and the earth sciences at all stages of education. I accomplish this by creating opportunities for graduate students to discuss and learn about gender stereotypes and research-based solutions in science, and through established outreach programs and mentoring opportunities. Our research group regularly reads and discusses issues in diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am on the Department of Geosciences DEI committee, and I also am offering an undergraduate/graduate seminar on Diversity and Inclusion in Geosciences in Fall 2021. Our lab group is a member of the Penn State College of EMS Rainbow Science Network.
As a Chinese-American, my personal identity has played a role in my growth as a scientist and in finding a community within the geosciences. I am a co-founder of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Geosciences (AAPIiG) organization and community with Dan Ibarra and Christine Y. Chen. We host several virtual and in-person events every year and have an active Slack channel for support. With NSF funding, we are launching efforts to expand awareness of and participation in the Earth sciences at AAPI-serving institutions, provide opportunities for undergraduate research, and develop skills within our community. Please check out our project website here!
Graduate-level outreach
Stanford Women in Earth Science seminar series coordinator
Initiated the graduate student invited department seminar series, Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University
Led workshop for "Facilitating Discussion and Question Asking", Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University
Invited mentor, Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE-STEM) for two Ph.D. students in the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences at Stanford University
Undergraduate-level outreach
I am a big believer in using well-designed research projects in undergraduate teaching. Geochemistry projects can easily be designed to teach students quantitative and laboratory skills, critical thinking, and communication in an integrated manner. I have mentored students for summer- and quarter-long research projects lasting up to two years. I have been a:
- Mentor for many undergraduates at Stanford, University of Wyoming, and Penn State in research projects
- Mentor for Penn State's Climate REU
- Mentor for SURGE (Summer Undergraduate Research in Geoscience & Engineering) at Stanford University, 2 students
Undergraduate student conference abstracts (mentees underlined)
Karas, J. and Lau, K.V. (2022) Quantitative modeling of calcium and strontium isotope cycles to the ocean to predict responses to flux perturbations. Northeast Geobiology Symposium, MIT.
Miles, C.M., Lau, K.V., Macdonald, F.A., Maher, K., and Payne, J.L. (2016) Evaluating Uranium as a Tool to Infer Cryogenian Marien Oxygenation. International Geological Congress, South Africa.
O'Keefe, N., Lau, K.V., Macdonald, F.A., and Payne, J.L. (2015) Reconstructing Cryogenian marine oxygen levels from limestone successions in Mongolia. SACNAS National Conference.
Herrera, Y., Jost, A.B., Lau, K.V., Lehrmann, D.J., Yu, M., and Payne, J.L. (2013) Isotopic and chemical variability of calcium carbonate microfacies in Early to Middle Triassic limestones. SACNAS National Conference.
Pre-collegiate and General Public outreach
Symposium speaker, Riverside STEM Academy (grades 5 to 8)
Guest lecturer, Education Program for Gifted Youth, Earth Science at Stanford University (grades 6 to 8)
Geokids, outreach educational program for Bay Area first and second graders
Community outreach for Bay Area Science Festival, Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences, Riverside Long Night