Faculty Snapshot: Folarin Kolawole

Text says Faculty Snapshot Folarin Kolawole Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences with three photos on a bulletin board of Folarin, one has his wife and daughter


Tell us about your work.
I am a structural geologist, which means that my research explores how rocks break (fracture) and slide (fault) leading to earthquakes and creation of new sedimentary basins. More specifically, I study 1) the development of divergent tectonic plate boundaries, known as continental rifts, and 2) earthquakes associated with plate tectonics and anthropogenic industrial activities. Currently, I teach a course on crustal deformation and another one (field course) that features an excursion to Death Valley in California.

What are you looking forward to right now? What are you most excited about?
I am looking forward to my field work in Death Valley happening next month (March, 2023) and a field season in East Africa this summer. However, I am most excited about some new exciting results coming out of the research work that my lab group members are doing. It is thrilling to see the hard work of postdoc and students in my lab produce compelling results.

What is a self-care practice that works for you?
Spending time with my daughter, and getting some sleep. Hiking, rock climbing, and outdoor camping.

To learn more about Dr. Kolawole's work, please visit his faculty website or follow him on Twitter.

Learn more:

Faculty Snapshots are a project of the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement.