Dr. Parvinder ("Parv") Sethi

Dr. Parvinder ("Parv") Sethi
Professor
Reed Hall 202
Box 6939
Tel: (540) 831-5619
Fax: (540) 831-5732
psethi@radford.edu

Education

B.S. - Ferguson College
M.S. - University of Brussels
Ph.D. - North Carolina State University

Courses Taught

GEOL 105. Exploring Earth
GEOL 120. Earth Science and Society
GEOL 310. Mineralogy (every Fall semester)
GEOL 365. Earth’s Ocean and Climate Systems (every alternate Spring semester)

Research

Dr. Parvinder ("Parv") Sethi's research interests center on a variety of paleoclimatic and environmental applications of clays and other minerals. In addition, he is interested in the emerging field of instructional technology as it applies to more effective teaching/learning in geosciences.

Some of his research areas have included:

1. Use of black-shale mineralogy and geochemistry for investigating the pyrite-based pollution potential and engineering aspects of such strata in the Devonian Millboro Shale exposed in parts of Virginia.
2. Use of mineralogy, sedimentary micro-and macro-structures, and organic and inorganic geochemistry of sedimentary rocks to investigate ancient global climate change events and their role in the enhanced burial and preservation of organic carbon in Utah and Kansas.
3. Design and development of online, interactive, multimedia applications for teaching and learning introductory-level physical geology and mineralogy. Technologies used have included Geo-Wall, GigaPan, ArcGIS and StoryMap and 3D-modeling of mineral, rock and fossil samples using photogrammetry (Agisoft Metashape and Sketchfab).

AWARDS

•  "The Geological Society of America - Biggs Award for Excellence in College Teaching" in 1997,
•  "The National Association of Geoscience Teachers - Eastern Region - John H. Moss Award for Excellence in Teaching" in 2002,
•  “Radford University – Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award” in 2017,
•  “Radford University - Artis College of Science & Technology – Outstanding Teaching Award” in 2018.