To Professor Tom Foster, Chair, Department of Geoscience: I am or have been a student in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Iowa. I agree that the department suffers from inadequate geophysics classes, hindering the education of present students and the future recruitment of others. At this point there is only one adjunct professor who sometimes teaches evening classes on different aspects of geophysics. Unfortunately, the classes are usually too advanced for undergraduates who have not even been able to take an introductory course in geophysics. When the professor is able to teach an introductory geophysics course, students - both undergraduate and graduate - want to take it. However work and conflicting core class requirements make it impossible for most students to be able to attend/register. According to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Linda Maxson, "the request for such an appointment has to originate in the department as their top priority." Thus I am signing this petition to encourage further discussion within the department, regarding making introduction of geophysics instruction a departmental priority.

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