Folarin Kolawole, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Structural Geology, Columbia University
Hi! I am an Assistant Professor of Structural Geology at Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
My research focuses on active tectonics and earthquake Geology, and involves the integration of field observation of fault deformation zones and fracture systems, structural analyses of mappable geological deformation in geophysical datasets, laboratory geomechanical testing of rock samples, and numerical modelling of deformational processes to understand:
1) how the earth’s crust and lithosphere breaks up to form new sedimentary basins and deform existing basins,
2) how industrial subsurface activities 'wake-up' ancient faults in the crust (i.e. anthropogenically induced earthquakes) in areas of wastewater injection, CO2 injection etc., and
3) how ancient faults are 'woken up' by natural tectonic forces in areas far away from active tectonic boundaries (i.e. geogenic intraplate earthquakes).
Current research interests are on 1.) strain accommodation during the early-stages of continental rifting [Natural Laboratories: East African Rift System, Death Valley, Salton Trough], 2.) basement structure and fault reactivation in areas of induced seismicity [Natural Laboratory: Central U.S.], and natural intraplate seismicity [Natural Laboratory: Western & Southern Africa].
I am very passionate about promoting racial and gender diversity in the Geosciences... because it is the right thing to do. When I'm not working or spending time with family, you'll likely find me at a climbing gym or outdoor crag bouldering or sport climbing.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Xue, L., Moucha, R., Kolawole, F., Muirhead, J. D., Scholz, C. A.
Published at Tectonophysics (Aug. 20, 2024)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Conferences
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Fall 2024 American Geophysical Union (AGU)
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Fall 2024 Geological Society of America (GSA) annual conference, Anaheim, CA
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Sept. 2024 Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) Annual Meeting
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Sept. 2024 National Association of Black Geoscientists (NABG) Annual Meeting
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Aug. 2024 Gordon Research Conference on Rock Deformation, Maine
Invited Talks:
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September 2024 – GSA Annual Conference, Ananheim, CA
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August 2024 - Gordon Research Conference on Rock Deformation, Maine
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July 2024 - University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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June 2024 - 2024 Structural Geology and Tectonics Forum, Bellingham, Washington
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May 2024 - Botswana International University of Science & Tech., Botswana
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April 2024 - Binghamton University, New York