| Honored by: | The Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Department |
| Brick location: | PAVER:42 map |
Karen S. Bartels is an Iowa native. She grew up on a dairy farm in northeastern Iowa and developed an early interest in the outdoors. These interests were encouraged by Hempstead High School's earth science teacher, Richard Worm, and this led her to Iowa State University to pursue a degree in geology.
She entered Iowa State in 1981 and graduated four years later with Honors and Distinction. She received a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship in 1985 and entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to do graduate work in experimental igneous petrology. In 1991 she became the first woman who had earned a degree in geology from Iowa State University to be awarded a Ph.D.
Karen Bartels continues to pursue her career in geology. She has worked as a research scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and the University of Virginia. She is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Geophysical Union, the Geological Society of America, and the National Science Teachers Association. She has also been elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. It is a great pleasure to recognize Karen Bartels for her commitment and accomplishments to the geological sciences.
7/1/96
Paver Inscription:
"Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Geological science program
Patricia Mary Stewart
Karen S. Bartels
Atmospheric science program
Stephanie Wells
Shiyuan Zhong"