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Coastal/marine scientist and educator with 20+ years experience in the Asia-Pacific region, especially processes of atolls and reef-associated islands. Award-winning communicator, skilled educator, and experienced editor. Humble human who seeks to give back to the People of the Asia-Pacific. |
 Contact Gene Rankey
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Area of Expertise: |
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Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
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Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation
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Professional Experience: |
Coastal Scientist. Educator. Communicator.
Specializing in Surface Processes and Seascapes
I use my research experience to solve applied questions and enhance education, helping address important coastal/nearshore environmental challenges related to climate change.
In my research, I strive to be at the leading edge of both academic and applied coastal science. My overall focus has been understanding tropical coastal sedimentary, ecologic, environmental, and geomorphic systems and their dynamics, especially with response to sea-level and climate change. My experiences focus on atolls, reef-associated shorelines, and islands and include study of biological, chemical, and physical oceanographic processes, and how they influence the formation and stability of seascapes. I have worked at scales from assessing global patterns of benthic habitats on atolls, to describing sediment, seascapes, and hydrodynamics of individual atolls, to modeling tidal creek evolution in a 3 x 3 m experimental basin, to making SEM observations of sediment and biota. I make field observations of habitats, bottom types, and biota; monitor and numerically model waves, tides, and currents; assess sedimentary and aqueous chemical signals; examine atolls and oceans from space; numerically model sand, sediment transport pathways, and island dynamics. Although much of my work has been in the South Pacific (including field efforts in the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Kiribati, among broader remote-sensing studies) and Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia), my global experiences from the Caribbean and the Middle East bring a broader perspective and deeper insights, as well as a global network.
As co-director of Kansas Interdisiplinary Carbonates Consortium, an industry-academic research group, I have extensive project and personnel management experience. I have served on Boards of Directors for non-profit scholarly society, publishing, and sport organizations.
Results of my research are reported in over 60 peer-reviewed papers and over 200 abstracts, as well as numerous presentations and unpublished reports. I have written a book (A Global Atlas of Atolls, 2023), edited several books, served as editor of Journal of Sedimentary Research, and as associate editor for three other leading journals.
These experiences have informed expert advice offered as a consultant for projects across the globe. I seek to further apply these skills and experiences to solve important coastal challenges facing Asia-Pacific coastal communities. I seek to give back to the people who have been so generous to me.
I have taught Oceanography and related topics for nearly 25 years to undergrads, graduate students, and professionals. A skilled communicator, I enjoy breaking down nerdy, complex topics to understandable language and exploring practical applications.
Teaching appointments:
University of Kansas (Geology) Professor 2018-
Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia Visiting Professor Fall 2017
University of Kansas (Geology) Hall Professor 2012-2018
University of Kansas (Geology) Associate Professor 2010-2012
University of Kansas (Geology) Assistant Professor 2008-2010
RSMAS/University of Miami (Marine Geology) Assistant Professor 2002-2008
Iowa State University (Geological Sciences) Assistant Professor 2000-2002
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Education: |
PhD University of Kansas
MS University of Tennessee
BS Augustana College (IL)
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Affiliations and Achievements: |
Honors and Awards for Communications
I am recognized for excellence in science communications, written and oral:
• Outstanding Presentation, AAPG Annual Conference and Exhibition (2017)
• Honorable Mention, Outstanding Paper Award, Journal of Sedimentary Research (2012)
• Honorable Mention, Outstanding Paper Award, Journal of Sedimentary Research (2010)
• Distinguished Lecturer, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (2008-2009)
• Honorable Mention, Outstanding Paper Award, Journal of Sedimentary Research (2008)
• Outstanding Paper Award, Journal of Sedimentary Research (2002)
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Available for: |
- Consulting assignments
- Being headhunted – make me an offer
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