{"id":2,"date":"2026-03-11T13:14:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-11-12T19:20:05","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T19:20:05","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

EDUCATION:<\/strong>
A.B. (Geology<\/a> and Integrative Biology<\/a>) with Distinction, 1992, University of California, Berkeley<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M.S. in Geology, 1996, California Institute of Technology
Ph.D. in Geology<\/a>, 1999, California Institute of Technology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HONORS AND AWARDS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1992 Phi Beta Kappa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1992 Earle C. Anthony Graduate Fellowship (Caltech).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1993 NSF Graduate Fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1997 Richard H. Jahns Graduate Assistant Teaching Award (Caltech).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1998 NSF Post-doctoral Fellowship in STEM Education. (I declined this award because MTSU offered me a tenure-track position.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APPOINTMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor, 1998-present, Department of Geosciences, Middle Tennessee State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COURSES TAUGHT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I currently teach an academic year Field Methods in Geology course, an undergraduate\/graduate Structural Geology course, and an Education Abroad Switzerland and Alpine Italy course. I also teach an Introduction to Environmental Science course and a general education Introduction to Earth Science course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MOST RECENT PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information sheet (pdf)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Implications for groundwater exploration (technical video)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Role and origin of joints in cave passage development (technical video)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., Firkaly-Paciera, J., King, B., Ocasio-Valentin, C., Slighter, J., Sullivan, T., Whited, J., 2025. The relationship between lineaments and cave passages in unfaulted gently-folded strata, Snail Shell Cave, central Tennessee, USA. International Journal of Speleology, 54(2), ijs2544. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5038\/1827-806X.<\/a>ijs2544<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(* undergraduate co-author)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., and Ogden, A., 2023, Topographic Controls on the Duration of Sinkhole Flooding in Central Tennessee, USA: Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, v. 29, n. 4, p. 275-290, https:\/\/pubs.geoscienceworld.org\/aeg\/eeg\/article-abstract\/29\/4\/275\/630560\/Topographic-Controls-on-the-Duration-of-Sinkhole?redirectedFrom=fulltext<\/a>  .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., and Ogden, A., 2023, Sinkhole flooding above a shallow bedrock aquitard in a rapidly-urbanizing community, central Tennessee, USA: Geomorphology, v. 425, 108586, https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0169555X23000065?via%3Dihub<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M, and Ogden, A., 2021, Application of the global SRTM and AW3D30 digital elevation models to mapping folds at cave sites: International Journal of Speleology, v. 50, p. 75-89.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., Bush, R.*, Han, A.*, and Ogden, A., 2018, Mesoscale faults, macroscale folds, and inferred basement structures, Nashville dome, central Tennessee, in <\/em>Engel, A.S., and Hatcher, R.D., Jr., eds., Geology at Every Scale: Field Excursions for the 2018 GSA Southeastern Section Meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee: Geological Society of America Field Guide 50, p. 95-119, https:\/\/pubs.geoscienceworld.org\/books\/book\/2075\/chapter\/114336849\/Mesoscale-faults-macroscale-folds-and-inferred<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., Young, S.*, Camacho, J.*, Trexler, M.*, Ward, A.*, Cooley, M.*, and Ogden, A., 2015, A road guide to the Harpeth River and Stones River fault zones on the northwest flank of the Nashville dome, central Tennessee, in Holmes, A.E., ed., Diverse Excursions in the Southeast: Paleozoic to Present: Geological Society of America Field Guide 39, p. 1-20, doi:10.1130\/2015.0039(01).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2014, Undergraduates discovering folds in \u201cflat\u201d strata: An unusual undergraduate geology field methods course: Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 62, p. 264-277, doi:10.5408\/12-371.1.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2004, A Student-centered Regional Planning Group Activity for Non-science Majors<\/a>, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 52, p. 472-480.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wernicke, B. P., J. L. Davis, R. A. Bennett, P. Elosegui, M. J. Abolins, R. J. Brady, M. A. House, N. A. Niemi and J. K. Snow, 1998, Anomalous strain accumulation in the Yucca Mountain area, Nevada, Science, v. 279, no. 5359, p. 2096-2100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bennett, R.A., B.P. Wernicke, J.L. Davis, P. Elosegui, J.K. Snow, M.J. Abolins, M.A. House, G.L. Stirewalt, and D.A. Ferrill, 1997, Global Positioning System constraints on fault slip rates in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada<\/a>, Geophysical Research Letters, v. 24, p. 3073-3076.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 1997, Introducing volcanic hazards with free digital data, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 45, p. 211-215.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BOOK CHAPTERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2022, Archival Airborne Visible\/infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) Image of Faults in a Mixed Carbonate-Clastic Succession, Northwestern Spring Mountains, Nevada, USA, in Misra, A.A., and Mukherjee, S., eds.: Atlas of Structural Geological and Geomorphological Interpretation of Remote Sensing Images. Oxford: Wiley, p. 177-184, https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/9781119813392.ch17<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2019, Techniques for the field measurement and analysis of the orientation of gently-dipping strata, in Billi, A., and Fagereng, A., eds.: Problems and Solutions in Structural Geology and Tectonics. Developments in Structural Geology and Tectonics, v. 5. Cambridge: Elsevier, p. 25-41, https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/bookseries\/developments-in-structural-geology-and-tectonics\/vol\/5\/suppl\/C<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2019, Geographic Information Systems in an Undergraduate Structural Geology Course: a Pilot Project at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN, in Mukherjee, S., ed.: Teaching Methodologies in Structural Geology and Tectonics. Singapore: Springer Nature, p. 201-219, https:\/\/www.springer.com\/gp\/book\/9789811327803<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OTHER SELECT PUBLICATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deng, M., L. Di, M. Abolins, H. Gong and G. Zhou, 2006, Making Differences: Uses of GeoBrain in Classroom Teaching of Earth System and Geospatial Information Sciences at Higher Education Institutes Worldwide, in<\/em> Proceedings, Ninth Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., R. L. Oskin, A.R. Prave, C.L. Summa, and F.A. Corsetti, 2000, Neoproterozoic glacial record in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada, Geological Society of America Field Guide, v. 2, p. 319-335.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SELECT RECENT PRESENTATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(* undergraduate co-author)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2018, Relationship between the orientation of the Nashville Rift in central Tennessee and the orientation of macroscale folds in post-rift Paleozoic strata: evidence for rift fault reactivation: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs<\/em>, v. 50, No. 6, ISSN 0016-7592, doi: 10.1130\/abs\/2018AM-324897<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2018, Learning with ArcGIS within an undergraduate structural geology course at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, <\/em>v. 50, No. 6, ISSN 0016-7592, doi: 10.1130\/abs\/2018AM-324863<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., Bush, R., Han, A., and Ogden, A., 2018, Inferred reactivation of basement structures within the Nashville Dome, central Tennessee: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, <\/em>v. 50, No. 3, ISSN 0016-7592, doi: 10.1130\/abs\/2018SE-313116<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., and Levandowski, J., 2017, Uplift of the Nashville dome, central Tennessee by inversion of the previously-undescribed Nashville rift: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, <\/em>v. 49<\/em>, doi: 10.1130\/abs\/2017AM-307585<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2016, Using the spatial analysis of a structure contour map to compare fold hinge and fault orientations within the Harpeth River fault zone, a cratonic fault and fold zone in central Tennessee: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, <\/em>v<\/em>. 48, doi: 10.1130\/abs\/2016AM-287942<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2016, On-line educator professional development for the alumni of a summer undergraduate pre-service STEM teacher science research experience: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs<\/em>, v. 48, doi: 10.1130\/abs\/2016AM-287606<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birkofer, J., and Abolins, M., 2016, Educators collaborate on-line to develop an education module aligned with a high school science next generation science standard: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v<\/em>. 48, doi: 10.1130\/abs\/2016AM-287144<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deal, D.*, and Abolins, M., 2016, Collaborative development of a karst curriculum aligned with the next generation science standards: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs<\/em>, v. 48, doi: 10.1130\/abs\/2016AM-287536<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., and Ogden, A., 2016,\u00a0Groundwater Flow within the Western Limb of the Stones River Syncline, Rutherford County, Central, Tennessee:\u00a0Proceedings of the 2016 Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, p. 1C-13-1C-21,\u00a0https:\/\/img1.wsimg.com\/blobby\/go\/12ed7af3-57dc-468c-af58-da8360f35f16\/downloads\/Proceedings2016.pdf?ver=1617384962238<\/a>\u00a0(accessed 4\/6\/21).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., Young, S.*, Camacho, C.*, Trexler, M.*, Ward, A.*, Han, A.*, Flores, J.*, and Cooley, M.*, 2015, Inferred Paleozoic reactivation of Precambrian basement faults within a cratonic flexural bulge, Nashville dome, central Tennessee, Geological Society of America Abstracts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2015, Relationship between an intensive nine-week undergraduate pre-service teacher science research experience and lesson plans and career plans, Geological Society of America Abstracts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bomar, B.*, Evans, I.*, and Abolins, M., Impact of a 2014 nine-week intensive undergraduate research experience on a pre-service teacher\u2019s active learning practices at the Salvation Army\u2019s Summer 2015 Day Camp in Nashville, TN, Geological Society of America Abstracts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., 2014, The first year of the National Science Foundation Geosciences Directorate\u2019s first pre-service teacher Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Geological Society of America Abstracts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camacho, J.*, Young, S.*, and Abolins, M., 2014, Pre-service teachers involvement in nine-week structural geology research experience, Geological Society of America Abstracts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OTHER PRESENTATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(* undergraduate co-author)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abolins, M., and Estep, T.*, 2006, Validation of previously-mapped lineaments in and near part of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee with free data from global image archives, Geological Society of America Abstracts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McMillin, T.L.*, and Abolins, M.J., 1999, The expression of floods on visible\/infrared satellite images of the Obion River, northwestern Tennessee, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 31, n. 7, p. 270.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EDUCATION:A.B. (Geology and Integrative Biology) with Distinction, 1992, University of California, Berkeley M.S. in Geology, 1996, California Institute of TechnologyPh.D. in Geology, 1999, California Institute of Technology HONORS AND AWARDS: 1992 Phi Beta Kappa. 1992 Earle C. Anthony Graduate Fellowship (Caltech). 1993 NSF Graduate Fellowship. 1997 Richard H. Jahns Graduate Assistant Teaching Award (Caltech). 1998 NSF Post-doctoral Fellowship […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23,"href":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/23"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.mtsu.edu\/mabolins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}