Phillip Larson

Background

About Phillip Larson

My research group (in collaboration with Andy Wickert - Univ. of Minnesota): https://mnimorph.science/ My research laboratory: https://hss.mnsu.edu/organizations/earth-systems-research-laboratory/ I was born in Red Wing, Minnesota, and raised along the banks of the upper Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The geography of my upbringing resulted in a life-long interest in landscapes around me. Particularly, I fell in love with rivers, the landscapes they create and continuously transform, and the environmental issues revolving around the human-river interconnection. This interest in our planet and the landscapes around us was supercharged as a child, during family vacations to the canyons and incredible landscapes of the southwest United States. Locations like Zion, Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, and more, instilled a deep appreciation and passion for these places. Through these early experiences, an excitement for understanding our world developed. But, as a first-generation college student, I had no idea that a career studying and educating about these landscapes was even possible…nor did I understand the importance of these places and why we need to understand the processes that shape them! I followed suit within the legacy of my community and worked in a factory following high school. Eventually, I felt the desire to try for something “more.” I decided to go back to school and when I entered my undergraduate degree pursuits, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, I initially found myself overwhelmed and confused about how to determine a path in life. Thankfully, I took introductory courses in Physical Geography and Physical Geology and was encouraged by inspiring professors to “GO FURTHER!” As such, the childhood passion was rekindled and turned into a life-long academic pursuit of geoscience. I continued these academic pursuits into graduate work (both Masters and Ph.D.) at Arizona State. Today, I am beyond fortunate to consider myself a geoscientist and, more specifically, a geomorphologist - with deep interests in using geomorphic systems to understand and address environmental issues impacting communities in the present and in the past (geoarcheology). I now serve as the founder and Director of the EARTH Systems Laboratory and continue in my duties as Professor at Minnesota State, where I have taught over students. I am also Graduate Faculty in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.