R. Scott Anderson

About

Dr. R. Scott Anderson is Professor Emeritus in the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona University, where he has been a distinguished faculty member specializing in paleoecology and Quaternary sciences. His research focuses on paleoenvironmental reconstruction using pollen analysis, plant macrofossils, and lake sediment records, from historical through Quaternary ages.

Research Interests

Quaternary Paleoecology

• Late Quaternary environmental and climatic history
• Paleobotanic and paleoclimatic record reconstruction
• Wisconsin and Holocene environmental changes
• Long-term ecosystem dynamics and responses
• Past vegetation community development

Paleoclimatology

• Climate change reconstruction from proxy data
• Regional climate variability over geological timescales
• Climate-vegetation interactions through time
• Environmental responses to climate transitions
• Holocene climate patterns and variability

Pollen Analysis and Palynology

• Fossil pollen identification and quantification
• Pollen-based vegetation reconstruction
• Statistical analysis of palynological data
• Modern analog studies for fossil interpretation
• High-resolution paleoenvironmental records

Lake Sediment Analysis

• Sediment core collection and analysis
• Multi-proxy paleoenvironmental reconstruction
• Chronological control and age-depth modeling
• Taphonomic processes in lacustrine environments
• International lake sediment research collaborations

Education

• Ph.D. Geology/Paleoecology/Environmental Science
• M.S. Quaternary Sciences/Paleoecology
• B.S. Ecology

Professional Experience

Academic Positions

• Professor Emeritus, Northern Arizona University (current)
• Professor, Northern Arizona University (long-term career)
• Research Leader, Multiple paleoclimate research projects
• International Collaborator, Global paleoenvironmental research

Research Leadership

• Principal Investigator, NSF-funded paleoclimate projects
• Collaborator, International paleoenvironmental research networks
• Mentor, Graduate students in paleoecology and paleoclimatology

Research Impact

Dr. Anderson has made significant contributions to paleoecology and paleoclimatology with over 8,300 citations of his research. His work has fundamentally advanced understanding of southwestern U.S. environmental history and global paleoclimate patterns.

Major Research Contributions

Southwestern United States Paleoenvironmental History

Colorado Plateau Studies

• “Middle- and late-Wisconsin paleobotanic and paleoclimatic records from the southern Colorado Plateau, USA”
• Regional synthesis of late Pleistocene environmental conditions
• Vegetation community development during glacial-interglacial transitions
• Climate reconstruction for the southwestern United States

Forest Development Research

• “Development of the mixed conifer forest in northern New Mexico and its relationship to Holocene environmental change”
• Forest community evolution through the Holocene
• Climate-vegetation relationships in montane environments
• Management implications for forest conservation

Sierra Nevada and California Research

• **“Paleoecology of insular environments
• **Forest history of mountain ecosystems
• **Impact of Spanish settlement in coastal regions

High-Elevation Paleoenvironments

• “The paleoecology and stratigraphy of Nichols Meadow, Sierra National Forest, California, USA”
• Montane meadow development and environmental history
• High-resolution paleoenvironmental records from alpine regions
• Fire history reconstruction using charcoal analysis

International Research Collaborations

Norwegian Lake Studies

• Contemporary research on lake sediment cores from Norway
• Arctic and sub-Arctic paleoclimate reconstruction
• International collaboration on Holocene climate variability
• Cross-regional climate comparisons between North America and Scandinavia

Iberian Peninsula Research

• Environmental and climatic changes recorded in sedimentary records from Padul, southern Iberian Peninsula
• Mediterranean paleoclimate reconstruction and analysis
• Cross-continental paleoenvironmental comparisons

Research Methodologies

Laboratory Techniques

• Pollen extraction and identification from sediment cores
• Plant macrofossil analysis and interpretation
• Charcoal analysis for fire history reconstruction
• Radiocarbon dating and chronological control
• Statistical analysis of paleoenvironmental data

Field Research

• Lake sediment core collection using specialized equipment
• Site selection for optimal paleoenvironmental records
• Modern analog studies for fossil interpretation
• Multi-site regional studies for spatial analysis

Current Research Focus

Dr. Anderson’s ongoing research emphasizes:

• Long-term climate-vegetation relationships in changing environments
• High-resolution paleoenvironmental records from lake sediments
• Cross-regional paleoclimate comparisons for global understanding
• Training of next-generation paleoecologists and paleoclimatologists
• Integration of paleorecords with modern climate change research
• **Impact of human societies on environmental change

Graduate Student Training

Dr. Anderson has mentored numerous graduate students who have become leaders in:

• Academic paleoecology and paleoclimatology research
• Environmental consulting and impact assessment
• Government agencies (USGS, National Park Service)
• International research institutions
• Climate change research and policy

Mentorship Philosophy

• Comprehensive field training in sediment core collection
• Laboratory skills development in pollen and macrofossil analysis
• Statistical analysis and data interpretation training
• Scientific communication and publication skills
• International research opportunities and collaboration

Professional Service

Editorial and Review Activities

• Peer reviewer for major paleoclimate and Quaternary science journals
• Editorial board service for paleoecology publications
• Grant review panels for NSF and international funding agencies
• Conference session organizer for paleoenvironmental research

Professional Organizations

• American Quaternary Association - Active member and contributor
• International Association for Quaternary Research - Global collaboration
• Geological Society of America - Quaternary geology and geomorphology
• American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists - Palynology expertise

Teaching Excellence

Student Impact

Students consistently praise Dr. Anderson for:

• Comprehensive knowledge of southwestern environments
• Information-dense courses that are engaging and educational
• Fair grading and constructive feedback
• Passion for paleoecology and environmental history

Course Development

• Advanced paleoecology and paleoclimatology
• Quaternary environmental history
• Laboratory methods in paleoecology
• Field methods in paleoenvironmental research
• Scientific research and data analysis

Awards and Recognition

• Professor Emeritus status recognizing distinguished career contributions
• High Citation Impact - Over 8,300 research citations
• International Research Recognition - Collaborative projects worldwide
• Student Teaching Excellence - Positive evaluations and feedback
• **NAU Teacher of the Year 2017-18

Research Philosophy

Dr. Anderson’s approach emphasizes the importance of understanding past environmental changes to inform present and future environmental challenges. His work demonstrates how detailed paleoenvironmental records provide crucial baseline data for understanding natural climate variability and ecosystem responses.

Collaborative Research Networks

Dr. Anderson maintains active collaborations with:

• International paleoclimate research institutions
• PAGES (Past Global Changes) research community
• Arctic research networks for northern paleoclimate studies
• Regional paleoenvironmental research consortia

Legacy and Impact

Dr. Anderson’s distinguished career has:

• Advanced understanding of southwestern U.S. environmental history
• Trained numerous students who continue advancing paleoecology
• Established international collaborations in paleoclimate research
• Provided crucial baseline data for understanding natural climate variability
• Informed environmental management and conservation strategies

Future Directions

As Professor Emeritus, Dr. Anderson continues to contribute through:

• Ongoing research collaborations and publication activities
• Student mentorship and career guidance
• International research partnerships and data sharing
• Climate change research integration with paleoenvironmental records
• Public education about long-term environmental change