Education and Exploration:
Undergraduate Research at Rice

Leo Everett Peters
Geology and Chemical Engineering Double Major

Have you ever tried to imagine what a volcano looks like—underwater?

Well, Leo Peters has not only imagined, but at Rice, he’s been conducting a research project to determine the subsurface structure of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii—its underwater south flank in particular. “My role has been to create forward 3-D velocity models of the region based on recent subsurface velocity constraints,” he explains. “Travel times and ray paths have been produced from these models and compared with observed seismic travel time data that was collected during a recent marine seismic survey.”

Leo has been involved in this project since his junior year and presented completed work and results of his research as a poster presentation at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco. He will continue to work on his research project, with greater emphasis placed on the midslope bench region of the offshore portion of Kilauea Volcano, until graduation. Leo’s research group is currently applying for funding from the National Science Foundation.

An Eagle Scout from Weimar, Texas, Leo was already familiar with what it takes to gather and interpret information. He came to Rice because of its academics, location, and small size and also because he wanted the chance to formally engage in research. “I wanted the opportunity to gain research experience and learn more about other opportunities in the geological sciences,” he says. And he adds that the flexibility he’s been able to achieve in balancing his research with his busy school schedule is important to him: “I have enjoyed the flexibility to do research when it fits into my schedule, whether it’s during the day, late at night, or on the weekends.”

Leo has been collaborating with two respected members of Rice’s earth science department, assistant professor of earth science Julia K. Morgan and associate professor of earth science Colin A. Zelt. Both professors’ interests and skills—which include deformation processes near the surface of the earth, specifically in sediments and soil, and the development and application of seismic modeling and inversion techniques in the study of the lithosphere, sedimentary basins, and shallow targets—complement and enhance Leo’s research. Leo adds, “Dr. Morgan and Dr. Zelt have also been very helpful in providing guidance and feedback on the results and progress of the project.”

Leo plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s and then a Ph.D. in geology. His course of study will be geophysics, with a focus on seismology. He feels that his research work at Rice has opened doors for him in his pursuits and increased his love of the subject. He adds, “This research opportunity has really increased my interest in geology, and it is largely the driving force behind my pursuit of graduate studies."