Professor Paul Potter's Best-Selling Book Re-issued for Geo Centennial

Exploring the Geology of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Region, written by University of Cincinnati geology professor emeritus Paul E. Potter, was first published in 1996. Potter taught in the UC Geology Department from 1971 until 1992. The second edition of his best-selling book is being released in conjunction with the UC Geology Department’s

centennial

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which is being jointly celebrated with the UC Geography Department.

Heavily illustrated with photos and graphics, the 128-page book is intended for “amateurs, civil engineers, geographers, geologists, planners, architects, and teachers from grade school through university—a broad, diverse audience,” according to the preface. It examines the geologic history of the eleven-county region as well as the contemporary landscape, soils and sedimentation, geologic hazards and groundwater, among other topics. Numerous references and sections entitled “Digging Deeper” direct readers to sources of additional information on regional geology.

“Paul Potter is well known in his field,” says UC Geology Department chair Arnold Miller. “Despite no longer teaching classes, he’s very engaged in working, traveling and writing technical papers. There’s nothing he’d rather be doing than geology. He loves it.”

“I like to refer to Dr. Potter as KGS’s best unpaid employee,” says Jim Cobb, Kentucky’s state geologist and KGS director. “He combines a vast knowledge of the geology of the region with boundless enthusiasm for sharing it with others. We are very happy to publish the updated version of this valuable contribution.”

UC geology professor Dave Meyer calls the book an excellent method of conveying geologic concepts to the public. “It covers aspects that range from the practical to some of the more theoretical and scientific interpretations.  But it presents it in a way that is very accessible to teachers and students at all levels.”

In the preface to the first edition, Potter recalled that one of his graduate school professors told him every geologist should do something for the local community. “I don’t know whether I’ve accomplished that goal,” Potter says, “but I hope the book demonstrates to more people that, if you understand geology, you can use it to save many social and municipal mistakes.  In other words, build with awareness of geology to forestall future problems.”

He says about half of the 87 illustrations in the book have been updated and the text reflects the better understanding geologists now have about the region’s geology both at the surface and below.

Besides crediting other researchers and the UC Geology Department for its support, Potter says he’s indebted to the Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana Geological Surveys for much of the material that went into the book. In addition, local geological and engineering organizations and companies contributed to the publication of the book. 

The new edition of Exploring the Geology of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Region is available for $10 plus shipping from the KGS Public Information Center at (859) 257-3896 or toll-free at (877) 778-7827. Copies will also be available during the Geology/Geography Centennial Celebration.

More on the centennial