Dr. Dave Ullman

Dr. Dave Ullman is a broadly -trained earth system scientist whose work explores the interactions among geology, climate, and water across the upper Midwest, with a particular focus on northern Wisconsin and the Lake Superior/ Chequamegon Bay Region. His research primarily investigates how past and present climate changes impact the landscape, studying the collapse of the large North American ice sheets over the past 25,000 years.
 

Dave’s research expertise spans glacial geology, paleoclimate, climate sensitivity, geomorphology, hydrology, and ocean carbon cycling. He employs a combination of field and lab work, geochemical analysis, and earth system modeling to understand the sensitivity of past climates and ice sheets to changes in greenhouse gas concentrations. His recent work examines how the timing and position of glacier margins influenced the flow of watersheds in the Lake Superior basin.
 

For nearly a decade, Dave was an Associate Professor of Geoscience at Northland College, where he led multi-year, student-engaged research projects focused on glacial landforms, watershed hydrology, and sediment dynamics. He is a passionate educator and patient mentor dedicated to enhancing critical thinking about earth system complexity and the geologic context of modern environmental challenges. 

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Dave is actively involved in public outreach and education, communicating scientific findings through public lectures, master naturalist courses, and community field trips. His professional philosophy centers on inclusive and collaborative decision making and relationship building, believing these values enhance collective problem solving and stakeholder engagement in addressing environmental complexities.

 

Dave earned his Ph.D. in Geoscience and a master’s in Atmospheric and Ocean Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.