Vitalijs ZELCHS

Dr. Vitalijs ZELCHS Professor of Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology, Chairman of Geomorphology and Geomatics Department of Geography Faculty of Geographical and Earth Sciences University of Latvia Postal address:                              Office address: 19 Rainis Blvd.                             Room 302 Riga, LV 1586                            10 Alberta iela Latvia                                          Riga, Latvia Phone: + 371 7 332 566 Fax: + 371 7 332 704 E-mail: Vitalijs.Zelchs@lu.lv

Born:  July 3, 1952, Briezhciema pagasts, Balvu rajons, Latvia

Interests:

• main field:          Glacial Geology 
• other fields:        Geomorphology   
                           Geomatics                         
          
• current:            Development of Proglacial and Subglacial Palaeoenvironments, Depositional and Landforming Processes                          During Weichselian Glaciation 

Languages: Latvian, English, Russian

Education

• Latvian State University of  (Faculty of Geography), diploma - geographer with distinction, 1970-1975
• M.Lomonosow Moscow State University (Faculty of Advanced Studies),  Landscape and Regional Geography, 1980
• MSc Geogr.,    University of Latvia, 1992
• Dr.geol., University of Latvia (Faculty of Geography), 1993

Career/Employment

• Geologist, all-Union Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Riga, 1974-1975
• Assistant Lecturer, Faculty of Geography, University of Latvia, 1975-1977
• Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Geography, University of Latvia, 1978-1992
• Docent, Faculty of Geography, University of Latvia, 1993-1998
• Dean of the Faculty of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia, 1994-1997
• Visiting Professor and Researcher at the Geology Department of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, USA, 1994
• TEMPUS PHARE Individual Mobility Grant Holder, Department of Geography, University of Plymouth, UK, 1995
• Head of the Board of the Faculty of Geographical and Earth Sciences, 1997-2005
• Associate Professor of Glacial Geology, 1999-2001
• Chairman  of the Geomorphology and Geomatics, Department of Geography, University of Latvia, 1999-
• Professor of Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology, 2002-

Honors, Awards, Fellowships

• Corresponding Member of Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2000-
• The PAGES, Conference Travel Grant, 2000
• Stipendium im Rahmen des Soderprogramms Osteuropa, Switzerland, 1994-1995
• TEMPUS PHARE Individual Mobility Grant, 1995
• Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Latvia Award, 1990
• SOROS Foundation-Latvia, Conference Travel Grant, 1995

Professional Activities and Memberships

International

• Corresponding Member of the The INQUA Commission on Terrestrial Processes, Deposits, and History (TERPRO), 2007-
• Leader of the Peribaltic Working Group, International Association for Quaternary Research (INQUA) TEPRO Commision, 2003-2007
• Vice-President, Commission on Glaciation of the International Association for Quaternary Research (INQUA), 1999-2003
• Member of Advisory Board of Geology Series of Proceedings of Estonian Academy of Sciences (since 2007 – Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences), 1997-
• Member of the Scientific Committee of the International Journal on Geology of the circum-Baltic States  "Baltica", 2004-

National:

• Member of the Editorial Board of „Akademiska Dzive”, 2008-
• Head of the Doctoral Board in Geology, University of Latvia, 2006 -
• Editor-in-chief of Series in Earth and Environmental Sciences of Acta Universitatis Latviensis, 2002-
• Head of the Academic Committee of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Medicine at the University of Latvia, 2001-2007
• Vice-Chairman of the Senate of the University of  Latvia , 2000-
• Chairman, Latvian National INQUA (LatQUA) Committee, 1998-
• Chair, Latvian National INQUA Committee, 1998-
• Expert in Geology, Expert Committee for Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Latvian Council of Science, 1997- 2007
• Member, Tutorial Board of Study Programs in Geography, 1994-
• Member, Tutorial Board of Study Programs in Geology, 2000 -
• Full Member of the  Geography Society of Latvia, 1975-

Lectures

Number of communications to international scientific congresses, meetings and symposiums     -  70
Number of communications to national scientific meetings  - 82

• Main Outlines of Geology of Latvia. Invited lecture. Geology Department at Western Michigan University, April 25, 1994.
• Geological Investigations and Curriculum Development in Earth Sciences at the University of Latvia. Geology Department at Western Michigan University, April 26, 1994.
• Curricula development in Geography, Geology and Environmental Science at the Faculty of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia. - University of Plymouth, UK, May 5, 1995.
• The Physical Geography and Environment of Latvia. Invited lecture. - University of Plymouth, UK, May 12, 1995. 
• Geomorphological investigations in Latvia. - Baltic Conference on History of Science, Riga, January 18, 1996.
• Research projects of specific and sensitive coastal areas in Latvia. Invited lecture. -NorFA Network ‘‘Specific and Sensitive Coastal environments of the Baltic Sea’’ opening meeting, Tallinn, March 8, 1997.
• Glaciotectonic structures and landforms as indicators of deglaciation in Latvia. - Invited lecture. Conference and Field Excursion on Areal versus Frontal Deglaciation of  the Vistulian Ice Sheet. - Poznan, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland, September 21-25, 1998.
• Structure and role of till in composition of drumlins and ribbed moraines in Latvia. - Invited lecture. Symposium and Research course: Till genesis and morphology, May 11-17, 2001. Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University.
• Main features of glaciotectonics in glacial lowlands and disintegration of continuous cover of till. - Invited lecture. Symposium and Research course: Till genesis and morphology, May 11-17, 2001. Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University.

Study Courses

University of Latvia -

• Geomorphology, BSGeog, BSGeol, BSEnv study programs, 1990-
• Environmental Geomorphology, MSGeog, BSEnv study programs, 2000-
• Geology and Geomophology of Latvia, BSGeog, BSGeol study programs, 2003-
• Glacial Geology, MSGeog, MSGeol study programs, 2003-
• Quaternary Geology, BSGeo study program, 2007-
• Quaternary Geology, BSGeo study program, 2008-

Recent/Representative Publications

      Total number of Publications -   426:

   Number of Scientific Publications      -    214
   Number of Educational Publications  -      22
   Other Publications                            -    190

• Rinterknecht V. R., Clark P. U., Raisbeck G. M., Yiou F., Bitinas A., Brook E. J., Marks L., Zelcs V., Lunkka J.-P., Pavlovskaya I. E., Piotrowski J. A. and Raukas A., 2006. The Last Deglaciation of the Southeastern Sector of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. Science, 311, 10 March 2006, 1449-1452.
• Saks T., Kalvans A., Zelcs V., 2007. Structure and micromorphology of glacial and non-glacial deposits in coastal bluffs at Sensala, Western Latvia. Baltica, 20(1-2), 19-27.
• Kalvans A., Saks T., Zelcs V., 2007. 2D analysis of apparent till micro fabrics in thin sections: An example from Western Latvia. Quaternary International, 167-168, Supplement 1. Abstracts the XVII INQUA Congress 2007, Australia, 28 July - 3 August 2007, 0293.
• Zelcs V., Saks T., Kalvans A., 2007. Towards revised Pleistocene stratigraphy of Western Latvia, the Eastern Baltic. Quaternary International, 167-168, Supplement 1. Abstracts the XVII INQUA Congress 2007, Australia, 28 July - 3 August 2007, 0656.   
• Zelchs V., Markots A., 2004. Deglaciation history of Latvia. In: Ehlers J., Gibbard P. L. (eds.). Extent and Chronology of Glaciations, v.1 (Europe). Elsevier.
• V.Zelchs, A.Dreimanis, 1997. Morphology, internal structure and genesis of the Burtnieks drumlin field, Northern Vidzeme, Latvia. J. Sedimentary Geology, 111, pp. 73-90.
• A.Dreimanis, V.Zelchs, 1995. Pleistocene stratigraphy of Latvia. In: Glacial Deposits in North-East Europe (J.Ehlers, S.Kozarski, Ph. Gibbard - eds.), 1995, Rotterdam/Brookfeld:A.A.Balkema, pp. 105-113.
• V.Zelchs, A.Markots, 1999. The use of geological information for spatial planning. Zalktis, Riga, 126 pp. (in Latvian). 

Research Projects:  

• Developing an Improved Event Chronology of the Late Weichselian Deglaciation of the Inner Zone of the Southern Margin of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet: Leader of the Project No. 2007/ZP-87, University of Latvia, 2007-2009.
• Glacial geology at the Baltic Sea bluffs between Sensala and Pavilosta, and the vicinity of Ziemupe, western Kurzeme, Latvia. Head of the Project No. 2006/1-229717, University of Latvia, 2006
• Development of Proglacial and Subglacial Palaeoenvironments, Depositional and Landforming Processes During Weichselian Glaciation in Latvia. Head of the Project No. 05.1498, Latvian Council of Science , 2005-2008
• International field symposium on Quaternary Geology and Modern Terrestrial Processes in western Latvia, September 12-17, 2004. Head, INQUA TEPRO Commission project No. 0417, 2004
• Developing an improved chronology of the southern margin of the Scandianvian ice sheet. Co-Principal Investigator of Collaborative Research Project funded by US-National Science Foundation, 2000-2003
• Correlation of the Weichselian Glacial Events in the Peribaltic Region: Subglacial Processes, Sediments and Landforms with Special Reference to Ice Movement Dynamics and Directions. National Coordinator of the INQUA Peribaltic Working Group Project, 1999-2003
• Central European Glaciotectonic Mapping Project (CEGMP). National Coordinator of the INQUA Geospatial Analysis of Glacial Environment (GAGE) Working Group Project, 1995-2003
• Ice Flow Directions during Late Weichselian Glaciation of Latvia. Head of the Project No. 04.0417, Latvian Council of Science, 2004
• Glacial Dynamics during the Last Glaciation. Head of the Project No. 01.0300, Latvian Council of Science, 2001-2003
• Glaciotectonic Map of Latvia. Head of the Project No. 96.0299, Latvian Council of Science, 1997-2000
• Raw Material Sector. District Planning in Latvia. Pilot Study in Kuldiga District. Consulting geologist, Report no. 30602-007, Denmark Environmental Agency/COWI, 1998
• Glaciotectonic Database Project of Latvia. Head of the Project No. 93.329, Latvian Council of Science, 1994-1996
• Landscape Structural Units of Latvia as Part Bioindicative Integration. Coordinator of sub-Project No. 90.325.01(628), Latvian Council of Science, 1991-1993.

Organization and Management of International Meetings, Workshops and Excursions

• Member of the Scientific Committee of the International Field Symposium on the Quaternary of Western Lithuania: from the Pleistocene glaciations to the evolution of the Baltic Sea, May 27 – June 02, 2007, Plateliai, Lithuania.
• Member of the Program Committee of the International Field Symposium on Late Pleistocene Glacigenic Deposits in the Central Part of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet, Kola Peninsula, Russia, September 11-15, 2006.
• Member of the Program Committee, the International Field Symposium on Late Pleistocene Glacigenic Deposits in the Central Part of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet, September 11-15, 2006
• Head of the Organizing Committee, the International Field Symposium on Quaternary Geology and Modern Terrestrial Processes in Western Latvia, September 12-17, 2004.
• Member of the Program Committee of the 6th International Drumlin Symposium of the INQUA Commision on Glaciation, June 17-23, 2001, Nicholas Copernicus University, Poland.
• Head of the Organizing Committee, the INQUA Commission on Glaciations, Peribaltic Group and Friends of Baltic Quaternary field Symposium on Glacial Processes and Quaternary Environment, Latvia, May 25-31, 1998.
• Member of the Organizing Committee, the XIV INQUA Congress in Berlin, August 3-10,1995. Postcongress Excursion C-3, Baltic Traverse, August 11-20, 1995.
• Member of the Organizing Committee, Pleistocene Stratigraphy, Ice Marginal Formations and Deglaciation of the Baltic States. Scientific Excursion of Peribaltic Group IGCP 253 Termination of the Pleistocene, June 14-19, 1993.
• Head of the Organizing Committee, Glaciotectonic Processes, Sediments, Landforms and Their Influence on the Present Geological Situation // Baltic Regional Summer Field Meeting of Geologists and Geomorphologists. North and Central Vidzeme, Latvia, July 27- August 01, 1992.
• Head of the Organizing Committee, Glacial Lithomorphogenesis, Paleogeography of Quaternary Epoch, Present Exodynamic Processes and Their Paleoecological Aspects // Winter Seminar Geomorphologists and Geologists of the Baltic States, Belarus and European part of Russia. Jurmala, Latvia, March 18-21, 1991. 

Other experience

• Organization and Management of Study Programs in Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, 1994-1997.
• Organization and Management of the field course in Geography of Latvia for BS G. and BS in Earth Science undergraduate students from the Plymouth University, UK, September, 1996 -1998.
• Organization and Management of the field course in Quaternary Geology and Glacial Geomorphology in Latvia for research students from the Bern University, Switzerland, May 25-June 5, 1997.

Last update 27.03.2008.