Beaches are some of the world’s most dynamic ecological environments. Each grain of sand on the beach has a story to tell; a tale of great travels, interactions with others, and surviving through catastrophic events. The research of **Dr. Allen Gontz** will take you on a journey that begins to unravel and decipher the stories. Image: [Banzai Surf School](http://banzaisurfschool.com/the-sand/ "The Sand")
Allen Gontz is an Associate Professor of Coastal Geology and Geophysics at UMass Boston. His research interest is in coastal geological evolution and how landscapes change over time. Gontz’s lab focuses on the investigation of changes to the landscape within the Quaternary that are primarily the result of changing sea-level and anthropogenic impacts.