BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — The Indiana University-based office that’s researched Indiana’s energy, mineral and water resources for nearly 180 years has a new leader.

Todd Thompson will become the Indiana Geological Survey’s new director Nov. 1.

He’ll succeed John Steinmetz as both the survey’s director and Indiana’s state geologist. Steinmetz is stepping down after 17 years with the survey, which was founded in 1837.

Thompson has performed research for the IU-based geological survey for 25 years.

He’s known for his work on lake level changes in the upper Great Lakes but has recently investigated with the National Park Service mysterious voids in the popular Mount Baldy dune at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Those voids came to light in July 2013 when a 6-year-old boy was nearly buried alive in that dune.