Exploring Southwest Geology and Geophysics through the EarthScope Program

The workshop was very successful!

Workshop participants tested their creativity with some fun, hands-on, team activities. They built their own model seismometers to measure and record motion using regular classroom materials like cardboard, pencils, tape, rubber bands, sticky notes, and foam. Pictures will be at http://bit.ly/Cae6Y. The teachers learned how seismic waves move through Earth (watch the video at http://bit.ly/GWush), learned how to read GPS time series plots, and accessed live data online using UNAVCO’s Jules Verne Voyager Jr tool.

Steve Semken from Arizona State University gave a wonderful presentation on the geologic history of the region, beginning to tie geologic evolution to native ethno-geologic concepts. He plans to present more on that topic tomorrow. You can download his slides from both days of the workshop at http://bit.ly/12wGFJ.

Two guest speakers joined the workshop in the afternoon. Joelle Clark from Northern Arizona University and the National Park System spoke about various programs parks in the region offer to help teachers plan field trips, and teach about park ecosystems and regional culture in their classrooms. The parks offer “teaching trunks” that teachers can check out to use before, during, and after a visit to their local park with their students. Check out the program at http://www.nps.gov/learn/trunks.htm.

Diana Anderson from Northern Arizona University presented a “tour of research”, highlighting recent scientific field studies her team is involved with in Arizona and the surrounding region. She also spoke about numerous programs helping to build science teachers’ skills in STEM education, and internships that offer Native students opportunities to advance their education and careers in a range of scientific disciplines. Learn more at http://www.cefns.nau.edu/Academic/Geology/ and check out additional links I posted today on UNAVCO’s twitter page - http://twitter.com/UNAVCO.

After swapping stories over pizza, workshop leaders and many of the participants ended the evening with a trip to the Lowell Observatory (http://www.lowell.edu/). We were able to catch a great view of Jupiter and its 4 largest moons through a 114 year old telescope at an outstanding 200x magnification. We also spotted the moon and other noteworthy planets (including Pluto, Lowell defends) and stars in the dark skies above Flagstaff. Flagstaff claims to be the first International Dark Sky City in the world. Learn more at http://www.flagstaffdarkskies.org/idsc.htm.

Stay tuned for more as we wrap up the workshop tomorrow!