Workshop Overview

Format and goals

Field total station
  • Plenary sessions: Participants will discuss general issues such as how to help students visualize important geophysical concepts, how to incorporate geophysics projects into courses, and how best to integrate geophysics concepts into courses across the geoscience curriculum, especially in departments where geophysics is not taught as a separate course.
  • Demonstration sessions: Participants will share strategies for actively engaging students in the classroom and for providing effective and innovative lab and field experiences. Some of the demonstration sessions will be geared to sharing effective ways of teaching "the basics".
  • Dealing effectively with the "fear factors": The mathematics and basic physics aspects of geophysics are common stumbling blocks for students. The workshop will have both presentation and discussion sessions focused on how to help students overcome these barriers.
  • Working groups: All participants will be part of working groups whose tasks will be to review and ultimately test activities and assignments submitted by workshop participants.
  • Teaching materials collection: All participants will contribute to development of the collection Resources for Teaching Geophysics similar to the collections Resources for Teaching Petrology, Resources for Teaching Structural Geology, Resources for Teaching Hydrogeology, and Resources for Teaching Sedimentary Geology. Workshop attendees will also participate in follow-up activities such as post-workshop online review of activities.
  • Email List: A email list for workshop participants will promote discussion before and after the workshop.

Dates

SAR interferogram ground deformation Izmit Turkey quake
The first workshop event will take place at 7 pm on Saturday, August 11, and the last at dinner on Wednesday, August 15. Participants must attend all sessions. An optional field trip will take place on Thursday, August 16. Please note date change on the optional field trip.

Eligibility and application instructions

Applicants for this workshop must hold a faculty position at a two- or four-year college or university and either teach a geophysics course or have expertise in geophysics plus experience in integrating geophysics in a significant way into other courses in the curriculum. We welcome applications from all academic ranks. The workshop is limited to 60 participants, and the final list of participants will be established with the goal of assembling a group representing a wide range of experiences, educational environments, and specialties. Application must be made on line by February 1, 2007, and successful applicants will be notified by February 15, 2007.

Cost

On-site costs. The National Science Foundation provides funding for the operational costs of the workshop plus room, board, and workshop materials for the participants. To be supported by these funds, a participant must be either a US citizen, a permanent resident, or in the employ of a US institution. If you don't meet these requirements and are interested in participating in this workshop at your own expense, please contact the workshop conveners.

Gravity field change from Sumatra quake

Travel. All participants or their home institutions must provide transportation to and from the workshop. The workshop will be held at the University of Michigan's Camp Davis Rocky Mountain Field Station near Jackson, Wyoming. Participants must make their own way to the field station in time for the first workshop event at 7 pm on Saturday, August 11. The workshop will be over on Wednesday evening, August 15, and participants will return home on Thursday, August 16. Those who wish to go on the optional field trip on August 16 can return home on Friday, August 17. Camp Davis is about 30 miles from Jackson Hole Airport, which is served by American, Delta, Northwest, Skywest, United, United Express, Atlantic Southeast, and Big Sky Airlines. The Camp is a four-hour drive from Salt Lake City, which may offer cheaper airfares. Alltrans, Inc. offers a shuttle service from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole.

We will be able to offer small travel stipends to participants from institutions unable to cover travel costs. The deadline for application for travel stipends is February 22, 2007.

Facilities

Workshop sessions will take place at the Camp Davis Rocky Mountain Field Station. The setting is rustic but comfy. Workshop participants will share cabins and will eat meals in the Camp dining hall. Participants will need to bring a sleeping bag or blanket and sheets plus towels and a pillow, if you want one. Please note that we will not be able to provide accommodations for family members.

Further Information

Contact Barbara Tewksbury (btewksbu@hamilton.edu)