Instructor Workshop: Teaching Near-surface Geophysics to Undergraduates from Intro to Majors

Tuesday August 6 - Thursday August 8
Colorado School of Mines campus, Golden, CO

Overview

This workshop provides the foundation for Earth science instructors to integrate near-surface geophysics instrumentation and methods into their undergraduate courses -- from introductory to majors-level. Geophysics methods can be applied to a wide range of societally important topics, from natural hazards to groundwater resources to forensics and provide a powerful way to engage students in Earth science and allied fields.

Featured methods will be ground penetrating radar (GPR), active seismic, electrical resistivity, and real-time kinematic GPS/GNSS surveying. Participants will all learn the basics of GPS/GNSS and focus more heavily on one of the other three methods (and have a lighter introduction to the other two). There will be a combination of field-based hands-on time and classroom time. Participants will gain experience with the IGUaNA (Introducing Geophysics for Urban and Near-surface Applications) and GETSI (GEodesy Tools for Societal Issues) teaching modules and have time to plan for implementing the resources into their own teaching.

Several different types of geophysical instruments are available for loan through the EarthScope Geophysics Field Education program, so after participants learn the methods, they have the opportunity to borrow equipment for use with students.

Attendees

This workshop is for instructors who are interested in incorporating one or more near-surface geophysics instrumental methods into their undergraduate course/s. Community college and introductory-level instructors, as well as majors-level instructors, are all encouraged to apply. Later-stage graduate students with significant teaching responsibility are also eligible.

Participants of the 2022 and 2023 IGUaNA workshops have already learned this content. Please check Beth Pratt-Sitaula (beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org) if you have questions.

Travel and Costs

Colorado School of Mines is located in Golden, CO on the western side of the Denver metropolitan area. The workshop will provide hotel accommodation and food during the workshop and up to $700* towards travel expenses (flights and ground transportation).

*Travel support must go to US citizens/permanent residents or people at US institutions. If you do not qualify for travel support but are interested in attending and can pay your own way, please contact the email below.

Expectations

Participants in the workshop are expected to:

Adhere to the EarthScope Code of Conduct
Attend a preparatory virtual meeting (1-1.5 hours) in mid-late July (although real-time attendance will be preferable, this will be recorded for anyone unable to attend at the time)
Attend the entire in-person workshop (8:00 am Tuesday August 6 - 5:30pm Thursday August 8)

Goals

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2023 IGUaNA Workshop Participants gathering GPR data in the field.
Provenance: John McDaris, Carleton College
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Participants will:

Be able to design and conduct a geophysics survey using two or more near-surface methods (ground penetrating radar, active seismic, electrical resistivity, GPS/GNSS)
Be able to process the resulting geophysics data
Be able to articulate how the method/s can be used to address societally-relevant geoscience research questions
Practice teaching a geophysics method to others
Make implementation plans for teaching the method/s in their own course/s