Chance meeting in Acadia
June 2, 2023
Lori Huck, Administrative Assistant for USI's Honors Program, was hiking through the beautiful landscape of Acadia National Park in Maine when she stumbled upon a familiar face—Dr. Paul Doss, Professor of Geology! Doss and Dr. Tony Maria, also a Professor of Geology and Chair of the Geology, Physics and Environmental Science Department, were working with a group of USI students for the annual summer field excursion course.
"This year's focus included the Northern Appalachians, Acadia National Park and the Gulf of Maine," says Doss. "Students work in the classroom and lab during the Spring Semester, ultimately creating a written field guidebook. We then head out to examine field sites in person."
From May 15 through 17, the group experienced and studied the complex and long geologic history of the Northeastern U.S. They explored various terrains—including the northern forests and the coast of the Gulf of Maine—and observed ecosystem, geomorphology and much more.
These summer field excursions are a part of the Geology, Physics and Environmental Science Department's Geology 390 course, allowing students an opportunity to examine the regional geology of various parts of the U.S. The trips include classroom and literature research and culminate in a field experience to view, firsthand, subject matter studied prior to the group's departure. In 2021, students traveled to Mount St. Helens in Skamania County, Washington, and the Crater Lake region in southern Oregon. In 2019, Doss led the group in a circuit around Lakes Michigan and Superior.
As for the chance encounter between Huck and the group, "It was really fun and such a surprise!" Huck says.
"Lori caught me completely off guard in a great way when she found us off-trail in Acadia," adds Doss.
Just goes to show, you never know where you might find a Screaming Eagle in the wild!
Are you working on a special project or researching for an article? Taking a trip and showing off your Screagle gear with family and friends? Share your summer plans with USI Today to be featured in an upcoming issue!