Summer Spotlight: Geology and Environmental Science students, faculty explore Utah and Idaho
Eleven USI Geology and Environmental Science majors joined three faculty members of the Department of Geology, Physics and Environmental Science on an 11-day field excursion (GEOL 390) to parts of northwestern Utah and southern Idaho, June 7-18.
Taught by Carrie Wright, Advanced Instructor in Geology, the students were able to gain valuable field experiences in scientific communication, field observations, keeping a field notebook and detailed learning-in-place from local experts while alternating between camping, hotel stays and a four-day stay at the College of Southern Idaho dorms in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Highlights from their time in Utah included camping in the Wasatch Mountains and hiking on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake with USI geology alum, Paul Inkenbrandt '05, to see bison, migratory birds and rocks deposited during the Precambrian "Snowball Earth" episode of Earth's history. Students experienced the flat terrain of the Eastern Snake River Plain in Idaho, which ends abruptly at the Snake River Canyon between Twin Falls and Hagerman. Here, they enjoyed close-up observations of immense lava flows, swam in spring water from the Snake River Plain Aquifer and measured water quality.
The Idaho portion of the trip ended at Craters of the Moon National Monument, where participants were able to hike on and to geologically recent volcanic features such as cinder cones, spatter cones, craters, tree molds and a lava lake. The trip ended with a stop at the Geological Museum on the University of Wyoming campus for a tour given by Dr. Laura Vietti, which included the opportunity to look through and touch items in the museum's immense fossil collection that are not currently on display.
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? Submit your information and photos through the USI Today content submission form or by email to usi.today@usi.edu to be featured in the Summer Spotlight series!
