HR: 0800h
AN: ED51B-0021    [Abstracts]
TI: An Exploration Geophysics Course With an Environmental Focus for an Urban Minority Institution
AU: * Kenyon, P M
EM: pkenyon@sci.ccny.cuny.edu
AF: City College of New York, Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sci., J-106, Convent Ave. at 138th St., New York, NY 10031 United States
AB: A hands-on exploration geophysics field course with an environmental focus has been developed with NSF support for use at the City College of New York in Manhattan. To maximize access for the students, no prerequisites beyond introductory earth science and physics are required. The course is taught for three hours on Saturday mornings. This has resulted in it attracting not only regular City College students, but also earth science teachers studying for alternate certification or Master's degrees. After a brief introduction to the nature of geophysics and to concepts in data processing, the course is taught in four three-week modules, one each on seismology, resistivity surveying, electromagnetic ground conductivity, and magnetic measurements. Each module contains one week of theory, a field experience, computer data analysis, and a final report. Field exercises are planned to emphasize teamwork and include realistic urban applications of the techniques. Student surveys done in conjunction with this course provide insights into the motivations and needs of the mostly minority students taking it. In general, these students come to the course already comfortable with teamwork and with working in the field. The questionnaires indicate that their greatest need is increased knowledge of the methods of geophysics and of the problems that can be attacked using it. Most of the students gave high ratings to the course, citing the fieldwork as the part that they most enjoyed. The results of these surveys will be presented, along with examples of the field exercises used. The computer analysis assignments written for this course will also be available.
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 6630 Workforce
DE: 0994 Instruments and techniques
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting