This academic year, we hosted numerous outreach events! We partnered with Breakthrough Twin Cities, Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), and Upward Bound. We also lent rock kits to Partnership Academy and an adult education classroom. These events were designed to provide resources to the general public, support those with limited access to educational materials, and give an insight into the world of earth sciences. 

On Saturday, October 14th, over 80 seventh graders from Breakthrough Twin Cities visited Tate Hall at the University of Minnesota to learn about geology and research. They engaged in hands-on activities across various labs, including the Continental Scientific Drilling Facility, the Microprobe and XRCT labs, the Institute of Rock Magnetism, the Structure, Tectonic, and Metamorphic Petrology lab, and the Rock and Mineral Physics lab. Highlights included creating their own cores, examining meteorites, and exploring rock and mineral samples. The event aimed to introduce students to a college campus, provide insight into research, and foster connections. One student participant spent the entire 20 minute walk back to the bus talking about how cool the fossil they got was and enthusiastically proclaimed, “I’m totally gonna go to the U!”.

Additionally, we collaborated with the Chanhassen Cub Scouts to help a group of fourth-grade scouts earn their Geology Belt Loop. Our volunteers engaged with the scouts, offering accessible insights into geology. Through hands-on activities, the scouts learned to identify rocks and minerals and understand their significance in everyday life. This enriching experience fostered curiosity and appreciation for the natural sciences among the participants.

More recently, on June 26th, 2024, 17 high school and community college students from the Upward Bound program at Normandale Community College visited the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Minnesota. Through hands-on activities, they learned about studying earth sciences and explored its various disciplines. The students used the river table to create their own river channels, and observed how sediment is eroded and transported downstream by varying water speeds and river topography. They also studied glacier movement to understand how glaciers have carved U-shaped valleys, particularly in Minnesota where they have grown up. These activities provided the students with insights into different geological processes around them.

We had a pleasure working with each of these groups and look forward to continuing working with these programs in the future! 

This academic year has already brought a wealth of enriching experiences to our department. We've engaged with diverse age groups, delving into the fascinating realm of geology and University of Minnesota research. 

On Saturday, October 14th, over 80 7th graders from Breakthrough Twin Cities visited Tate Hall to learn about geology and research at the University of Minnesota. During the day, students had access to various laboratories, where they learned about their respective research through hands-on activities. The goal of this event was to give students an opportunity to see a college campus, get a sense of what research entails, build connections, and ultimately have a great time! We received rave reviews; to quote one of the Breakthrough members: "My personal favorite: a seventh grader who talked for 20 minutes straight on the bus back about how cool the fossil they had gotten was and how excited they were about it, was heard saying 'I'm totally gonna go to the U!'"

The students were able to visit various labs and learn directly from researchers behind the science. The Continental Scientific Drilling Facility provided the 'I Cored!' exercise, where students made their own cores and visualized different sediment layers. In the Microprobe and XRCT labs, students saw meteorites at both macro- and micro-scales, while also touching and observing meteorite hand samples. The Institute of Rock Magnetism (IRM) discussed the magnetism of natural materials with students and showed them around the IRM facility. Kent Kirby and his partner shared stories behind casts and tracks, while having a plethora of samples for students to explore. The Structure, Tectonic, and Metamorphic Petrology laboratory provided a tour of their lab space and taught students about the history of rocks and minerals from around the world. Lastly, the Rock and Mineral Physics laboratory gave a tour of their lab and demonstrated different deformation behaviors.

Additionally, we partnered with the Chanhassen Cub Scouts, aiding a group of scouts in earning their Geology Belt Loop. Our volunteers interacted with 4th grade Cub Scouts, providing accessible insights into the field of geology. Through hands-on activities, scouts learned to identify rocks and minerals, understanding their importance in everyday life. It proved to be an enriching experience, fostering curiosity and appreciation for the natural sciences among the participants.

We had a great time collaborating with Breakthrough Twin Cities and the Chanhassen Cub Scouts, and are eager to keep that partnership going. Looking ahead, we're excited about more outreach activities in the pipeline, as we aim to stay connected with our community and spark interest in the Earth sciences.  

The 2022-23 school year was a big year for outreach events. We had volunteers help at the Bell Museum, give lab tours to UMN students, and speak with middle schoolers about earth science. 

ESCI graduate students, along with Professor Calvin Alexander, volunteered for the two-day annual SpaceFest event at the Bell Museum. As a department, we provided hands-on activities for the general public to learn about crater impacts and meteorites. The first activity, aimed at a younger audience, dropped various sized balls into a sandpit to create a crater. They explored how height, force, mass, and size of the balls impacted the crater size. Meteorite expert Professor Alexander provided meteorite hand-samples for the public to hold and observe. They were able to ask questions and learn about identifying meteorites from an expert. 

The English as a Second Language (ESL) class from the University of Minnesota's Intensive English Program visited our department to provide an opportunity for students to practice communicating in English about Earth Science topics. The students in ESL 130/230, taught by Catherine Clements, had been learning about natural disasters and they toured a few labs that studied earthquakes and volcanisms. They toured the Aqueous Geochemistry lab, Structure Tectonics and Metamorphic Petrology lab, and the Rock and Mineral Physics lab. While visiting these labs, they learned about hydrothermal systems, significance of tectonic plate boundaries, and deformation mechanisms of Earth's interior, and how these can be related to natural disasters. 

In April, ESCI graduate students as well as a member from MGS spent a day at Minnetonka Middle School West interacting with 5th graders in their Earth Science classes. For each class session there were two main activities: Small group specimen “meet and greet” and “path to geoscience” mini lectures. The Earth scientist showed students specimens related to their field of study, and the students were able to handle the samples and ask questions. Multiple scientists spoke about what got them interested in earth sciences and shared stories about their early interest in the field. The students got to see the unique and personal ways in which people pursue a field of science, showing that it is not always such a linear path.

We look forward to what the next academic year holds for outreach!