On June 26th 2024, 17 students from the Upward Bound program came to the University to learn about Earth Sciences and give them an inside look of what earth scientist study. The students created their own river channel and explored how sediment is eroded and carried downstream through varying water speeds. They also observed how glaciers migrate and create a U-shape. Through these hands-on activities, the students received visualizations for varying geological processes. 

On Saturday, October 14th 2023, 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.

Most summers, the Bell Museum runs a geology themed summer camp where young kids get to explore the world of geology. We provide the camp with rocks, minerals, and testing kits so the campers can gain hands-on experience with identifying various rocks and minerals. Additionally, experts from the ESCI department give lectures to the campers regarding the various research in geology! 

The English as a Second Language (ESL) class from the University of Minnesota's Intensive English Program visited our department during the 2022-2023 school year 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. 

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. 

In the Summer of 2021, a group of volunteers went and taught a group of young kids through Project Wild Rooted. Our volunteers taught the students all about identifying rocks and the history of how different rocks formed.  

We partnered with the Chanhassen Cub Scouts in March, 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. 

In April 2023, 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. 

In Spring 2019, ESCI hosted the local Rahz Geology Club (a special interest geology club whose president was in middle school) for a session on geology research. Short talks; “All about Lava” with Jen Casareres, “Metamorphic Rocks Under a Microscope” with Hannah Blatchford, “Warm Ice is Cool; how glaciers flow” with Morgan Monz, Careers in earth sciences with Josh Feinberg. Followed by a tour of the Rock Magnetism Lab  and a tour of the U of M mineral collection and lastly the Microprobe tour and teaching microscopes. 

Christine Newville and Evan Whiting made a YouTube video exploring Minnesota geology, formations, and fossils. takes a look inside labs to look closely at basalt and gneiss, investigate the Platteville Formation, and examine fossils from our state. They will take us inside the lab to look closely at basalt and gneiss, investigate the Platteville Formation, and examine fossils from our state.