Keck Program Blog
The goals of this blog are (1) to raise the visibility of Keck Geology Consortium programs, (2) to provide Keck research projects with a venue for communicating the process and results of science, and (3) to foster student learning about communicating science to the general public. We invite contributions to the blog from project students, faculty and staff. Submissions will undergo brief review before posting.
Oreos, Taylor Swift, and spectacular geology!
As the summer research season comes to a close and the new academic year looms, I thought I’d share bits and pieces of our Keck Geology Consortium Advanced Project with family, friends, faculty, and geosociences afficionados.
Geologizing in the time of COVID
What a summer! As the summer research season ends and the new school year begins, I thought I’d catch everyone up on the exciting (but not-so-smooth) arc of our Keck Geology Consortium Advanced Project.
Spotted: A Wild Near Peer Mentor
Would they listen to me? NOPE. Would they respect my “authority”? NOPE. Would they snark at me and think of me as a huge dork? YUP.
Sharing is Caring
We were situated underneath a bridge which was frequented by hikers, so throughout the day people would stop and stare, prompting us to greet them and strike a conversation. Everyone we spoke to was super excited to hear about what we were doing and often asked intriguing questions. It was amazing to connect with so many individuals, to the point where knowledge of our work was being spread throughout the Many Glacier area.
Park Rangers: The Gatekeepers of Glacier National Park
… I began to understand that park rangers not only have a duty to protect the park because it is their job, but also because it is their home.
Mooving and Grooving
I could tell it wasn’t going to be a usual hike. First of all, unlike the trail to Iceberg, the trail was pretty void of people. This made our group feel a real intimacy with the wilderness around us. Second of all, after walking just a little bit on the trail, we came to realize that the trail had turned into one giant incline. Oof.
Mountains on the Horizon
Glacier is a place that tells a story just from looking at it’s mountains. I recommend just sitting and staring at a mountain for awhile. But honestly, you’ll end up doing it naturally. The mountains of Glacier National Park are amazing. But be forewarned, this sets the standard for any mountain view you’ll ever see…
Food Food FOOD!
…It’s those times of exhausted accomplishment that I lived for, PB & Nutella sandwich half melted, dripping from my sunchapped lips. My only thoughts were on the mixed nuts and beef jerky that were scattered in the bottom of my well worn lunch ziploc…
Sediment, Water, and Bears, Oh My!
our discharge measurements were occasionally interrupted by some interested wildlife!
Zodiacs in the Rain
…when the waves come up and the rain starts, one feels pretty exposed riding on these boats.
Oil and Ice
…we commonly encountered oiled outcrops in our sampling: a sad sight and a reminder of a past ecological disaster..
Blue Skies in Alaska
Nicholas Gross Almonte from Carleton College takes notes on the Upper Cretaceous Valdez Group at an outcrop in Valdez Arm, Prince William Sound Alaska.