The earth sciences department has replaced traditional lectures with project-oriented lectures/labs so that students learn in authentic problem-oriented settings. All classes include a field component—the local region is rich in geologic diversity, and faculty have taken students on trips to Wyoming, the Canadian Rockies, Hawaii, the Galapagos, Iceland and Montserrat. The program leads to an independent senior-research experience for which majors develop, write and present results of the project, frequently at professional geology meetings.
The Earth Science department teaches courses and conducts
collaborative student-faculty research that covers a broad range of topics,
including: oceanography, climate change, environmental hazards, energy
resources, hydrogeology, geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, structural
geology, geomorphology, and paleontology. Courses use a mixture of traditional
lectures and project-oriented lectures/labs so that students learn in authentic
problem-oriented settings. All classes include a field component—the local
region is rich in geologic diversity, and faculty have taken students on trips
to Wyoming, southern California, New Mexico, New England, the Canadian Rockies,
Hawaii, the Galapagos, Iceland and Montserrat. The program leads to an
independent senior-research experience for which majors develop, write and
present results of the project, frequently at professional earth science
meetings.
The Earth
Science major at Dickinson is a journey developing independent thought, problem
solving, critical thinking, field, and research skills. This journey produces
an earth scientist well prepared for graduate school or a career in industry.
The earth science curriculum emphasizes the traditional earth science
subdisciplines in an exciting research- and project-based learning environment.
The earth science faculty's teaching approach stresses self-discovery of
scientific principles and processes rather than the mere memorization of
"facts". The department has a variety of research grade analytical
facilities including an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), an x-ray
diffractometer (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS), GIS software,
and an atomic absorption analyzer (AA), all of which are used by majors for
class and research projects.
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