WEB-BASED RESOURCES FOR TEACHING GEOLOGY AND HUMAN HEALTH

Geology has important contributions to make to societal issues related to human health although currently these topics are not emphasized in the geoscience curriculum and related disciplines tend to overlook geologic factors that influence human health. The NAGT On the Cutting Edge Workshop on Geology and Human Health provided an opportunity to explore current instructional activities that integrate these topics, and to establish plans for future development of instructional resources. As a product of this workshop, a number of collections of web-mediated resources have been developed to support learning about geology and human health in introductory and "core" geology courses, new courses on geology and human health or medical geology, and for informal education for the general public. All workshop activities such as oral presentations, posters, a reading list, photo gallery, discussion summaries, and field trip guide to the Butte-Silver Bow Superfund Site are posted on the webpage. Thematic collections of instructional resources include both web-based resources that are available to help develop new course activities, and teaching materials designed specifically to integrate geology and human health. There is also a collection of books from the popular press that addresses issues of geology and human health. Topics covered in the various thematic collections include: geogenic toxicants (e.g. radionuclides, metals, minerals, gases); anthropogenic toxicants in natural systems (e.g. volatile organic compounds; PCBs); mobilization and release transport mechanisms; exposure pathways (air, water, food, occupational); bioavailability; epidemiology and risk assessment; and public policy. Working groups from the workshop continue to create new resources for these collections in areas of identified need. The geoscience community is invited to join these working groups and to use and contribute to these on-line collections of resources. The workshop webpage is: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health04/index.html