INCORPORATING EXTRATERRESTRIAL GEOLOGY IN EVERY CLASSROOM: EXCITING AND EFFECTIVE METHODS

There are four fundamental geologic processes that operate (or have operated) on the surfaces of every solid planetary body in our Solar System: 1) impact cratering; 2) volcanism; 3) tectonism; and 4) weathering/modification/erosion. With minimal effort, therefore, these concepts can be taught equally well using extraterrestrial and earthly examples and data sets. Our introductory geology sequence at the University at Buffalo (called “Earth's Place in the Solar System”) allows students to generate their own impact craters in sandboxes and by tossing pumpkins off the roof of our 9-storey building. In an upper-level planetary geology course, students use Mars imagery to determine impact crater size-frequency distributions and determine how that relates to observed stratigraphy. Volcanology students learn about basaltic eruptions by studying the Moon, and Mars; they investigate how lava composition may affect volcanic morphologies by examining available data for Venus' surface.

In our introductory geology class, we use lunar maria (the dark spots that give the facial features to the “man-in-the-Moon”) to teach basic concepts of impact cratering, relative dating, absolute dating, basaltic volcanism, and simple structure. I will present an abbreviated version of these modules and in-class exercises to demonstrate how easily primary planetary data sets can be incorporated into introductory classroom activities.