REQUIRED UNDERGRADUATE FIELD RESEARCH IN AN EARTH SYSTEMS CURRICULUM AT AN URBAN MINORITY INSTITUTION

Recently, City College of New York merged its separate geology and meteorology majors into a single earth systems curriculum. In this merger, a significant issue for the faculty was how to retain the field experience embodied in our separate field requirements in the new curriculum. Our solution has been to require a senior capstone course, Environmental Project (EAS 472), in which the students learn the field techniques in an area of their choice and then carry out a semester-long research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Although the students can work on individual projects or receive credit for an extramural field course, most participate in team projects organized around the interests of a particular faculty member. The topic offered in a particular semester is based on student interest and faculty schedules.

For students in a team project, the semester starts with an introduction to the field techniques and literature search methods in their chosen area. Then each student takes responsibility for the design and execution of one part of the group study. Frequent meetings and informal interactions among students and faculty are used to keep everyone on track. The semester culminates in a public seminar and departmental party during which that semester’s EAS 472 students give short (15-minute) presentations on their research and its results. Grading is based on effort during the semester and on the quality of the final presentation and a required written report.

Recent projects have included an electrical resistivity survey of an urban archeological site in Central Park, field and GIS studies of fault locations and earthquake activity in Hispaniola, the collection and identification of heavy-metal-bearing aerosol particles in New York City, and the response of clouds to air pollutants at Storm Peak Laboratory in Colorado. The organization and results of some of these projects will be discussed.