DOING WHAT GEOLOGISTS DO:ENCOURAGING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN AUTHENTIC FIELD RESEARCH

Since 1995, freshman earth science students at Mt Blue High School in Farmington, Maine have been analyzing local outcrops in the Farmington/Wilton area. In addition to learning various standard field and lab techniques, they have been acquiring new insights into the scientific method. By engaging in long-term research with no preconceived answers, they are learning to do what scientists do.

In the summer of 2000, a group of 18 high school students left the local area to pursue an additional summer research project. The purpose of this project was to attempt to discover the origin of morphological salt marsh features known as salt pannes. After forming possible hypotheses about the origins of salt pannes, the students and their mentor devised and executed a plan to compare physical features of creeks and pannes. To complete this plan, they retrieved a series of sediment cores from two coastal salt marshes in southern and mid-coast Maine, performed a standard grain size analysis on samples from selected cores, and performed rising-head slug tests on selected bore holes. After completing the project, the students presented their findings to various groups, and completed a technical report communicating these findings to scientists at the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge. With their experiences designing a research plan, executing field and lab work, and communicating their findings to others, the students receive an accurate representation of the real-world work of professional geologists.