ALBUQUERQUE’S GEOSCAPE: A POSTER DESIGNED TO RAISE COMMUNITY GEOLITERACY

The science of geology is frequently perceived by the student, teacher, or adult non-geologist as "difficult to understand"; on the other hand, most non-geologists of all ages notice and appreciate landforms such as mountains, mesas, volcanoes, valleys and canyons. In many cases, especially in western states, these landforms represent primary (non-degradational) topography that can be directly related to dynamic geologic processes. Therefore, these landforms can be used to increase the non-geologist’s understanding of the way in which geological processes create and alter the planet’s surface. Geologists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS), divisions of science and education, have partnered with a geologist / middle school teacher, from the Albuquerque Public Schools, to create a poster that uses the landscape around Albuquerque to provide information about the local geology. The Albuquerque Geoscape poster consists of a central satellite image of the Albuquerque region surrounded by 6 geological topic panels: the Rio Grande, Rio Grande rift, Sandia Mountains, the local aquifer, local volcanoes, and earthquakes. Smaller panels include an introduction, simplified geologic map, annotated geologic time scale, additional resources for information, and sponsors. The poster is designed to capture attention by focusing on local landforms that people see every day; and by providing a capsule summary of basic information about each topic at the layman’s level. The poster will address both informal and formal learning needs (for the general public and for students in the classroom); a curriculum based on each topic panel and a web based "slide show" will also be available to teachers. The content is aligned with science education standards at the middle school level. The poster was partially funded by an Intel Innovations in Teaching grant, awarded to J. Newsom, to develop education resources about the local geology.