LEARNING THROUGH RESEARCH: BEST PRACTICES FROM THE KECK GEOLOGY CONSORTIUM

Since its beginning in 1987, the Keck Geology Consortium has sponsored 111 research projects and provided opportunities for more than 847 students from 97 schools. More than 115 project faculty, representing governmental agencies, colleges and universities, and business and industry, have worked with students during the course of summer research. The Consortium founders recognized that learning through research was a powerful means to help students put into practice what they are learning in the classroom and that students and faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions could conduct original scientific research in the geosciences. The Keck Consortium program provides a year-long research experience, engaging students in identification of scientific problems, strategies for addressing those problems, gathering and interpreting data, and making conclusions about their original research question. Projects begin with a four-week field experience after which students continue their research at their home institutions during the following academic year. The results of student projects are presented in oral and poster format at the annual research symposium held in the spring. The dual purposes of enhancing geoscience education while contributing to geoscience knowledge have resulted in faculty and student conference presentations and publications to a variety of journals, as well as a GSA special publication. The NSF REU program has sponsored the Consortium for more than 10 years, contributing to support by other sponsors, including the W.M. Keck Foundation and the ExxonMobil Foundation. Through this generous support and the matching funding provided by the 12 member institutions and various partners during its 18-year history, the Consortium has sponsored research projects in both domestic and international locations. A collection of best practices for managing large field-based research programs, providing early research experiences, and mentoring students will be presented.