UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FOR NONMAJORS AT SMALL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE

Small college, no geology major, one geology faculty member, no research grants – these are not ingredients for a strong research program. However, it is possible to have undergraduates who are taking their first or fourth geology course do research. At Principia College, a small four-year liberal arts college in Illinois, as the sole faculty member in geology I do have students get involved in research at some level. In Introductory Geology I have had freshmen create a poster about a place they selected to write about for a linked Creative Nonfiction English course. I had them research the geographic and geologic context for their place and present maps and text to describe this place. I expand this concept in Environmental Geology in which students research the topics we discuss for an urban location of their choice. They learn (1) the importance of understanding the geographic and geologic context of a piece of property prior to investing in it, (2) possible sources of information that will help them assess these factors, and (3) possible mitigation strategies.

I have the unique opportunity to be excavating a mammoth on our campus, which I do as part of an experiential field/lab class that meets a general education science requirement. The students become part of the research team. They are asked to use their observational and analytical skills to determine its taphonomy and possible methods of demise. They learn proper field and lab techniques so that they can excavate the skeletal material and prepare the pieces in the lab. They keep a daily journal of their work with photos documenting progress. They learn the importance of their ideas, their observations, and their reporting as their input is sought in various phases of project management. They must understand the various stages of the project from its inception as they give tours to school groups and other visitors. One student made measurements of the long bones as her senior project and compared these measurements to those in the literature to help determine the species of our mammoth. Students tend to be strongly motivated to learn in this course because they are doing authentic research and develop real questions.

Although there are limitations to the research that can be done in my situation, it is possible to engage students in research and thereby enrich their learning experience.