USING ENVIRONMENTAL GEOPHYSICS FOR TEACHING SCIENCE AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY

An Environmental Geophysics course for undergraduates is an effective way to engage students on projects that may serve the community, local residents, and the College. The course requires students to use geophysical methods (seismic, resistivity, magnetics, gravity) to work on environmental, geologic, engineering, and hydrologic problems for local communities and residents. Projects reported in the course are the study of the subsurface geology of a parcel of land being considered for development by Massena, NY, a foundation site for study for an addition to the hospital at Potsdam, NY, and a subsurface geology foundation site study at a lot for a new Fine Arts building on SUNY Potsdam's campus.

In the course, the students learn the scientific method by becoming actively involved in the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data. The active participation of students puts classroom teaching into a more meaningful perspective. The course makes science education more like science and deviates from the lecture-textbook method, which dominates science teaching. Application of the geophysical methods to solve problems for local communities motivates the students and makes them appreciate the relevance and practical aspects of science.

The results of these projects will be presented as examples of student work. Written reports are required on all projects and, in some cases, oral presentations of results to town boards. In summary, this method of teaching where scientific methods are used to solve problems for local communities benefits communities and provides good teaching method of students.