EXPLORING THE GEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF MISSOULA FLOODS THROUGH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS: WWW.FLOODEXPLORER.ORG

A multidisciplinary approach to strategically foster EWU student research has completed a pilot study during spring quarter 2015 and became a Freshman Year Experience class during the 2015-2016 academic year. The focus of the student research is the unique and intriguing landscape of eastern Washington that was largely carved out by the enormous glacial outburst floods, or Missoula Floods, a series of catastrophic geological events that most recently occurred during the Pleistocene. In this project the Geology, History, and English departments helped students write stories and present them on a digital platform, www.floodexplorer.org. During spring quarter 2015, students in GEOL 431 and HIST 407 participated in a multidisciplinary field trip with students aiming to describe the geologic, human, and natural histories of Palouse Falls State Park and the immediate area. In Fall 2015 the FYE visited Rock Lake area and these stories are still in process. Student stories and creative works (figures and pictures) generally have met or exceeded expectations, and many students appreciated the time and attention from faculty to help them develop their stories. And of course they enjoyed seeing their works posted on the internet.