ENGAGING THE PUBLIC: HOW THE WEST VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY HAS CONTINUED TO IMPROVE UPON ITS LONG HISTORY OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (WVGES) has a long history of supporting public outreach and educational activities. While still conducting traditional in-person outreach activities (talks, fieldtrips, etc.), our efforts over recent years have expanded to incorporate technology through social media and web-based educational information. Additionally, the onsite museum has grown to offer a greater variety of information to the public about earth history and West Virginia geology. This growth is part of a larger movement to make geological information, data, and knowledge more easily accessible to more people.

In recent years, the lobby of our headquarters at Mont Chateau has evolved from a place that held a few notable fossils, including an authentic Edmontosaurus, to a museum that can educate and enthrall with the story of West Virginia’s geological history. Much of this improvement was made possible through the expansion of the museum to an upper floor. Here, most of the museum’s rock and fossil specimens from our state are displayed. Other innovative efforts have pertained to expanding the museum’s physical collections through loans and donations, such as a loaned replica of Smilodon and a gifted portion of an authentic Mastodon tusk. The build-up of the museum has led to an increase in group visitation. The museum provides a place for classes, scout groups, tourists, and the general public to come learn about the geological and paleontological history of the state. One advantage of having classrooms visit on-site is that we have the necessary resources on hand to provide a more enriching experience.

For over 25 years, the WVGES has provided our Visiting Geologist Program, in cooperation with the WV Division of Natural Resources, to bring informative and entertaining outreach at several WV State Parks. Visiting Geologists present on the geological history of the state and lead a hike through the park to discuss the local geology. The WVGES also works with the West Virginia Science Teachers Association to provide information and materials to aid K-12 earth science educators. The task of innovation is never-ending at WVGES. In the future, the Survey intends to continue museum expansion in our building, provide more interactive displays in-house, and add to the educational resources available via the website.