USING FIELD-BASED RESEARCH TO DRIVE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN UNDERGRADUATE MARINE SCIENCE AND GEOLOGY PROGRAMS AT A STATE-FUNDED PUI

At Kutztown University in land-locked PA I have developed and maintained a marine geology research program in which undergraduate geology and marine science students are active participants. My fieldwork-based projects provide numerous opportunities for students to receive specialized training necessary for them to contribute to cutting-edge research in the field. The framework I use for integrating research into the students’ UG program is multifaceted including; Research in Marine Science/Geology, 3-credit courses embedded into the B.S degree, faculty-student collaborative research supported by small, internal grants, interdisciplinary collaborations with faculty across the PA state system and NASA and USFWS scientists through our involvement with the Chincoteague Bay Field Station (CBFS), a KU-funded summer research program geared toward 1^st and 2^nd year students, collaboration with large research institutions to bring students on an NSF-funded research cruise, and course-embedded research. My introductory and upper-level marine science courses include a 3-day field trip to the CBFS in Wallops Island, VA where students get hands-on experience collecting data and making observations in a variety of coastal settings and are exposed to geological and oceanographic equipment (e.g., CHIRP sonar, vibracore system, total station, GPS, YSI multimeter, benthic grab sampler, GPR, Otter Trawl). My field trips are designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to tackle real-world problems and contribute to ongoing research. My Marine Geology class conducts original, independent field research, with projects involving all stages of the research process from sample collection to processing and interpretation of data to presenting results. The capstone of their research is a poster created in Adobe Illustrator. Students present their posters as they would at a professional conference following guidelines from GSA. This exposure to field work, research methods, sci-com, and the opportunity to contribute to the active research of their peers encourages investment in student work and provides valuable, transferrable skills for jobs and graduate school placement. Early exposure to research often inspires lower classmen to pursue their own independent project.