NAGT 2013 ORAL
CENTRALIA COLLEGE TREE-RING LAB—USING TREE-RING RESEARCH AND
RADIOCARBON DATING FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS AND FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS WITH HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE
TEACHERS
Pringle, Patrick T., Science Dept., Centralia College, 600 Centralia College Blvd, Centralia, WA 98531,
ppringle ‘at’ centralia.edu
Subfossil trees abound in the Pacific Northwest owing to its rich history of earthquakes, volcanism, floods,
landslides, and environmental disturbances. Field inquiries involving tree-ring studies and radiocarbon
dating can be used in studying the history of these processes as well as past climate and can prove highly
useful as an educational tool as well (e.g. Pringle, 2009; Davi et al, 2012). We established a tree-ring lab at
Centralia College via a US Department of Education STEM grant and Centralia College Foundation
support. The funds allowed purchase of increment borers, saws, microscopes, a high precision scanner, a
Velmex measuring machine, software, and a host of basic supplies needed for conducting tree-ring
research. Two students coauthored posters at the Northwest Scientific Association Annual Meeting 2013
based on their involvement in field investigations during summer of 2012. Both students were NSF STEM
scholars whose awards helped cover the costs of the research and participation in the conference. While
they are graduating, both student researchers have expressed enthusiastic interest in maintaining their
involvement in the ongoing investigations. It’s no surprise that other science students who have heard about
the aforementioned projects have asked about-, and have become involved in doing similar research
investigations! Partners in Science Grants from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust have helped fund my
research collaborations with several high school science teachers using dendrochronology and radiocarbon
dating of subfossil trees. These projects pair a researcher mentor and high school science teacher in twoyear collaborative projects and allow the high school teacher to apply for a two-year supplemental grant
through which they can enhance the research program at their own lab. More information about the
Centralia College Tree-Ring Lab (CCTRL) and student dendrochronology research can be found at
http://www.centralia.edu/academics/earthscience/index.html
Davi, Nicole; Watternberg, Frank; Pringle, Patrick; Tanenbaum, Jacob, O'Brien, Anne; Greidanus, Ida;
Perry, Marjan, 2012, Using tree-ring data, research, and expeditions as an accessible, hands-on "bridge"
into climate studies for both k-12 and undergraduate students: [abstract]: Eos (American Geophysical
Union Transactions), 2012 Fall Meeting, online. [accessed May 21, 2013 at
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm12/waisfm12.html ]
Pringle, P.T., 2009, Integrating natural hazards research and education at the community college level—
Getting students and teachers “off the sidewalk” using tree-ring research and other field studies
[abstract]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 41, No. 7, p. 72 [accessed on
January 28, 2010 at http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2009AM/finalprogram/abstract_166086.htm ]