The Geosciences Scholars Summer Institute at Rutgers-Newark
The Geosciences Scholars Summer Institute is a four-week summer program that
affords high school students opportunities to work with geosciences graduate students
and undergraduate students in inquiry-based geosciences activities begun in the
classroom, continued in the field and ended in the lab.
The program’s purpose is four-fold:
-Gives students experiences with work done by geoscientists
-Exposes students to geological phenomena found within the state of NJ.
-Affords students opportunities to meet with geosciences professionals.
-Exposes students to a university campus.
The summer institute provides an academic experience within a college setting to
the students who are enrolled. The program is a conduit for assisting students in learning
about the geosciences and while not meant to “teach” students about this science, the
Institute acculturates students to the importance of geosciences and their application to
real-world situations. As important, the Institute is a pathway for students to recognize
the ubiquity of the geosciences as they pertain to potential careers.
The curriculum for the four week summer program consists of four main topics:




Minerals and Mining
The Environment
Energy
Surface processes
Noted here is that each unit is an “umbrella” topic which starts with brief
background lessons at the beginning of each week, followed by videos, activities, and
guest lectures. Students engage in hands-on laboratory activities, demonstrations, and
applications of the earth sciences in real-life situations relevant to both their local and
global communities. The end of each week’s lesson is capped off with a field trip or two,
to local areas that are illustrative of the necessity of the earth sciences in our lives, and
which allow for more extensive, hands on field learning experiences in upper level
courses both in high school and in higher education.
Week 1 (7/7) Introduction to Geology and Its Applications
Week 1 (7/8-7/10) – MINERALS AND MINING (MINERALOGY)
-Introduction (historical overview) logistics, and real applications
-Abandoned copper and iron mines within NJ (emphasis placed on
Highlands but also discussion of Schuyler Mine in Hudson County)
-Karsts and Caverns within New Jersey
-Videos
-Activities
-Earth Sciences in Action: Minerals DVD & Rocks DVD
-Mineral properties and identification
-Physical, atomic, optical properties
1
-Field Trips
-Specific gravity of minerals
-Rock types, formations, and their occurrences
- Rocks in Your Neighborhood (definition and exhibit of
(Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks)
-Common uses of rocks and minerals
-The Iron Mine Trail, Sterling Forest State Park, NY
-Franklin and Sterling Hill Zinc Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ
Week 2 (7/14-7/17) – THE ENVIRONMENT
-Introduction to Environmental Sciences
-Urban, rural, and suburban environments (topography relevant to each)
-Environmental conditions and human impact
-Your soil and you
-Videos
-Activities
-Field Trips
-Earth Sciences in Action: The Environment DVD
-EME: Focus on the environment DVD
- Your Soil and You
-Local soil and water sampling and testing
(Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ)
-Leaky Landfill
-Groundwater pollution
-Point and Non-Point Sources
-Non-invasive, geophysical demonstrations
-Effects of pollutants on plants
-Biological pollution of water
-Cleaning up oil spills with bacteria (kit)
-Water pollution activities (kit)
-Tap water testing tour (each neighborhood sampled)
-Other Labs (TBA)
-Newark watershed, NJ
-The Meadowlands, NJ
Week 3 (7/21-7/24) – ENERGY
-Introduction to energy resources
-Current assessment of energy sources and the economy
-Videos
-Activities
-Earth Sciences in Action: Fossil Fuels DVD & Natural
Resources DVD
-The Oil Exploration Game
-Geothermal resource activity
-Non-renewable resources and their occurrences activities
-Petroleum, natural gas, and coal
2
-Field Trips
-Renewable resources activities
-Solar, wind, water, and geothermal
-Bayway Refinery, Linden, NJ
-Paterson Falls Hydro-electric Plant, Paterson, NJ
-Tour of the Geothermal Unit at Science Park High School
Week 4 (7/28-7/31) – Surface Processes (Land and Sea)
-Introduction to surfical processes
-Videos
-Activities
-Field Trips
-Earth Sciences in Action: Oceans DVD
-Eyewitness Weather DVD
-The Tsunami Tank
-Density Flow Models
-Tornado Demonstration Models
-Groundwater resources
-Stream and river processes and gauging
-Sandy Hook State Park, NJ
-Lost River Cavern, Hellertown, Pa.
(7/31) CLOSING CEREMONY
3