Mountains to Sea: Comparative Volcanoes – An Interdisciplinary Field Course

Abstract:

Mountains to Sea: Comparative Volcanoes is an interdisciplinary field course focusing on geologic concepts and processes associated with different volcanic landscapes and how they relate to local culture and history. The course involves intensive field investigations of geologic features, natural landscapes and cultural interactions of peoples with their environment for two different volcanic geologic settings; one in the Pacific Northwest and the other in Hawaii. The course, offered for the first time in 2018, is designed for both science and non-science majors with a compact summer schedule that makes field trips more accessible to place-bound, time-bound students who are working or have family commitments. The goal is to expose students to scientific methods of investigation and exploration through the application of geologic principles and direct observations of the real world around them. Learning to observe, analyze and infer past geologic processes in the environment is one way of interpreting and understanding earth’s systems. A more holistic approach to understanding the natural world involves viewing these systems through a historical and cultural lens that examines human interactions with their landscapes. This course integrates both ways of knowing; both scientific knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in order to provide students with a more contextual picture of their environment. This was accomplished with a wide range of activities such as lectures, videos, interdisciplinary reading, writing, journaling and blogging, field work, guest lectures, museum exhibits and cultural events. Course design, learning objectives, activity details, logistics and implementation “lessons learned” will be presented, along with course outcomes, as well as student assessments and reflections on this experience (https://sites.uw.edu/tgeos319su18/).