Expansion efforts made
**Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Geological Collections Enrich Educational Programmes**
The Geological Collections at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) have become a valuable resource for various educational programmes, fostering a deeper understanding of geological and oceanographic concepts among students and the community.
One of the key initiatives is the collaboration with the Ocean Discovery Institute in Pacific Beach, where geological samples are incorporated into the curriculum, engaging urban and diverse young people in education, scientific research, and environmental stewardship. Similarly, the Ocean Institute in Dana Point displays educational samples from the geological collections for their annual public visitors and educational programmes.
These collections provide tangible learning materials that enhance student understanding and engagement with complex geological and oceanographic concepts. They offer a wide variety of samples, including seafloor and terrestrial materials such as glassy basalts, pumice, gabbro, diorite, sandstone, manganese nodules, and microfossil-containing sediments. Accompanying PowerPoint presentations teach about coring techniques, deep-sea sediment cores, laminated sediments, dredging, microfossils, corals, terrestrial inputs into the ocean, and more.
Tours cover topics such as seafloor rock formation, sediment cores, x-ray analysis, climate reconstruction, and Earth's history. For instance, in 2011, 20 high school students and 4 teachers from Compton had the opportunity to sail aboard the R/V Sproul for a one-day cruise, learning about geological sampling, scientific research, and its impact on our lives.
The Geological Collections have also been instrumental in supporting educational programs like San Diego Youth Science, the Birch Aquarium's Full Moon Pier Tour, and "Exploring Ocean Careers". They have been involved in various exhibits and events, including Oddities: Hidden Heroes of the Scripps Collections and the Jeffrey B. Graham Perspective on Ocean Science Lecture at the Birch Aquarium.
Moreover, the collections have extended their reach beyond local institutions, with educational samples donated to educational institutions in other states. Dr. Arthur Nonomura, a notable figure at SIO, has also donated samples to educational institutions, with one instance being Arizona state senator John Nelson, who created a display in the AZ state senate for the deep sea rocks.
The Geological Collections have been a catalyst for innovative educational initiatives, such as the GEOPATHS project, a collaboration between University of San Diego, California State University-Bakersfield, and SIO. This project aims to inspire under-represented students to pursue careers in the geosciences and keep them engaged.
Dr. Nonomura's use of samples from the geological collections to challenge students in a San Francisco high school to graduate without dropouts is a testament to the collections' transformative potential. The principal of George Washington High School, Ericka Lovrin, believes that this rock challenge deeply motivated the students to meet Dr. Nonomura's challenge to stay in school.
In addition, SIO supports summer programmes that engage school students of all ages in interdisciplinary topics, including marine geology. These programmes contribute to the broader educational goals of promoting Earth literacy, environmental awareness, and sustainable practices, aligning with NOAA's Ocean Literacy Principles.
Through these initiatives, the Geological Collections at SIO continue to play a crucial role in enriching educational programmes and fostering a deeper understanding of geological and oceanographic concepts for students and the community.
- The collaboration between Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Geological Collections and various institutions like the Ocean Discovery Institute and Ocean Institute focuses on science education and self-development, incorporating geological samples into their curriculum for a more comprehensive learning experience.
- The Geological Collections contribute to personal growth and health-and-wellness by offering a transformative learning environment, such as Dr. Nonomura's rock challenge at a San Francisco high school, motivating students to stay in school and pursue their education in a meaningful way.
- Educational programmes like San Diego Youth Science, Full Moon Pier Tour, "Exploring Ocean Careers," and the GEOPATHS project, facilitated by the Geological Collections, align with the goals of education-and-self-development and mental-health, striving to inspire and encourage underrepresented students and promote a deeper understanding of oceanographic concepts.
