new initiatives for geoscience education in new zealand gravley, d.m., hikuroa, d.c.h, borella,...

New Initiatives for Geoscience Education in New Zealand

GRAVLEY, D.M., HIKUROA, D.C.H, BORELLA, M.W., KENCH, P.S., WILSON, C.J.N, and OWEN, S.

The University of Auckland

Geography + Geology + Environmental Science =

The School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science (SGGES)

Earth Systems Study of Science Abroad Program (ESCAPE)

• Take advantage of New Zealand as a natural teaching laboratory

• 5 week field camp with a research component

• 5 month semester within SGGES at University of Auckland

• Research from field camp will continue on campus, i.e. Longitudinal Learning

Talking Points:

• A new educational initiative and model for Earth Systems Study of Science in New Zealand

•Natural vs. Human impact on the environment

•What is “Restoration?”

• Active since about 300,000 years ago• World’s single more frequently active and productive

rhyolite volcano

• 28 eruptions in the last 26,000 years

Taupo the volcano

Natural vs. Human impact on the environment

107

11 8

99 188

160

46

60

305 38 360 9

32 0

183183

425

250

567710

17241 79 7 11 82

18672350834

1540

50 0 km

114594 1

845939

45 0

300140

1350310

1 87 7 30

193

2000

1000800

400

200

100

C h a th a m Is la n d

Tasm an S ea

S o u th Is la n d

P acificO cean

N o rthIs lan d

C h a th a m R ise

B o u n ty Tro u g h

36 5

66 0

O ru an u i fa ll d ep o sit iso p ac h s , m m

1: Fall deposits, 430 km3 bulk volume

… the Oruanui eruption 2: Ignimbrite deposits, 320 km3

bulk volume~530 km3 magma

Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo rose to about 500 m above sea level, impounded by a blockage in the Waikato River valley in the Taupo-Wairakei area

Lake Taupo history: 80 cubic kilometres of water in a single catastrophic flood, and subsequent sedimentation, 26 ka - 14 ka

Matata: May 18 2005: catastrophic rainfall

event generating debris flows

Picture courtesy of the Whakatane Beacon

Bi-directional moa trackways, underprints, ~12 prints

The Human Impact: “Superfund” Site

Mt. Putauaki (Edgecumbe)

Mill

Dump site

“Superfund” Site

“Superfund” Site

1944

“Superfund” Site

1972

“Superfund” Site

2002

“Superfund” Site

“Superfund” Site

Earth Systems research projects at “Superfund” site:

• What is “Restoration?”

• Longitudinal Learning

• Geology, Ecology, Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Geothermal Energy, Soil Science, Humans

www.frontiersabroad.com

2008 ESCAPE students:

Steven Hochman (Pomona College)

Adam Kotin (Pomona College)

Tim Lambert (Stanford University)

Evan Frye (Franklin & Marshall College)