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MCC Daily Tribune

GEO 295 (and Tiberius) Take Their Classroom on the Road to the Desert

Jessica Barone, Geology Professor and Department Chair of Chemistry and Geosciences, and fellow Geology professor Amanda Colosimo took eight students on a weeklong trip in June as part of the Geo 295 class – Field Studies in Geology “Arches, Canyons, and Pinnacles: Geology of the Colorado Plateau”.  The students applied what they learned in the classroom and explored Zion National Park (UT), Bryce Canyon National Park (UT), Arches National Park (UT), Canyonlands National Park (UT), Dead Horse Point State Park (UT), Monument Valley Tribal Park (AZ), Antelope Canyon Navajo Site (AZ), and Grand Canyon National Park (AZ).

Community Relations asked the professors, students, and Tiberius several questions about their trip.

Professors:

  • How did you travel from site to site?   We rented a 12-passenger van; Prof Barone drove it while Prof Colosimo navigated from field site to field site.
  • Did you camp or stay in a hotel? We did not camp – we stayed in motels, inns, park lodges, and hotels.  We moved all around Utah and Arizona, so we stayed in most locations only one night and then traveled to the next location.
  • How was the weather?  Hot.  The western U.S. was having a heatwave, so it was pretty much sunny, hot, dry, and in the 90s (or higher) each day.
  • Did you see anything that surprised you?  Not really, except we added two unplanned stops at Goblin Valley State Park and Newspaper Rock.  It is so interesting, geologically and culturally.  We’ve always wanted to investigate these two stops but had not had the time during previous trips.
  • How did this trip come to be? Prof Colosimo and Prof Barone developed a field studies course over ten years ago following their time as advisors for the Geology Club.  The trip was the hands-on field portion of the course, which followed the course's on-campus ten-week lecture/lab portion during spring 2024.
  • Did students pay for the trip? Yes, the students paid for the travel expenses (lodging, airfare, van rental, etc.).  Luckily, we were able to provide a scholarship opportunity this semester to assist in payment.  We want to develop additional funding/scholarships to allow more students to experience this field course.
  • Is this the first time you have done this? No.  Prof Barone and Prof Colosimo have co-taught this particular course three times before this spring/summer.  We also co-teach another version of the field course that focuses on the geology of the Yellowstone Supervolcano region, which will be offered again soon!
  • Given it is after the semester, does this impact the students’ grades? Luckily, the folks in Registration are familiar with how this class works, so they allowed us to submit final course grades upon return from the field portion since over 50% of the final course grade is determined by the work the student completes in the field.

Students:

  • What made you want to go on this trip/take Geo 295?
    • I wanted to take this trip to further my knowledge in geology and see what field work would be like. This was an excellent opportunity to test if this is what you’re into and can see yourself doing in the future.
    • To be able to see geological formations that we learned about in class in person
    • I wanted the field experience to prepare me for any future career.
    • I was a geology major and wanted to get more hands-on experience with formations that aren’t as common in the area we live
    • To gain experience working in the field
  • Was it what you expected?
    • Everything I expected and so much more. From seeing what you learn in real-life class and bonding with your peers. This trip was a very great experience.
    • Honestly, I expected it to be harder and to have more work to do each day. It wasn’t bad that it ended up being easier, though.
    • It was much easier to learn when you can see what we are learning about and not just look at pictures. There was also a lot more of a social aspect that I wasn’t expecting but did enjoy
    • Yes! And more I was thrilled with how much I learned
  • How do you think this trip/course solidified your choice to attend MCC?
    • This course showed me how much more is in store in my future, even just at MCC, and how many opportunities I can take up.
    • I tell everyone about it when talking about MCC to encourage others to go to MCC and take geology classes
    • Well, I would’ve attended regardless, but if it sells it to other students, then you’re welcome to say it did for me.
    • It made me glad that I decided to go to MCC, as I’m not sure I would have been able to go on a trip like this otherwise
    • It made MCC feel like a high-end college that wants its students to have real hands-on experiences
  • Would you recommend the trip/course to others?
    • Of course! This was a great learning experience; if you’re considering geology, taking this course will persuade you.
    • Absolutely, I think it was a worthwhile experience. There were ups and downs, but overall, I had a great time and learned a lot about fieldwork and how to complete partner work.
  • What was your favorite part?
    • I liked seeing all the amazing places we visited and experiencing things hands-on.
    • The friendships and memories I made with the other students and professors.
    • This may sound a bit cheesy, but just waking up every day and looking out at a different landscape from what I’m used to. The skies were the clearest I’ve ever seen, and the rocks were consistently redder, and even the wildlife was unfamiliar. That’s the furthest west I’ve ever been to, and it was gorgeous beyond words.
    • Hiking the trails and getting to see all the different formations while also being with friends.
    • Getting to expand my worldview and see what I saw in class in person.
  • What else would you like to share with incoming students and/or the Rochester/MCC community regarding MCC's Geology program?
    • This geology program is fantastic and certainly not something to be disregarded.
    • That geology isn’t taught well enough in public schools for what it involves - everything about the earth! (We live on Earth, so it’s a big deal). We need more people taking these classes and getting educated about our planet for our future.
    • The professors are great at their jobs and make learning easy, next question.
    • If you can, take the field class. It will solidify your decision to be a Geology major
    • It’s a fantastic program, and more people need to know it exists!

Tiberius:

  • How was the trip for you?  10/10. Highly recommend.  Amazing, unreal, and life-changing!
  • What was your favorite part?  Traveling through many national parks in the west (I’d never been west of Buffalo), learning geology hands-on in the field, and making friends.
  • Are you a daredevil? We saw you handing over the Grand Canyon.  Of course, I am. I’m a Tribune!! However, I was safe and secure each day as students took turns being my guide and keeper.
  • How did you end up at the doctor? Well, long story short, my guide for the day tripped over her hiking shoes while at the airport on the way back to Rochester (can you believe that?  Not even while climbing around on all the rocks!), so we had to take a quick trip to the doctor.

Photo Captions: 

  • Group Photo Geo Trip: Group photo of ten people, including students and professors, in the desert with rock formations behind them.
  • Tiberius at Grand Canyon: Laminated cut-out of Tiberius, MCC’s mascot, being held upside down over the Grand Canyon so that he looks suspended in midair and about to be dropped into the canyon.
  • Tiberius & Pie: Laminated cut-out of Tiberius held upright by a plastic spoon that is stuck into a half-eaten real slice of baked fruit pie in a foil tin plate, on a picnic table with a paper napkin underneath it as a placemat.

To see more photos from the trip, check out MCC’s Geology Instagram (@monroe_cc_geology).

Attached Files:
Group Photo GEO Trip_.jpg
Tiberius at Grand Canyon.jpg
Tiberius & Pie GEO Trip.jpg

Veronica Chiesi Brown
Computing & Information Technology Services
08/26/2024