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Geo 3890 Field Workshop: The Eastern Sierra Nevada

This course is designed to prepare students for the Undergraduate Spring 2009 field trip to the Eastern Sierra Nevada. This region is a veritable wonderland of geologic processes ranging from active volcanism and mountain building to glaciation and close basin lake systems. Additionally, the unique ecosystems (alpine meadows and forests, high deserts, alkaline lakes) and cultural heritage (indigenous peoples history, early mining and exploration history) and complex environmental issues (development issues, water use, environmental contamination) offer a rich mixture of potential experiences.

The main goal of the course is twofold: (1) to develop a basic knowledge of the regional geology that created the Eastern Sierra and Long Valley Caldera, and (2) to develop an appreciation for the risks and responsibilities associated with living in one of the most geologically active areas of the U.S.A. (e.g., volcanic hazards, and water-usage issues that effect much of the American West).

Professor: Josh Feinberg

Office: 123 Pillsbury Hall

Phone/Voicemail: (612) 624-8429

E-mail: feinberg at umn.edu

Office Hours: Fridays 10-11 AM

Class Hours: Friday 2:30-4:00 PM beginning January 30th. The schedule for the class can be found here. The first class will take place in Pillsbury Room 121, and all subsequent classes will meet in Room 105. Any future scheduling changes will be discussed in class.

Selected Reading: TBA

Grading Plan: This course is worth 1 credit, and will meet every other week. After the first two classes, lectures will be led by student teams of two or three individuals. The quality of these lectures will in turn determine the quality of your grade. Grades are given to students based on their individual contributions to the lectures (in other words, students collaborating on the same lecture may not necessarily receive the same grade). On the day of their presentation each student will be expected to submit a self assessment describing their contribution to the lecture.

I will evaluate the student led discussions based on the following criteria:

1. Organization and clarity of discussion.

2.Style and creativity. Was the class fully engaged throughout the discussion?)
3.Content. Did the discussion touch on all of the relevant aspects of the topic? Did the discussion help prepare the students to understand and anticipate the landscape of the Eastern Sierra?

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOR:

Students who are traveling for official university activities (e.g., athletic events) on a lecture day must provide this information to me at least one week beforehand.

Policy on Missed Classes: My general policy is NO make-ups unless you have a documented emergency or are traveling for a University-sponsored event. If at all possible, you must inform me in advance that you are going to miss a class.

Policy on Scholastic Conduct: Group work is essential to this class and students are expected to contribute equally to their group’s presentation. Students who do not pull their own weight will be referred to the Office of Student Academic Integrity for evaluation of misconduct. See the University's Student Conduct Code for more information, go to:

http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/Conduct.html

DISABILITIES: If you have a documented disability, you must give me your official letter from Disability Services no later than Tuesday, February 17.

CELLPHONES: They can be disruptive. If anyone’s phone rings during class, that person will automatically be expected to provide donuts for everyone at the next class.

PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS!

Please ask questions in class. It helps everybody. A lot. If you don't feel comfortable asking questions during class, you can always find me after class, send me email, call, or stop by my office.

Mono Lake

Hot Creek

McGee Creek

Moraine

Bishop Tuff

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