In this Issue:

• President's Column
• Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award
• NAGT Webinar Committee needs volunteers
• Deadlines for funding opportunities for 2YC faculty and students
• Upcoming Fireside Chats
• Send us pictures of your students in the field!
• Geo2YC pencils

×

Cheryl Resnick at Cannon Beach

Provenance: Cheryl Resnick
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

President's Column

Cheryl Resnick, Illinois Central College

Fall is in the air! Maybe not quite the fall temperatures many of us remember, but certainly the seasons are changing.  Many of you attended the Earth Educators Rendezvous (EER) in July in Philadelphia this summer. The annual GSA meeting in September just wrapped up. We had Geo2YC educators meet-ups at both conferences (check out the photos below).  If you need help with travel expenses to attend conferences next year, our Geo2YC Division is here to support you with professional development grants. Keep that in your back pocket as you plan for attending regional GSA section meetings this academic year.

We are offering our popular new series of Geo2YC "Fireside Chats" again this year. Our first one was held in September with good attendance as we shared ideas on how to keep classic geology content relevant for our students today. Our next "Fireside Chat" is October 11 at 3 p.m. Eastern time on strategies for teaching classes in shortened formats (5- , 7-, or 8-week terms). We hope you will join us. Let us know if you have a "Fireside Chat" topic that interests you as we plan out more sessions this year.

Mark your calendars! Our annual Geo2YC Business Division Meeting is Tuesday, October 7 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. We'll send out an email with a Zoom link a few days prior to the meeting. Please join us as we celebrate the many accomplishments of our Geo2YC division this year! I will be handing over the reins of president to Sean Tvelia at the meeting, but will continue to work with our division in my role as past-president.

Hope to see you there!

Cheryl

Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award 

Summer 2024 Honoree: Dr. Joel Aquino

Wendi J. W. Williams, Ph.D., South Texas College

×

Dr. Joel Aquino

Provenance: Joel Aquino
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

The OAFA Committee recognizes Dr. Joel Aquino, adjunct faculty with the University of Northern Georgia (UNG) community college branch, as our Summer 2024 Honoree. He is nominated by Dr. Katty Mobasher, who included the following thoughts:

"Dr. Joel Aquino is a shining example of teaching excellence and dedication in geoscience at two-year colleges. His passion for geology is evident in every interaction with students and colleagues, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm. Beyond the classroom, he actively develops curricula to keep it relevant and engaging. He organizes several field trips per semester, deepening students' understanding of content, and he keeps up with advancements in geosciences to equip students for success." Joel has taught physical and historical geology, physical science, life and earth sciences, and physics for teachers during the past 17 years with UNG. This has been concurrent to his role as a full-time high school science teacher with experience teaching physics, physical science, environmental science, and earth systems. Joel has experience teaching entirely face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats during his over 30 years of teaching.  He has collaborated with Dr. Katty Mobasher for a NSF-funded grant to train middle and high school earth science teachers. He has also collaborated with other UNG science professors (Brantley, Myers, and Glenn), which resulted in the team winning the 2019 UNG Presidential Innovation Award by creating science teaching totes.

We asked Joel to share some thoughts regarding a few teaching strategies or topical modules he uses with community college students. He noted that his global mineral industry experience strongly influenced his applied science with a business approach, culminating from his exploration and mine geologist efforts early in his career trajectory. He found a depth of satisfaction from his earlier mining workforce experience once combined with becoming a Physics teacher, resulting in his blending across disciplines to develop applications-based lab experiences, such as shoebox drilling and ore reserve estimation, mineral separation with cost analysis, and application of wave concepts in geological structures. Joel mentions that students enjoy the anecdotal storytelling of his fieldwork in many countries (including encounters with different cultures). Joel shares a particular story about his involvement in discovering a world-class copper-gold deposit in Laos that is still mined (in 1990's dollars, valued at $13 billion).  At the end of each semester, Dr. Aquino's students participate in a one-day field trip that includes visiting an aggregates quarry and a former underground gold mine turned into a museum. This trip is a life-broadening experience for many students when they comprehend the connection between energy and mineral extraction and technological and industrial development, which can possibly lead to dire environmental consequences.

Dr. Aquino further shared that in his 42 years as a professional geoscientist and educator, he saw his career evolving from being an Explorer of Mines to an Explorer of Minds. As an American by choice whose country of heritage is the Philippines, Joel's recent advocacy is to conduct a yearly science workshop for Filipino science teachers and seek to participate in a part-time faculty position at a Manila university to teach mineral deposits.

His closing comments to the Geo2YC Division membership:  "Semper Exploro" (Always Exploring).

The NAGT Geo2YC Division appreciates all you do for your students, Joel!  We are pleased to support Dr. Aquino with a one-year complimentary membership to NAGT and the Geo2YC Division in 2025. He will be entered into the pool of honorees under consideration for the 2024 Annual Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, receiving a stipend of $1000 from McGraw-Hill to be used for professional development or classroom support.

To our readership - tell us about yourself or your adjunct colleagues!  What wonderful ideas and strategies are you bringing to your corners of the geoscience world?  Note, these colleagues DO NOT have to be current members of NAGT or the Geo2YC Division to be recognized. Please complete an Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award nomination today. Please give yourself or your colleagues the recognition they deserve!

We need you!

×

Provenance: NAGT
Reuse: This item is in the public domain and maybe reused freely without restriction.

NAGT Webinar Committee is looking for a 2YC representative
The NAGT Webinar Committee is looking for a representative from the Geo2YC membership to participate on the committee.  Over a three year term, you will work with colleagues across NAGT to solicit webinar hosts (for example, see item below), share ideas for potential topics, and help organize the annual NAGT webinar schedule.  Please consider stepping up for this position - your participation would ensure webinars include topics of interest to our membership, while also allowing you a chance to become more involved in NAGT on a broader level.  If you are interested or have questions before committing, please reach out to the out-going 2YC rep Karen Layou (klayou@reynolds.edu) or the current Webinar committee chair, Beth Pratt-Sitaula (beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org).

NAGT Webinar Committee is looking for webinar hosts
NAGT offers a wide range of webinars each month to bring the latest in geoscience and pedagogy to our members. The NAGT Webinar Committee is looking for members who would be willing to host a webinar this coming academic year.  Consider sharing a fun teaching technique, resources you've used in your classroom, or collaborate with colleagues to tell us more about what's been going on in your professional world. If you have some ideas, please reach out to the current chair, Beth Pratt-Sitaula (beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org).

Funding opportunities this spring 

Apply for a Geo2YC Faculty Development Grant! Next deadline is April 15.
Open to members of the Geo2YC Division of NAGT, the Geo2YC Faculty Development Grant offers mini-grants up to $500 to support an activity (workshop, field trip, etc.) which benefits faculty from multiple institutions and travel grants of $100 to support attending professional development activities. If you plan on attending GSA or AGU this fall, this is a chance to get a bit of support!  Rolling deadlines annually on April 15 and September 15.  Apply here.

Plan ahead for next year - 2YC faculty, K-12 teachers, and 2YC students: please consider applying for the Dorothy Stout Grant! Annual deadline is April 15.
In honor of Dottie Stout, the first female president of NAGT, awards are made annually in three categories: Community College Faculty, Community College Student, and K-12 Educator. The awards support participation in Earth science classes or workshops; attendance at professional meetings; participation in Earth science field trips; and/or purchase of Earth science materials for classroom use. In addition to the $750 award, each winner receives a one-year membership to NAGT. Apply here.

Connect with your colleagues!

×

Geo2YC members meet up for a social at GSA Connects 2024 in Anaheim.

Provenance: Angela Daneshmand
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

×

Geo2YC members met up for a social gathering at Earth Educators Rendezvous in Philadelphia this past summer.

Provenance: Angela Daneshmand
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

NAGT Webinar Series 
Check out the schedule for the NAGT Webinar Series!  Lots of great opportunities for learning and discussion through these events, and even if you cannot attend, you can register so the link to the recording is sent straight to your inbox. An archive of prior webinars is also available.

Geo2YC Fireside Chats
The Geo2YC Division Executive Committee is back with another semester of "fireside" chats on Zoom. These sessions are open to Geo2YC members, as well as anyone you want to bring along - invite your colleagues to attend. Days and times will vary to allow participation from coast to coast. Our goal is to have an hour-long, informal discussion on topics of interest to the membership - we'll provide a starting topic, and see where conversation takes us. We hope these sessions will serve as a opportunity to connect, build community, and share ideas in real time. So, pour yourself a cup of coffee, grab a snack, and join us!

• Friday, October 11 - 3PM Eastern/12PM Pacific - Teaching in Shortened Sessions: As more 2YCs push toward abbreviated academic sessions (5, 7, or 8-week terms) let's talk about how to overcome challenges of "covering all the content" and keeping the value-added extras (e.g. field work, career exploration, and more). 
• Wednesday, November 13 - 8PM Eastern/5PM Pacific - OER Share-A-Thon:  Many of us are using a wide array of open educational resources in our geoscience instruction.  Come share your favorite links with us - we'll compile a list to share out with the full membership as well!                                                                 (https://vccs.zoom.us/j/82972096701?pwd=MFdaQboit0Dv7v9uCkaPr6SvKQa1Y4.1)

Mark your calendars for the upcoming NAGT Annual Business Meetings - Zoom connection information to be announced by national in the next week - watch your email!

NAGT Annual Business and Council Meeting

Friday, October 11, 2024 (Open to all current members; Online) 8:30-10:00am PT / 9:30-11:00am MT / 10:30am-12:00pm CT/ 11:30am-1:00pm ET

Geo2YC Division Meeting

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 (Open to all current members; Online) 12:00pm-1:00pm PT / 1:00pm-2:00pm MT / 2:00pm-3:00pm CT / 3:00pm-4:00pm ET

https://zoom.us/j/98941964199

Send us your Field Notes

We want to hear about and see what you are doing with your students in the field.  Please share pictures of students in the field and a brief description of what they are doing.

Also, as you plan field activities with your students, check out the resources of the ADVANCEing FieldSafety program, which aims to create inclusive and safe field experiences within the geosciences.

Job opening at San Diego Mesa College

San Diego Mesa College opened a full-time tenure-track Earth Science (geology/oceanography) assistant professor opportunity. The position is a part of the Physical Sciences Department, which reports to the Dean of the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Please see the job posting for qualifications and other details. The position closes on October 6.

Where in the world are NAGT Geo2YC pencils?

A few of our Geo2YC members spent time capturing Geo2YC pencils on their summer adventures in Maine.  Also, this summer, we have debuted our new Geo2YC PENS - check out the first submission from the Alaska Pipeline!  Need some Geo2YC writing implements for your, your colleagues, and students?  Email any of the Geo2YC officers and we'll get some out for you to keep and share!

×

Geo2YC Pen on the Alaska Pipeline

Provenance: Laura Guertin
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

×

Multiple overlapping felsic dikes on the breakwater at Rockland Lighthouse, Maine.

Provenance: Callan Bentley
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

×

Folded & cleaved Coombs limestone near Rockport, Maine

Provenance: Callan Bentley
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

×

Glacial erratic of quartz pebble conglomerate from Mt. Battie in Camden Hills State Park, on the beach at Rockland, Maine

Provenance: Callan Bentley
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

×

Joints in the Cadillac Granite, Acadia National Park, Maine

Provenance: Karen Layou, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Reuse: This item is in the public domain and maybe reused freely without restriction.

×

Sierra batholith with Owens Valley in the background, near Bishop, California.

Provenance: Becca Walker
Reuse: If you wish to use this item outside this site in ways that exceed fair use (see http://fairuse.stanford.edu/) you must seek permission from its creator.

Send us your pencil pictures to share in the newsletter.