karen buckland nicaraguan experience ugro nwa community college

KAREN BUCKLAND

NICARAGUAN EXPERIENCE

UGRO

NWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

My uGRO Experience

You have to start somewhere

This began my experience with my first real research in the field of geology and GIS

And, thanks to our mentors and Dr. Cothran, I can now tell which end is up!

Which became very important when we were soon transplanted…

To Central America

NICARAGUA

We traveled with Dr. Mattioli a vulcanologist from U of ATraveled all over the country (Managua, Leon, El Congo, La Boquita, Masaya and many more)Set up special tetrapods, with satellite receivers, powered by 12 volt batteries and solar panelsOur goal was to collect data for use in interpreting the movement of tectonic plates.

StatisticsNicaragua is located on the Caribbean Plate

It has one of the most substantial rates of tectonic movement in the world

As a result there are 29 active volcanoes and earthquakes occur regularly

Central America – Nicaragua

Plate Tectonic Activity

Central America – NicaraguaPlate Tectonic Activity

The Terrain and Geology

The Terrain

Mountains – volcanoes

Lush forests

Black sand beaches

All the geology that has captivated my interest in future work in the field of geology!!!!

The World beneath our Feet

Community

Nicaragua is very poor and the people live in very substandard conditions.

There is a great deal of pollution

Despite hard lives, the people are the nicest most beautiful people I have ever met

Cultural Highlights

My favorite experience was when I was invited to dance at a restaurant.

Three women were dancing to live music and asked me to join them.

I learned the steps and incorporated my own.

We hugged and took pictures together afterward

Volcanic Peaks

The most exciting part of the trip was the volcanoes.

We traveled up a boulder clad trail to the top of Casita elev. 3300 feet.

From the top I could see two other countries, extinct calderas, a long row of volcanoes, and a very active one.

The Sight, the Sounds, the SMELL!!

The second volcano that we explored was Masaya.

It was indescribably big and it emitted so much sulfuric gas that breathing was difficult.

I also toured a lava tube while there.

Pacing our Workload

Our working days were very hecticBreakfast at 6:30 am

Traveling at feverish paces across the country

Setting up and tearing down equipment

Physically demandingClimbing steep slopes

Waist high brush

“Barbed wire fences”

Project Timeline 2008

February-Trip to Nicaragua, collect rocksMarch- Complete workbook, find publisherApril-Complete text and photo layout for textbookMay-Complete translation of text June-Submit for a Copyright July-Promote book August-Submit for publicationSept/Oct.-Present to National Geological Conference.

My Goals and Project Outlines

GOAL: Devise And Complete A Project That Incorporates GIS Technology, Geology, And The Nicaraguan Community.

Develop and copyright a bilingual student textbook that provides a comprehensive explanation of Nicaraguan geology.Have numerous color copies of the textbook published, including individual paper workbooks.Distribute the textbooks and workbooks to the Nicaraguan public schools.Make it available for mission groups to distribute also.

Textbook Content

Classifications, descriptions and photographs of indigenous Nicaraguan rocks and formations.Explanation of the tectonic activity in Nicaragua and drawings of the tectonic plate.Describe the geological formation history of NicaraguaEarthquake, Volcano and Tsunami Information and pictures.

Textbook Content, Cont.

Maps of Nicaragua

GIS and GPS information and pictures of equipment

Local Rock Sample Identification Card

Subduction Data and Fault Pictures

Safety tips for geological emergency situations

Workbook Content

Crossword PuzzleWord SearchConceptual QuestionsRock Identification PracticeBlank Maps Basic Geology InformationMohs Hardness ScaleProject IdeasVolcano diagramsSafety Review

Anticipated Outcome

Successfully create a textbook that will:Be distributed to the schools throughout Nicaragua (especially those in need of books)Teach the students in Nicaragua about the geology of their countryCreate and interest in science and teach safety to the children of the country.

uGRO EMPACTS

This uGRO project has brought me up close and personal to with:

• Science in action – the real thing• Cutting edge technology• Hands on learning• Working scientists and professors in the field• Cultures unlike my own

It would be impossible to duplicate this type of learning in the classroom. uGRO is reaching undergraduates by integrating science and technology with real experience!