PVCC Geology Meets Southern California
On the afternoon of March 4, 12 PVCC students boarded a plane bound for Los Angeles. Accompanied by a team of faculty from various schools, they set out to spend Spring Break studying the rich geologic history of Southern California.
The field course was led by PVCC’s Associate Professor of Geology Callan Bentley. In past years, Bentley has run field courses in various parts of the country through Northern Virginia Community College and last year took PVCC students to Death Valley. The PVCC team was joined by Professor Kim Blisniuk of San Jose State University, along with six of her graduate students. They were also joined by Professor Edith Rojas of the College of the Desert, Alan Pitts of the U.S. Geological Survey, and Tom Biggs, who is a retired geology professor from UVA.
Through their exploration of Southern California, students learned not only how to piece together the deeply fascinating geologic history of the region but also how geologists conduct field research. Students developed field journals with detailed sketches and extensive notes, asked questions and developed hypotheses, and collaborated with faculty and their peers to come to conclusions.
Although the purpose of this trip was to delve into Southern California’s rich geological history, the attending students brought with them a variety of interests including ecology, archaeology, and paleontology. Thus, each student brought a unique perspective to the table. Prior to the trip, students completed a pre-trip research presentation which they used to study a topic of their choice and examine the ways it contributed to Southern California’s natural history. Topics included the native cultures of Coachella Valley, the paleontological history of Southern California, and many different aspects of the geologic history of the area. Students were also expected to complete a post-trip research project to demonstrate their understanding of the region’s geology and to discuss the aspects of the trip that fascinated them the most.
Aside from their studies, the students were able to spend the week experiencing the unique natural beauty of Southern California by exploring areas such as Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, La Brea tar pits, the Salton Sea, the San Andreas Fault, and much more.
Taking this course and experiencing the world being used as a classroom has been an important part of the educational journey of many students. Mara Cox, president of the PVCC Geology Club, said, “Trips like these expand students’ horizons in many ways. Whether a student is aiming to study geology or not, they are able to leave these trips with a better respect for the Earth and our place in it.”
The PVCC students returned home from a week full of adventures, fond memories, and new friends. Thanks to the faculty who made this trip possible, students can expect to see more field courses like this happening in the future. Moving forward, plans have been set in place for a field course to run in El Paso Texas Spring 2024.
