USGS Activities In Your State

USGS online resources, activities, and events in support of Earth Science Week will be featured here as they are available. Check back frequently to see what's happening.

California

USGS Pasadena office
Enjoy a fun-filled day at the Discovery Center in Santa Ana experiencing a variety of earthquake education exhibits, displays, games and information. Kids and adults can come and see how simple tools from a hardware store can show why scientists can't predict earthquakes; learn what types of structures can be dangerous in a temblor and how to make them earthquake resistant; investigate how a seismograph works and make their own earthquakes; learn about the newest advances in earthquake research and technology and much, much more! Various USGS maps and posters will be on display, and Fact Sheets and our most popular earthquake publication "Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country" will be available.
Date and Time: October 10, 2004 10:00a.m.- 5:00p.m.
Contact: USGS Pasadena Earthquake Hazards Program
Outreach and Education
626-583-6801

Colorado

Visit the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at the Rocky Mountain Mapping Center facility and experience the breadth and benefits of the natural science information that is available to the public, teachers and students. See the visitor's center with some hands-on displays and browse through free posters, lesson plans, pamphlets and brochures.

The USGS is located at the Denver Federal Center, 6th Avenue and Kipling, in building #810 Map Sales. The phone number is 303-202-4200 or 1-888-ASK-USGS (275-8747).

Join the USGS and geographic information systems (GIS) professionals at the GIS in the Rockies Conference, 6-8 October 2004, at the Denver Merchandise Mart. More information about the conference can be found on http://www.gisintherockies.org. The conference will feature exhibits, a geocaching event with GPS receivers at Denver's City Park, workshops, and presentations that feature the application of spatial technologies (GPS, GIS, and Remote Sensing) to solve issues in earth science, life science, planning, and business.

USGS will participate in a free Geosciences Resource Open House for teachers at the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, Sunday, Oct. 10, 1-3 p.m., at the Marriott Hotel. Participating teachers will receive a selection of free geoscience resource and teaching materials from a variety of organizations and societies, as well as touring the exhibit hall (4-6 p.m.) and attending the Icebreaker Social (6-8 p.m.) at the SEG Convention. To register, teachers must contact Sarah Shearer, SEG Applied Science Education Chair, sshearer@seg.org, phone 303-869-5049.

North Table Mountain Geology & Natural History Hike, Golden CO
USGS Geologist Pete Modreski will lead a public hike up the west side of North Table Mountain, Golden, 4-7 p.m. (until dusk). Anyone is invited; we'll see and talk about volcanic rocks, local geology, mining and quarrying history, Open Space, local plants, animals, and ecology, and how the present landscape developed. This will be an easy, uphill hike up a dirt trail and dirt road to the top of the mesa--capped by 64 million-year-old lava flows. Meet at the trailhead parking area on Wyoming Circle, one block east of North Ford Street at Pine Ridge Road, Golden.
Date and Time: Tues., Oct. 12 at 4 p.m. (Alt. rain date, Oct. 13 or Oct 15.)
Contact: pmodreski@usgs.gov or 303-202-4766

Big Thompson Watershed Teachers' Enhancement Program -Oct 14, 2004
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), EPA Region 8, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Division of Water Resources, and the Big Thompson Watershed Forum will be presenting a full day of talks, posters, and real hands on water quality monitoring experience to teachers in the Big Thompson Watershed. The Big Thompson Watershed begins high in Rocky Mountain National Park and joins the South Platte River in eastern Colorado. This is the third year for this event. USGS scientists will demonstrate how streamflow and water quality measurements are made, identification of benthic organisms, and access online water data from National Water Information System NWISWEB.

South Dakota

EDC staff conducted a "Living on a Restless Earth" presentation to 7th grade middle school students in Madison, South Dakota featuring remotely sensed imagery of earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfire, floods, and hurricanes.

EDC staff will have an exhibit at the Minnesota GIS/LIS conference in St. Cloud, Minnesota October 5-7.
This conference will provide an excellent opportunity to promote Earth Science Week with adult GIS enthusiasts.

EROS Data Center staff will have an exhibit at the Kirby Science Center, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, SD from Oct. 8-18.
The exhibit will feature examples of USGS satellite data used to monitor natural hazards such as wildfires, floods, tornadoes and other forces of nature. The CineDome film playing at the Kirby Science Center during Earth Science Week is titled, "Forces of Nature." An educational packet distributed by AGI, with the USGS as a sponsor, will be available for teachers. The packet includes USGS handouts as well as a poster on the "Forces of Nature" film.

2004 Earth Science Week at the USGS EROS Data Center
October 11-15, 2004, "Earth Science Week" posters will be prominently displayed in the EDC atrium. EDC tours will be offered during the celebration of "Earth Science Week".

Dr. Masterlark presents "Tectonic Applications."
EDC's Dr. Tim Masterlark, Sr. Scientist - Geomechanics, will give a presentation entitled "Tectonic Applications" to 120 sixth grade science students at Whittier Middle School, Sioux Falls, SD, on Wednesday, October 13.

A Distance Learning presentation "Everyday Uses for Satellites" will take place on Friday, Oct. 15 of Earth Science Week. EDC Sr. Satellite Engineer, Bryan Christensen, will conduct a 60 minute, interactive video conferencing presentation from 11:00-1200 CST on how the USGS uses remote sensing technology in many earth science applications from the fields of hydrology, geology, geography, and biology. Linked to several secondary science standards, students will study various types of communication and observation satellites, and the central role that GPS plays in their navigational system. Changes in the Earth's surface and use of spherical intersection modeling for navigational positioning will be investigated. (Site Limit: 10 Schools) (For more information contact Mark W. Barber at: USGS EROS Data Center, tel. # (605) 594-6176; Email: barber@usgs.gov
Additional Information: http://edc.usgs.gov/, http://www.goes.noaa.gov, http://www.trimble.com/gps , http://science.nasa.gov/RealTime/JTrack/3d/JTrack3D.html

Virginia

USGS Open House
Bring the kids, the family, and your friends to experience science first hand through exhibits, demonstrations, and tours, and learn more about what's going on right in your own backyard!
Date and Time: October 9, 2004 10:00a.m.- 5:00p.m.
Contact: (703) 648-5000