G420 - REGIONAL GEOLOGY FIELD TRIP
Galapagos Islands Field Trip
Spring 2002:
Instructor:
Title:
Section:
Credits:
Office:
Phone:
e-mail:
IUPUI Home Geology Home Course Listing G420 Main Page
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G420 - REGIONAL GEOLOGY FIELD TRIP |
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Galapagos Islands Field Trip |
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Spring 2002: |
March 14 - March 23, 2002 | |
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Instructor: |
Marta Corbin & Dr. Gary Rosenberg | |
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Title: |
Galapagos Islands Field Trip | |
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Section: |
C267 | |
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Credits: |
1-3 credits | |
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Office: |
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Phone: |
274.7484 (IUPUI Geology Department) | |
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e-mail: |
macorbin@iupui.edu | |
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Discover evolution in the Galapagos
Islands, 500 miles off the coast of Ecuador, as Charles Darwin did in the mid
1800’s. Isolated from their mainland ancestors, the animals and plants of
these remarkable basaltic islands have evolved into unique species found nowhere
else on Earth. 
Many
of the animals are as tame as Darwin found them, and you can stroll among
nesting sea birds and swim with seals. Even many of the fish are tame. You will
also hike on ancient lava flows, view dormant and possibly some active volcanic
craters, and traverse across blocks of sea floor faulted and lifted above sea
level—all of which testify to one of the most dynamic plate tectonics areas in
the world. Population pressures from both native islanders as well as tourists
will raise in your mind many important environmental issues applicable to your
lives back home in Indiana.”
Basic
Itinerary: We will fly from Indianapolis to Quito, Ecuador, spend the
night, then on to Baltra (Galapagos) on Friday. For the next week we will live
aboard a chartered boat (no one is allowed to remain on the islands without
special permission). During the day we will visit various islands, always
accompanied by a Galapagos National Park Naturalist who is very knowledgeable
about the biology and geology of the islands. Friday, March 22, we will fly back
to Quito, spend the night and return to Indianapolis on Saturday.
Accommodations:
All accommodations aboard the boat and in Quito are double occupancy. We will
have same sex room/cabin assignments.
Requirements: Student requirements include: 2.75 GPA, previous geology class or currently enrolled in one or by special permission of faculty. Plus students need to have completed at least one year's study.
Credits: The trip is being offered as variable credit (1-3). It is set up as a 1 credit class, however, can be worth up to 3 credits with an approved research project. We will meet 3-4 times prior to the trip, once or twice after the trip. Assignments to fulfill the credit include: field notebook, student reference guide, summary paper and oral presentation.
Cost:
Cost at the moment is ~$3000, which is expensive, but having to live aboard a
chartered boat for a week with full crew, meals and naturalist is a huge portion
of the cost; the remaining is airfare. We have 2 IUPUI people working on
fundraisers and sponsors to help reduce costs, so ultimately I'm hoping it will
be far less expensive. There is a foundation in Bartholomew County that is
helping students who live in the county with expenses.
Enrollment: At the moment we have 8 people with a limit of 10.
Galapagos
Links:
Galapagos.org is a site run by The Charles Darwin Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting conservation, education, and scientific research in and on behalf of the Galapagos Islands.
Swiss Association of Friends of the Galapagos Islands Based in Switzerland, this organisation is a member of the international Friends of Galapagos network. Other members include GCT, CDF, Inc., the Frankfurt Zoological Society and Friends of Galapagos in the Netherlands.
The Galapagos Coalition This site is run by a group of scientists, biologists and lawyers with expertise in environmental and international law. Many have done research in Galapagos and all are interested in understanding the relationship between the conservation of the Galapagos and human activities.
Links