New Field Course Begins for Wyoming and Mississippi Students

When it comes to the natural environment, Wyoming and Mississippi do not have a lot in common. The arid plains and mountains of Wyoming contrast drastically with the humid plains of central Mississippi. The differences, however, offer ample opportunity for an expansion of knowledge. Tomorrow, students from both states will join together to begin a two week field research course focused on hydrology, ecology and geophysics.

This field course is the beginning of a collaboration between Jackson State University (JSU) and the University of Wyoming (UW) through the Wyoming Center for Environmental Hydrology and Geophysics (WyCEHG). The goal is to offer students from both institutions a chance for exposure to new environments while increasing knowledge of field techniques and equipment use. Dr. Scott Miller, one of the principal investigators for WyCEHG and a lead for the camp, believes that such a collaboration offers important new opportunities for everyone involved.
“The collaboration is compelling for several reasons,” says Dr. Miller. “For one, the geologic and hydrologic settings of the southeastern United States and the Rocky Mountains provide an excellent contrast for field studies and environmental interpretation. Second, students from both institutions will gain familiarity and exposure to very different physical and cultural geographies. Third, faculty and students at JSU and Wyoming have shared research interests, and this field course will provide a mechanism for academic exchange. Students will be trained on various critical techniques, including field observation and use of hydrogeophysical equipment that will prepare them for both the job market and academic research.”
Faculty from UW that will be teaching parts of the course include Dr. Miller, from ecosystem science and management; Dr. Steve Holbrook,from geology and geophysics; from Dr. Dave Williams, from ecosystem science and management and the director of the Stable Isotope Facility; Dr. Brent Ewers, from the botany department; and Dr. Brad Carr, manager of the Facility for Imaging the Near and Sub-surface Environment.  Together, the team will create a dynamic, interdisciplinary research experience.
More information about the field course and the JSU-UW collaboration can be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2013/05/jackson-state-university-contingent-to-study-hydrology-at-uw-this-summer.html

 By Kali S. McCrackin