The Geology Club at LSU has chosen many ways to strive for excellence, and through its commitment to excellence and its members the organization is continually reaching its goals while setting new ones.
The Geology Club has visited numerous schools in the Baton Rouge area that range from elementary to high school, with the intent to share our love and interest in earth science. Members have spoken with students as young as second grade and as old as seniors in high school. Teachers in the region have become aware of these educational visits, and continue to contact the club about visiting their school.
The organization’s commitment to service goes beyond outreach within the schools. The club also participates in several educational events at LSU and around Baton Rouge. Every year the Geology Club participates in the annual Ocean Commotion event at LSU by organizing and running a geology-related booth that emphasizes hands-on science participation. GeoClub members have also helped with a Boy Scout Merit Badge hike. Our volunteers participate in other regional events, including the Rockin’ the Swamp event at Baton Rouge Bluebonnet Swamp, Girl Scouts Merit Badge Day in St. Francisville, LA, and the 4-H Achievement Day. We continuously receive requests for participation in upcoming events and activities people would like us to attend.
The Geology Club also encourages social activities and interaction among majors and non-majors in the department. One way this is accomplished is by holding tutoring sessions for students in the introductory level geology courses and on occasion for students in the upper level geology courses. The club recently started a “Geosciences Careers Program,” series where local geologists are invited to speak at the club’s meetings so members can gain a better understanding of the career opportunities available to them as a geologist. Most importantly, the club tries to foster a sense of camaraderie and fun by getting together and enjoying each other’s company without any stress from school, work or life involved.
The club also makes an effort to enhance the members’ geologic education through field trips. The club takes at least one day or weekend trip a semester and one weeklong trip over the winter break. These trips are helpful for members to get to know other geology majors and to see examples of geology and geologic activities that we learn about in class. Geology is a very visual subject, and these hands on experiences are invaluable. If possible the club not only makes an effort to take a field trip, but by also strives to give back to the community visited by participating in a service project. Recently the club visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, home of the Appalachian Mountains. The field trip consisted of a limestone mapping project with the park’s science coordinator. In conjunction with this trip, participants helped the park by clearing trails of fallen trees and windblown debris.
Through its commitment to service, education, and its members, the LSU Geology Club continues to strive for and achieve excellence.
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For more information, please contact the Geology Club Officers:
Shane Cone, President
Annie Brennan, Vice President
Lindsay Prothro, Secretary
Eric Orphys, Treasurer
Austin Bennett, Field Trip Coordinator