Independent Study (“I.S.”) Field-Based Research

1. Independent Study (“I.S.”) Field-Based Research Shelley Judge, Wooster Dept of Geology (with contributions from my colleagues, Greg Wiles, Mark Wilson, and Meagen Pollock)

2. Where is Wooster? • Wooster, Ohio • (~55 mi SSW of Cleveland) • Rural setting http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/Wooster_OH.gif

3. Where is Wooster? • Wooster, Ohio • (~55 mi SW of Cleveland) • Rural setting http://www.visualadvantagephoto.com/Client-Galleries/Wayne-County-Ag-Bio/Ramseyer-Ag-Tourism-3/667943266_Tdo94-S.jpg http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/Wooster_OH.gif

4. Where is Wooster? • Wooster, Ohio • (~55 mi SW of Cleveland) • Rural setting http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/Wooster_OH.gif

5. What is Wooster? • Liberal arts college • ~2000 undergrads • Students from 45 states and 26 countries • 60% students from out of state • Nationally recognized for its teaching and its I.S. program

7. What is I.S.? In Theory… • College requires that every undergraduate complete a significant Independent Study project • I.S. has been the culmination of our curriculum in every major for >60 years (since 1944) • Attention given to method, form, and content of the intellectual activity • Emphasis on communication of results

10. What is I.S.? In Practice… • Junior Year (1 dedicated course, spring semester) • January: Advisor selected/assigned and project defined • February-April: study the concepts and techniques of geologic research • April: submission of Jr. I.S. thesis (intro, geologic setting, methods) • April: formal graded presentation to the department

11. What is I.S.? In Practice… • Summer before Senior Year: Field work • Senior Year (2 dedicated courses, one each semester) • September-March: Live, breathe, and sweat I.S. • Fall and Spring Semesters: formal presentations (2 total) to the department • March: Senior I.S. is due (“I.S. Monday”) • April: Oral defense (student, advisor, additional faculty) • April: Senior Research Symposium (dedicated day of no classes)

12. What is I.S.? In Practice… "College presidents and deans consider Wooster's Independent Study one of the best senior capstone programs in the nation," says U.S. News & World Report.

13. I.S. Monday: An Academic Parade The Ultimate Exchange: One’s I.S. for a Tootsie Roll and a Button

14. I.S. Monday: An Academic Parade

15. I.S. Monday: An Academic Parade

17. Student Field-Based Research • In the Past Few Years: • Estonia • Iceland • Israel • Mongolia (Keck project) • Alabama/Mississippi • Alaska • Ohio • Pennsylvania • South Dakota • Montana (Keck project) • Utah

18. Student Field-Based Research • Megan Innis (below) in Mussel Creek (Alabama) • I.S. Project: The patterns of extinction, survival, and recovery of sclerobionts surrounding the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.

19. Student Field-Based Research • Colin Mennett coring in Excursion Ridge, Alaska • I.S. Project: Dendrochronology of yellow cedars for use in climate change

20. Student Field-Based Research • Stephanie Jarvis atop Mount Wright, Alaska • I.S. Project: Climate sensitivity and response of mountain hemlocks at varying elevations in SE Alaska.

21. Student Field-Based Research • Becky Alcorn at a Quarry in Undirhlithar, Iceland • I.S. Project: Mapping the internal architecture of a subglacial pillow ridge

22. Student Field-Based Research • Todd Spillman and Rob Lydell at the top of Svinadalsfjall , Iceland • I.S. Projects: Geochemical analyses of subglacial pillow basalts (Todd), and Zeolite distribution study (Rob)

23. Student Field-Based Research • Andrew Retzler (left) in the Southern Negev Desert, Israel • I.S. Project: Reconstructing the paleoenvironment of a chondrichthyan fauna in the Menuha Fm

24. Student Field-Based Research • Micah Risacher in the Southern Negev Desert, Israel • I.S. Project: Reconstructing the paleoenvironment the Zihor Fm (with a focus on echinoids)

25. Student Field-Based Research • Elizabeth Deering and Jesse Davenport in Ephraim, Utah • I.S. Project: Paleoecology of the stromatolite facies of the Eocene Green River Formation, Sanpete County UT

26. What do the students think? “To be honest, the idea of writing a thesis as an undergrad was something of which I had never heard. I am now in the full grasp of I.S. and thoroughly enjoying it! While the process is challenging and strenuous, the outcome provides individual confidence, reward, and fulfillment.” “I.S. gave me the necessary skill set in geology to succeed in graduate school. I learned so many important paleo techniques at Wooster that I now feel confident when I have to learn new techniques in grad school.”

27. What do the students think? "I.S. sent me to Alaska, duh!" "I.S. is more of a process than a project…you learn to organize, direct, and focus yourself and to work with (in my case) multiple advisors. This is what I will really take out of it and into whatever I do after Wooster. An extra benefit is what you actually learn about your field and your specific project and, of course, the cool places you get to go."

28. How I.S. affects the Curriculum • >60 years of college-wide support • Efforts by the Development Office for I.S. funding • 3 dedicated courses in the major • Several “extra” courses (writing focus) • Hours of faculty time

29. Thanks. Any Questions?