Kentucky, USA -
Fourteen MSU students had an unconventional spring break experience
in the Bahamas this year. MSU Geology Professor Charles Mason and
several of his students had the opportunity to study the geological
features of San Salvador Island. Any geology majors were welcome to go
on the trip at the expense of $1,008.50.
Mason and his students were joined by Professor Frank Ettensohn of
the University of Kentucky and two of his students. Mason and Ettensohn
have previously taken students on several educational trips, but chose
The Bahamas because of its geological connections to Kentucky.
Mason said, “Kentucky is primarily limestone and the Bahamas is a
modern developing limestone environment. Limestone only forms in certain
environments. It has to be marine, shallow, and tropical.”
The work allowed the students to compare the set limestone structures
in Kentucky to the developing limestone in the tropics.
Students spent the majority of their time in the field working with
specimens.
Junior Michaela Howard said, “ We looked at a lot of algae and
snorkeled and looked at coral reeds. We also examined carbonate sands,
coarse grains, and the different environments on every beach.”
Senior Kara Wells said, “We got to tour the older operating kerosene
lighthouse in the world. We also got to swim in a cave underneath the
lighthouse. That and Conch Point, which was a beach that dropped off
into the coral reefs were my favorite things.”
Mason said students received one credit hour for the trip.
“ Travel is the best education there is,” He said. “I try to convince
all of my students to go on the trip. Its holistic — you learn
biology, history, geology, and culture. Its not stuff you learn out of a
book — you are the book.”
Mason will be taking students on another trip next month.
“We’re going to the Pacific Northwest May 15 through June 3,” Mason
said. “We’re going to about a dozen states and the students will get
three credit hours for it because it lasts three weeks.”
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