2019 Grand Canyon Geology and Geoscience Education Public Symposium

 

Left: The Trail of Time gives a cyclic view of rocks, time and erosion at Grand Canyon. Right: The Grand Canon at the foot of the Toroweap- looking east. Lithograph by William Henry Holmes from Clarence E. Dutton, Tertiary History of the Grand Cañon District with Atlas, 1882.

 

Grand Canyon is one of the world’s iconic geologic laboratories and has long served as a centerpiece for geoscience education and science literacy.

The symposium is open to the public as well as the geoscience community. There is no formal registration or fee to attend any of the sessions. Friday and Saturday talks will take place at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium on the South Rim.
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• Friday, April 19, Geology Day, will present an overview of Grand Canyon geology and discuss “hot topics” that have major importance for understanding Earth history as well as Grand Canyon geology.
• Saturday, April 20, Geoscience Education Day, emphasizes the need for continued innovations in public outreach and interpretation and a close connection between scientists and society.
• On Saturday afternoon, park visitors and residents can walk the Trail of Time exhibit along the Canyon Rim Trail, with geologists, starting at 2:00 pm, from Yavapai Geology Museum, or Verkamps' Visitor Center.

 

Day 1: Friday, April 19 - Grand Canyon Geology Talks

8:15 am - #1 Welcome by Grand Canyon National Park Division of Science and Resource Management - Jeanne Calhoun

8:30 am - #2 Grand Canyon Geology Debates and Their Global Reverberations – Dr. Karl Karlstrom, University of New Mexico

9:00 am - #3 Vishnu basement rocks: Formation of continental crust and its relationship to the supercontinent cycle - Dr. Mark Holland, University of New Mexico

9:30 am - #4 Snapshots from the Great Unconformity found in the Grand Canyon Supergroup: The Unkar Group - - Dr. Michael Timmons, New Mexico Bureau of Geology

 

10:00 Break

10:30 am - #5 The Neoproterozoic Chuar Group of Grand Canyon: A gem of unique scientific discoveries - Dr. Carol Dehler, Utah State University

11:00 am - #6 Tonto Group: What can really old layers of sand, mud, and lime tell us? - Dr. James Hagadorn, Denver Museum of Natural History

11:30 am - #7 Paleozoic progress - The oldest vertebrate trackway in Grand Canyon and the dawn of reptiles: Dr. Steven Rowland, University of Nevada Las Vegas

 

12:00 - 1:30: Lunch on your own

1:30 pm - #8 Source regions for Paleozoic sedimentary rocks: Dr. George Gehrels, University of Arizona.

2:00 pm - #9 Uplift and age of Grand Canyon and Grand Staircase - Carmen Winn, University of New Mexico

2:30 pm - #10 Where was the downstream end of the pre-Pliocene Colorado River - Dr. James W. Sears, University of Montana

 

3:00 pm - Break

3:15 pm - #11 What a conflict of fire and water! – Lava Dams in Grand Canyon - Dr. Ryan Crow, United States Geological Survey

3:45 pm - #12 The Bouse connection and controversies - Dr. Phil Pearthree, Arizona Geological Survey

4:15 pm - #13 The shape of water - Dr. Laurie Crossey, University of New Mexico

4:45 pm - #14 The Coconino and Redwall-Muav aquifers of the Grand Canyon region and their importance for people and ecosystems - Dr. Abe Springer, Northern Arizona University

 

Day 2: Saturday, April 20 - Geoscience Education Talks

8:15 am - #15 Welcome by the Park’s Division of Interpretation - Todd Stoeberl

8:30 am - #16 Place-based geoscience education, interpretation, and ethnogeology at Grand Canyon - Dr. Steve Semken, Arizona State University

9:00 am - #17 Engaging the Public in Geology and Geoscience: Techniques Learned Using the History of Ideas on the Origin of Grand Canyon Wayne Ranney

9:30 am - #18 Implications of Learning Outcomes of In-Person and Virtual Field-Based Geoscience Instruction at Grand Canyon National Park - Tom Ruberto, Arizona State University

10:00 am - #19 The Old Red of John Wesley Powell: Using Geology to Solve the Historical Question of Powell’s 1869 Grand Canyon Camps - Richard Quartaroli

10:30 am - #20 The Trail of Time Exhibit - Karl Karlstrom and Laura Crossey

11:00 am - #21 Brainstorming a next century of informal science education - panel

11:30 am - #22 Recap and organize the Trail of Time walk - Karl Karlstrom and Laura Crossey

12:00 - 1:30: lunch on your own

 

Day 2: Saturday Afternoon - Walk Trail of Time with Geologists

Meet At Yavapai Geology Museum Or Verkamps' Visitor Center at 2:00 pm

Interpretive walks between 2:00 - 5:00 pm on Saturday, April 20

• All Are Welcome
  For The Whole Family, Don’t Miss It.

 

About the Symposium

Karl Karlstrom, University of New Mexico

Grand Canyon rocks and landscapes provide one of the best geologic research laboratories in the world. This region has served for 150 years as a place where ideas of global importance are developed, tested, and refined.

Our symposium involves active researchers who will summarize for the public the present knowledge in the context of ongoing debates and future challenges.

Public geoscience literacy is ever more important on our small planet of limited resources. The time perspective that geology conveys is crucial for a sustainable future as we grapple with many issues such as climate dynamism, extinctions, and resources -- including water.

Grand Canyon’s 6 million annual visitors can play an important role internationally in gaining and promoting science literacy and geoscience awareness.

A basic geology message for visitors is that Grand Canyon is a geologically young landscape being sculpted from very old rocks. Knowing some of the stories encoded in the rock layers and the landscapes enriches your understanding of our planet and enhances your experience at Grand Canyon.