AL SO C IC IET G Y July, 1999 O L O O F E G M A THE MAINE E I H N T E GEOLOGIST Volume 25 1 9 74 NEWSLETTER OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MAINE Number 2 25’th Anniversary Volume The President’s Message undergoing; (2) the geologic features and processes occurring in a given region on the earth or on a Four years have passed since I retired (?) from celestial body. 27 years of public service (Maine Geological I wish to express my thanks to Doug Reusch at Survey) and while still professionally active, I have University of Maine who is leading an NSF/GSM the opportunity to catch up on my reading, including sponsored Northern Appalachian field trip for technical, non-fiction, fiction, and print media in secondary school teachers (following pages) -- general. From these sources I have seen many another great GSM jubilee event! While on this references to "science", often preceded by some subject and as vice-Chairman of NEGSA, I have meaningless adjectives and followed by been exposed to the SAGE Project of the GSA. It is unfathomable, if not mysterious definitions. The an acronym for Science Awareness through following are a few examples that come to mind: Geoscience Education. Its mission is to promote good science; bad science; pure science; basic geoscience education and enhance scientific science; applied science; quality science; sound understanding for all citizens. SAGE programs science; big science; small science; miscellaneous include: (1) Partners for Educators Program(PEP); science; voodoo science; weird science; junk (2) Geoscience Education; (3) Awards for Educators science; dogmatic science; client science; politicized (our Patti Millette of Mt. Blue High School is a science; civic science; creation science; armchair candidate for the national outstanding teacher science; anecdotal science; trendy science; new-age award); (4) Encourage Underrepresented Groups in science; managed science; curiosity science; Earth Science; (5) Resource Materials and Career plausible science; fringe science. We can also Information. I am especially impressed with the include "ignored science," exemplified by the progress of the PEP program, which supports impending collapse of the fisheries in the Gulf of professional partnerships between geologists and K- Maine despite a long standing body of research, 12 educators both in formal and in informal settings. facts, data, and scientific recommendations ignored The program now includes more than 1700 by politicians and policy people. The list goes on volunteers in all 50 states and more than 60 and I'm sure you all can add a few more. Most of international associates. Notably impressive is the this must be generally confusing to the general PEP E-mail partners to help answer questions in public and it might therefore be useful (?) to place an their own specialties for each other, students, other appropriate definition of science, the scientific educators, and the public. For those who wish to method, and geology on our WEB Site home page participate in this stimulating program you can (www.gsmmaine.org). I solicit your comments, contact: Wendy Cunningham, Project Coordinator suggestions or recommendations on definitions. for PEP at: [email protected]. Join up - it's fun! SCIENCE (Webster) - (1) a branch of know- Also, I don't think I've compromised our ledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths charter by writing to the Maine delegation to support systematically arranged and showing the operation the reauthorization of the National Geologic of general laws; (2) systematic knowledge of the Mapping Act which furnishes funds for geologic physical or material world; (3) systematized know- mapping for federal (FEDMAP), state (STATE- ledge in general; (4) knowledge as of facts or prin- MAP), and educational (EDMAP) institutions. I ciples; (5) knowledge gained by systematic study. have gotten positive responses from our delegation. SCIENTIFIC METHOD (Webster) - a method Finally, I hope to see you all at our summer of research in which a problem is identified, relevant jubilee field meeting hosted by Dee Caldwell at the data are gathered, a hypothesis is formulated from Field Camp on Chesuncook Lake. Have a great these data, and the hypothesis is empirically tested. summer! GEOLOGY (Webster) - (1) the science that Walt Anderson, President deals with the physical history of the earth, the <[email protected]> rocks of which it is composed, and the physical changes which the earth has undergone or is Geological Society of Maine Newsletter, 1999, v. 25, no. 2, p. 1 The Editor’s Message: at education conferences will address a wider audience. Last year we put out a call for those who might The primary goal will be for participants to like to receive the newsletter electronically. We will observe key parts of Maine's Paleozoic, implement that change soon, but will continue this Pleistocene, and Holocene geologic records. The experimental double subscription, snail mail as well trip focuses on a transect of the Appalachian as e-mail, to make sure that the bases are covered. mountain belt from Quebec City to the Gulf of PLEASE e-mail me with any problems, and if you Maine, along which teachers will observe evidence would like your name added to the list of e-mail for the growth and subsequent destruction of the recipients, let me know. Paleozoic Iapetus Ocean. Teachers will have Dan Belknap, Newsletter Editor opportunities to develop geologic mapping and <[email protected]> related skills needed to decipher the geologic record. The geochemical carbon cycle, a unifying concept in earth system science, will be introduced within the GSM Web Site ! context of tectonic rearrangements of carbon sources A reminder that the GSM website is: and sinks through the Iapetan cycle. Later in the week, we will visit spectacular Pleistocene features www.gsmmaine.org in eastern Maine to examine evidence for the Wayne A. Power, Webmaster, UMF existence and demise of the Laurentide ice sheet. <[email protected]> On Wednesday afternoon at the UMF Geology Department, we will compile a set of recommend- ations on how to make use of Maine's rich geologic Earth System Science Workshop/ record in K-12 education. We will also evaluate Field Trip for K-12 Teachers Maine's Learning Results in the context of the National Science Education Standards and Maine's July 12-16, 1999 unique geologic record. Input from the professional "Many, many factors have shaped the world as geologist community is welcome. We will discuss we know it, and these same factors are still at work. how to institutionalize similar professional If we study what is here today, we may learn how development experiences so that eventually all to solve the 'equation of earth', decipher what Maine teachers involved in science education will happened long ago, and predict what may happen in have opportunities to observe the best parts of their the future." - Dan Reid at age 14 (final paragraph in region's geologic record. An NEIGC-style field his report "Geology of the Bangor High School guide and a virtual field trip website are in area, Maine) preparation. Copies of the National Science As articulated by the National Research Council Education Standards may be purchased for $19.95 in 1993, "the goal of the solid-earth sciences is: to plus $4 S/H from the National Academy Press, understand the past, present, and future behavior of 2101 Constitution Ave. NW, Lockbox 285, the whole earth system." Their 1996 publication Washington, DC 20055 or 1-800-624-6242. "National Science Education Standards", which lays out a vision of scientific literacy for all students, Douglas Reusch, Postdoctoral Fellow, UM places a strong emphasis on earth system science. <[email protected]> As a result of their activities in grades K-12, all students should develop an understanding of earth ******************************* materials and changes in earth and sky, the structure Summer Field Trip of the earth system, energy in the earth system, geochemical cycles, and the origin and evolution of July 23-25, Chesuncook Lake the earth system. Dee Caldwell, Boston University, will host and To meet a widely recognized need for lead our summer field trip out of the BU/UM field professional development opportunities for Maine camp (Boom House) on Chesuncook Lake complete science teachers, an "Earth System Science with cook and a traditional woods camp dinner. Workshop/Field Trip" will be conducted July 12- This event will take place July 23 (Fri.), 24 (Sat.), 16. A National Science Foundation-supported and 25 (Sun.). The plan: July 23- Arrive at program "Field-based investigations to understand Chesuncook Dam Boom House, T3-R12, with the earth system," along with additional support lodging in Boom House or tenting on grounds and from the Geological Society of Maine's education pot luck supper. July 24 - An early breakfast and fund, will enable a dozen science teachers from drive to Patten to begin field trip at Stop #1, at Top- around the state to participate. Later during the of-the-World, about one mile south of Patten on school year, presentations by six of the participants Route 11 (for those who don't want to do much Geological Society of Maine Newsletter, 1999, v. 25, no. 2, p. 2 driving, tent at Shin Pond, etc. and meet at Stop through several years of mapping in the neighboring #1). We have reserved the campsite at Shin Pond Camden and Rockland areas. This area includes the for Friday night - about $3.00 /site. Stops proceed only significant lime-producing region of New in and around Baxter Park ending Saturday evening England, and a cornerstone of the local economy. at the Boom House for woods camp dinner and a Making sense of this complex geology and directing Silver Jubilee evening event.