I believe that you learn from everyone you meet, everything you experience, and from every place you go. The world is a classroom. This picture of us on that knoll, listening to Ian captures this philosophy. What a great setting for a classroom!
--- Nick Dovzak, Teacher


This group picture was taken by a Canadian friend we made at the beach that day. One of the most interesting aspects of the research experience was interacting with people we met along the way. I don't remember ever meeting anyone from Canada before ... interesting that I had to go to the tip of the world to meet someone from a neighboring country!
--- Sarah Anderson, Teacher


This picture captures both the massive amount of accumulated knowledge and the amount of knowledge to be gained through first-hand experiences. Plus Ian looks just plain glorious...


Argentina group hard at work examining rocks in Tierra del Fuego National Park and discussing the geology behind the rocks we are seeing.

Participant Feedback
  UTIG has a rich history of involving teachers with field research projects (http://www.ig.utexas.edu/outreach/gk-12/index.htm; http://www.ig.utexas.edu/outreach/ttif/index.html). This recent Lago Fagnano research experience, however, represents the first time that both K-12 students and teachers have been immersed in a field setting with UTIG scientists.

After the field experience, participants had time reflect on the impact that the excursion had on them, personally, and on their perceptions of what science is. In addition to the images and quotations below, students and teachers provided excellent feedback with suggestions of how the experience could be improved for future participants.

The comments and pictures shown here come from the Boerne High School teachers and students, and they demonstrate the inherent value of K-12 involvement in field research.

This picture was taken on the day of our "death march" along the fault, after we decided to forego our dry, beaver-wrecked path for the river bed. After a little walking, our feet were soaked. I think this is a perfect illustration of science. Science is getting your feet wet, it is taking the path that may not be comfortable, may not be respectable. It is considering the unorthodox. Choosing the option you may not have even considered an option in the beginning. We walked about 20 miles that day and most of us saw very little of geologic interest. Was it worth it? Yes! Because in science, there are no dead ends, there is always another path available, and there is just as much to be learned from no as from yes. No means we must find another way, we must get our feet wet and try again. --- Kayla, Student


Most important aspect of the experience:
  I was blown away by the patience and generosity, even through our persistent questioning, shown to us (the students and teachers) by all present in the field.
--- Kayla, Student

The most important aspect... to me was not the actual science being conducted or the area in which we frolicked, but the exposure to the process-and people-of science really made me realize how much I would enjoy pursuing a profession in science.
--- Derek, Student

The most important aspect... was the chance to talk and listen to the scientists who were there because I was able to learn so much from the knowledge that they have.
--- Paul, Student