 In recognition of this week, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich also proclaimed
Oct. 14-20 Earth Science Week in Illinois."The 2007 Earth Science
Week activities fit in well with the survey's mission to provide the
citizens and institutions of Illinois with accurate, objective earth
science research and information relevant to the state's
environmental quality, economic prosperity and public safety," said
Dr. William W. Shilts, chief of the Illinois State Geological
Survey.
Activities planned in recognition of Earth Science Week include:
Illinois State Geological Survey field trip on Saturday
More than 100 participants have already registered to attend a
field trip at Pere Marquette State Park and surrounding areas of
Jersey and Madison counties. The all-day trip begins at the state
park Visitor Center and proceeds first to Goat Cliff Trail, where
geologists will point out and describe the folds, faults and
geologic exposures of the area.
Traveling by car, participants will then proceed through historic
Grafton, well-known for its high-quality building stone, en route to
the Grafton Visitor Center and Keller Quarry. This area is famous
for the number and quality of the trilobite specimens found there.
Lunch will be outside the National Great Rivers Museum and the
Melvin Price Locks and Dam. The museum, opened in 2003 by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, is dedicated to telling the story of the
confluence of three great rivers -- the Mississippi, the Missouri
and the Illinois -- in a comprehensive and compelling way.
The fourth stop is the relatively new Piasa Park, home of the
modern Piasa Bird pictograph. Geologists will tell the history,
legend and lore surrounding the Piasa. The park also is a good
location to view local Mississippian rocks and learn about the local
lime and stone industry.
The final stop of the day will be at Kimaterials Inc. Lohr
Quarry. Geologists will help participants understand the rock
sequence (stratigraphy) exposed in the quarry and the mining
operation there. Registration and additional field trip information
is available at
www.isgs.uiuc.edu.
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 |
 American Geological Institute kit distribution
Fifty earth science tool kits, produced by the American
Geological Institute, have been made available to the Illinois State
Geological Survey for distribution to science teachers for use in
their classrooms. The kits offer a wealth of information for
teachers and their students. Among the many materials enclosed in
the packet are suggestions for use of the kit, an earth science
activity calendar for the 2007-2008 school year, U.S. Geological
Survey fact sheets and CD, a CD and poster from NASA, a "GIS
Solutions for Education" CD from the ESRI software company, a
booklet from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
posters, student contests and opportunities, link information to
earth science online sites, bookmarks, and several other items. The
kits can be obtained from the American Geological Institute at
www.agiweb.org.
Find out how you can be involved in Earth Science Week
Visit the American Geological Institute online at
www.agiweb.org or
www.earthsciweek.org
to find out more details about Earth Science Week and scheduled
activities to promote awareness of earth science in education and
society.
The site also is a gateway to information about the
International Polar Year and the
International Year of Planet Earth,
of which the American Geological Institute is a founding partner. A
wealth of earth science information and many useful earth science
information links can be found there as well.
The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation,
founded in 1948 and currently composed of 44 geoscientific and
professional associations representing more than 120,000 geologists,
geophysicists and other earth scientists.
For earth science information specific to Illinois and the
central region, and to learn more about Illinois State Geological
Survey programs, visit
www.isgs.uiuc.edu.
[Text from Illinois
Department of Natural Resources file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
