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School of Rock Workshops

Hands-on Research Experiences for Earth and Ocean Science Educators

The JRSO takes advantage of transits between scientific operations to carry out seagoing Earth systems research and education workshops—the “School of Rock” (SOR)—aboard the JOIDES Resolution. During times when the ship is unavailable, the School of Rock is conducted at the Gulf Coast Repository located at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, or other institutions.

During School of Rock research experiences, educators have daily opportunities to conduct geological, physical and/or chemical analyses of sediment and hard-rock cores in laboratories on the ship or at the repository. Scientists who specialize in IODP research instruct participants on topics such as seafloor spreading, mid-ocean ridges, composition and structure of the oceanic crust, paleomagnetism, paleoceanography, biostratigraphy, sedimentology, hydrogeology, and methods for sampling the subseafloor environment. The workshop also provides educators with time to brainstorm and begin planning classroom activities based on their research and new knowledge.

Upcoming SOR Opportunities

Previous School of Rock Workshops

  • 2013 SCIMPI School of Rock: Investigating Earth’s history and the deep biosphere (20–30 May 2013, JOIDES Resolution)
  • School of Rock 2013: Exploring Ocean Cores and the Geology of the Pacific Northwest (1–9 April 2013, JOIDES Resolution)
  • Introduction to Curriculum on Climate History for Minority Serving Institution Faculty (4–7 June 2012, Gulf Coast Repository)
  • School of Rock 2012: Ship to Shore Science (23 May–2 June 2012, JOIDES Resolution)
  • SOR Reuinion (31 July–2 August 2011, JOIDES Resolution, Curaçao)
  • School of Rock 2010: Cascadia CORK (5–17 September 2010, JOIDES Resolution)
  • School of Rock 2009: Cores, CORKS and Hydrology on the Juan de Fuca Ridge (23 June–5 July 2009, JOIDES Resolution)
  • School of Rock 2008: Using Ocean Cores to Explore Past Climate Change (6–13 July 2008, Gulf Coast Repository)
  • School of Rock 2007: Exploring Ocean Cores (22–28 July 2007, Gulf Coast Repository)
  • School of Rock 2005: An oceangoing research experience for Earth and Ocean science teachers (29 October–14 November 2005, JOIDES Resolution)

For additional information, please contact

Sharon Cooper
Manager, Education and Outreach

U.S. Science Support Office, IODP
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
61 Route 9W
Palisades, NY 10964-1000, USA
scooper@LDEO.columbia.edu
Tel: (845) 365-8362
Nicole Kurtz
Outreach Coordinator

U.S. Science Support Office, IODP
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
61 Route 9W
Palisades, NY 10964-1000, USA
nkurtz@LDEO.columbia.edu
Tel: (845) 365-8386