Breaking ground, exploring new terrain

Geology is the study of the earth, and the students involved in the Oregon State University Geo-Science Club will be doing just that on the club’s trip to Costa Rica on March 17.

Twenty-three OSU students will visit Costa Rica, the Central American country with endless supplies of sunshine, coffee beans and an incredible chain of volcanoes.

Taryn Bye, Geo-Science Club’s president, and McKenzie Mark-Oser, vice president, are looking forward to the amazing experiences awaiting them.

Both girls voiced excitement about the complex subduction zone featured in Costa Rica, which essentially means an expansive range of volcanoes that are very active in comparison to our Oregonian volcanoes. For example, there is a likelihood they could witness volcanic action the average person would only see in a movie.

Three professors and one geo-science alumnus will provide structure and spontaneous lectures throughout the 16-day trip.

“I am really looking forward to the opportunity to get to know our professors outside the classroom,” Bye said.

The journey to Costa Rica is meant to be an instructional tool to broaden students’ understanding of materials taught in class and how they are applicable in the real world. Since the geo-sciences are heavily based in fieldwork, the trip to Costa Rica provides a “chance to get [their] feet wet,” according to Mark-Oser.

She notes the trips often help students figure out what path they want to take within the geology major.

The students’ interests in the geology field of study vary and include tsunamis, rock formations, the history of Earth, large-scale geological hazards like earthquakes and many more.

The students have been fundraising for months to accumulate enough funds to make the trip. The Geo-Science Club is established in the Corvallis community through the Corvallis Furniture Company where students paint and move furniture.

The students put on a Super Nerdy Movie Night, where they showed the film “Super Volcano,” and they had a Valentine’s Day raffle. The members also completed yard work for local residents.

“The alumni have played an important role in raising funds, as well,” Bye said.

The students mailed over 50 letters explaining the need for donations.

The excursion to Costa Rica is not the first of its kind. The Geo-Science Club has consistently done national trips since 2005 and every other year travel internationally, like this year’s adventure to Costa Rica.

The students in the Geo-Science Club welcome everyone, no matter their major. The only thing potential members need is an interest in the geo-sciences. The club has various fun-filled activities throughout the year like hiking and exploring the outdoors.

Within the College of Earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences at Oregon State, the geology programs provide a great way to make connections with faculty and staff.

The students involved in the Geo-Science Club have put in hard work to travel to Costa Rica, a “ground breaking” experience for everyone involved.

Kate Virden, news reporter
news@dailybarometer.com