Project Description
An undergraduate student will be working on an ongoing study to characterize sands from around the world that have been collected by UWM researchers, educators and colleagues over a period of more than 25 years. The collection of >300 samples has been used for outreach, education initiatives, and clastic sedimentology research. The collection will be supplemented by the student from their own travels to local beaches. The two-fold goal of this research is to create an educational and outreach tool that is available for public use via display in the Thomas Greene Geological Gallery in Lapham Hall and to identify the specific origins, mineralogy and source rocks of select sands from around the world. The methods intended to complete this project involve sorting, distribution, labeling, microphotography, technical research, QR code displays and may also include X-ray fluorescence spectrometer analysis for mineral compositional. A model for this type of research and display is present in the Science Museum of Minnesota, but no such display exists in Wisconsin museums.
Tasks and Responsibilites
The primary student tasks planned for this research include sorting, identification, labeling and microphotography of sand samples from around the world (e.g., from Iceland, to the Sahara Desert, to Hawaii), creating technical and mineralogical descriptions, and presenting this information for public display and interaction. The samples (currently in various sample jars, containers or bags) will be transferred to same-size vials, labeled with location and description (e.g., mineralogy, source rock) for public display. The student will also identify the best way for public use and interaction with the samples by creating an interactive physical display, with access to microscopes (provided by the Department of Geosciences), so visitors can see the sand grains for themselves under a microscope. The student will also select several unique sands for technical research to provide ‘a story’ about the characteristics of unique sands (e.g., why is the sand from Hawaii or Iceland black, while the Thailand sands are pure white). These stories will be documented for public access, via QR codes linked to the Greene Geological Gallery website. It is anticipated that the student will present this research at both the UWM Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Department of Geosciences Student Research Symposium.