Student Life in Geosciences and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

We've just completed our new Ryan Student Center, but that's not where the heart of Geosciences lies.

In their spare time, students are involved in organizations and clubs, go on department-organized field trips, and spend plenty of time studying (of course!).

Clubs and Events
Here's a listing of some of the popular clubs and events in the department:

Geological Sciences Club

EMEX - Exposition of Earth and Mineral Science

PoEMS
EMS faculty, staff, and students are invited to "poEMS" — a monthly coffee hour sponsored by the Dean's Office. poEMS — a Perfect Opportunity to Energize Mind and Spirit — will be a traveling event: each month the Offices of the Dean, Associate Deans, Finance, Student Center, and Development will visit a department or institute for an hour or so of communication, interaction, and good cheer. Prior to the coffee hour, Dean Barron plans to visit the office or lab of at least one faculty member within the host department or institute. Immediately after the coffee hour, Dean Barron's schedule will be open to visit different areas of the department or institute or to have more in-depth discussions with individuals or small groups of faculty, students, and/or staff.

TOTEMS

What is it?

TOTEMS -- Total Orientation To Earth and Mineral Sciences -- is a new summer program just for first-year and transfer students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

The adventure begins on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 with a chance for EMS to help you move into your dorm room early -- avoiding the insanity of "move-in Thursday." The college will provide a well-earned lunch for you and your family. That afternoon - after you've said goodbye to mom and dad - you'll board a bus for beautiful Lake Raystown, an hour from the Penn State University Park campus. You'll spend the next three days relaxing and:

Enjoying lake activities, hiking, and a ride on the Proud Mary.
Participating in a cabin cooking challenge.
Building a totem of your own.
Meeting fellow first-year students - make friends before your classes begin!
Getting to know some of our current students and faculty members on a first name basis.

On the morning of Friday, August 26, you'll return to campus. That day, and over the next several days, students from all over the state, country, and world will arrive to start the new semester. And you will have already made several new friends, including professors!

What should I bring?

Casual clothes, toiletries, towels (bed linens are provided), sleeping bag, swimsuit, bug spray, sun block, sneakers, and cash for snacks and sodas from the little shops near the campsite. The college will provide food, accommodations, transportation, and the cost of any activities at Lake Raystown.

For more information, call Linda Spangler at 814-863-2751.

Field Trips and Work
Every year many students trek across America and beyond digging up rock sediments, drilling for cores, or brushing off trilobite fragments. If you're in this department, you'd better be prepared to get your hands dirty! Explore some of the previous field trips listed below to take a peek into the "hard work" of Geosciences.

Field Camp, 2004

Drilling in Australia

Students studying the Geobiology of Green Lake.