Variety of Research and Learning Opportunities
Whether you are exploring oversized maps of underground mines, learning to use survey-grade GIS equipment, imaging microfossils or minerals on the scanning electron microscope, or investigating earthquake focal mechanisms, there are opportunities to go beyond the traditional classroom setting in the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences.
Some of the facilities for use by students in the Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences Department include the:
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Cejka Planetarium
The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Cejka Planetarium is 35 feet in diameter and is used extensively in astronomy and planetary science classes for majors in the department, in campus-wide general education courses, and in programs for the general public. Portable telescopes for use in the teaching program include two 3.5-inch Questars, a Coronado Hydrogen-alpha telescope, a five-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope, and several other Newtonian and refractor telescopes.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Scanning Electron Microscope
The ThermoScientific PrismaE Scanning Electron Microscope features a secondary electron detector for surface morphology imaging; an ultra-sensitive, lens-mounted directional backscatter electron detector for compositional contrast; and an energy dispersive spectroscopy for semi-quantitative analyses.
Institute for Mine Mapping, Archival Procedures and Safety (IMAPS)
The core mission of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Institute for Mine Mapping, Archival Procedures, and Safety (IMAPS) is to develop a locus of knowledge and expertise in archiving, digitally recording, and geographically referencing historical coal mine maps, as well as initiating new mine safety protocols based on the existence of digital map data products.