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| Intercontinental Geology |
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Students Bridge and Study Gaps
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 Since the inception of the school summer break, the phrase summer camp has been synonymous with leisure activities such as swimming, horseback riding, and, of course, camping. Today, for a few select UO geology students, summer camp means packing for the long trip to the base of the Tian Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.
In July 2003, Ray Weldon, PhD, professor of structural geology and neotechtonics at the UO Department of Geology, traveled to a field camp in Kyrgyzstan with five American students, three chosen from his department. At the camp, they collaborated with other students, professors, and scientists from the European Union and Central Asia.
The camp represented the second year of a National Science Foundation grant-funded project designed to train and educate geology students. On paper, the nearly $1 million grant, spread over five years, pays students’ transportation and field-camp expenses. In actuality, all participants gain not only a rare chance to study actively uplifting mountains, but also the experience of spending three to four weeks living and working closely with people of very different cultures, religions, languages and political beliefs. Weldon believes this exposure equals the importance of the field and research experience. Students often bypass the option to pay tuition and receive credit, and focus instead on the trip’s unique opportunity.
“I think it’s really quite important that the students get to see that different people think differently, not better or worse but differently, and they get to see that there are real humans behind these stereotypes that are put out there,” says Weldon.
Reed Burgette, a second-year graduate student earning his PhD in geology, concurs. He participated in the 2002 field camp as well as a 2001 expedition to lay the groundwork. This time his tool kit included basic Russian to help bridge the language barrier within the work party.
“It was a really rewarding experience in a lot of ways. It was really interesting to interact with people from very different cultures,” he says.
Through email Burgette maintains the connections he made with others at the camp, including a few Belgian students. Despite the shadow of global politics and wars, students put aside preconceived notions and appreciated each other as individuals united by a common love for natural sciences.
“We had a lot of discussions about politics, but no one had any sort of strong feelings against another country,” says Burgette of his 2002 trip.
Kyrgyzstan is a predominantly Islamic country slightly smaller than the square-foot size of South Dakota. The towering Tian Shan mountain range defines the country’s eastern border with China and is a preeminent example of mountains that are uplifted some distance away from a plate boundary, according to Weldon. A live example of the long-quiet Rocky Mountains, the Tian Shan houses ancient river terraces and bedrock that are perfect for geologic surveying and mapping. First-time camp participant Nicole Myers, BS ’03, jumped at the opportunity to use her geology and environmental studies skills in such a dynamic area.
“I hope to come away with a great experience. I look forward to learning about a new part of the world and working with geologic features I wouldn’t otherwise work with. This is an amazing opportunity,” she said prior to departing.
Myers also eagerly anticipated working with students and staff of other cultures. As one of the few women in the camp, she was prepared to face the different cultural standards for women and get to the work at hand.
“I am just very honored to have this opportunity,” she said. “For that reason, I plan on just going with the flow and enjoying the adventure without expectations.”
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1245 University of Oregon • Eugene, OR • 97403-1245
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Copyright © 2003 University of Oregon
Updated November 4, 2003
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