Jennifer Peña, former GeoForce student and now an outreach coordinator, gives us the inside scoop on how the program has evolved, and why it’s still rocking today. From the days of quizzes galore to the current project-based fun, Jennifer shares how GeoForce has learned to keep things fresh, exciting, and way less stressful. She walks us through the 10th-grade academy, where students build canyons out of Play-Doh (yep, you read that right) and get up close with geology in places like Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon while using the scientific methods!

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Transcript

GeoForce Program Evolution

[00:26:01] Diya Gaur: So, also, like, As a previous GeoForce student yourself and now like an outreach coordinator for GeoForce, how do you think like the program has like kind of changed from then versus now? 

[00:26:13] Jennifer Peña: I feel like then, also just in the way kind of society was then whenever I was doing it, especially on things like test taking, quiz taking, all of that sort of thing.

Whenever I was in the program, every single day we had quizzes. So at the end of every single academy, we would have a quiz, and at the end, like on that last day, we would have a final. It was intense! It was very much Even though, in all honesty, do I think GeoForce would have kicked out half of the kids?

No. Do I also think half of the kids would be failing the GeoForce test? No. We were all nerds, and we were all very, like, worried and anxious people. Or little kids. So, I think we were fine. But it was still, it made us very anxious a little bit, and so seeing now this change to more so a project based, um, curriculum is really great, just because it then gives you guys the tools to work together as teams when it's something like the 9th grade, so now we do a 9th grade project at the end of it, where they work as, like, counselor groups or mini counselor groups, So that's really great, or in things like the 10th grade, wherever you guys do a project, and you do, you model a canyon by yourself, so it gives you that create, creativity, and that space to do what, what you would like to do, but also connect it to education, and connect it to what you've been learning throughout the week.

So to see that change has been really great. Also, I I really like the 12th grade now, even though I will say whenever I was doing the 12th grade, it being the first one in Austin. And not, um, D. C., which it used to be. It was, it was sad, you know? They had been promising us, oh, on your last year, you're gonna go to Washington, D.

C., and it'll be really fun. And at that point, we had traveled every single year, because whenever I was doing the program, the ninth grade was in Florida. And so we had been traveling every single year, so this last year being in Austin was kind of, kind of a downer a little bit for some of us. Um, but being in Austin then made us kind of want to go to UT and realize how interesting it is.

So that was a really good change that they made whenever I was in the program. But the fact that now we give you guys these, like, tangible skills at the end of it, and really want you to gain something from GeoForce, whether it be geology or not, is really cool. Um, so just these STEM kind of points and these really good skills that you can use regardless of if you go to the Jackson School or if you study geology.

I've seen that change in the program and I've really, really enjoyed it. 

[00:29:08] Diya Gaur: That is amazing. 

10th Grade Academy Highlights

[00:29:11] Diya Gaur: So you did mention the 10th grade, like, canyon modeling project, we, I remember doing that as well, where we had, like, the different colors of play doh, and we put it all together, and then we got judged on how good it was, but on that note, what exactly happens, for our listeners, what exactly happens on the GeoForce 10th grade academy, if you could give us, like, a rundown over the You know, ooh, what makes Arizona, like, Nevada and Utah so special in studying geology?

Yeah, 

[00:29:41] Jennifer Peña: so, the 10th grade is our American Southwest Academy. So, this is, um, most students second year in the program. So, and it'll be the summer before you begin your 10th grade year in high school. And what we do is we start off going to Utah, we hit up Zion and Bryce Canyon now, which are beautiful, and we talk We then start bringing up this staircase, so the staircase of the rock layers that we are going to be seeing throughout the week.

And what the 10th grade really is overall is telling you about geologic time. And which you can really see in the Grand Canyon, which we end up going to. Um, the next day after that, we go to Antelope Canyon and then Glen Canyon Dam. At Glen Canyon Dam, we do talk a little bit about hydropower and how that can be used in general.

And also, we have this really fun thing called the Dam Debate. Where we give students each a little kind of role that they're playing, so if they're a farmer, if they live upstream of the dam or downstream of the dam, and then they learn about what these people are going through. As, like, somebody is pitching a dam in their area, and then we have this city hall meeting, which is the dam debate, where students come up, and they, as their role, will explain whether they are for or against the dam, and why.

And so that's really cool, because then it gets students thinking about that real world effect of what we're seeing. Afterwards, we then go to horseshoe bandit night, and then the next day, we start off. Our first our two days at the Grand Canyon, which, like I was saying, is kind of this talk about geologic time and the laws, like Steno's laws, so like laws of superposition, laws of law of unconformities, um, things like that.

Then, afterwards, we end up going to Flagstaff, and we do Lowell Observatory at night, and then Barringer Meteor Crater at night. And those two are then connecting, um, what we've seen to space, and we do planetary geology a little bit. So then we talk about Mars, and luckily, like we were talking about a little bit earlier, the Jackson School has a lot of different people.

There are so many people at the Jackson School who study Mars, and who, who are really into planetary geology. And usually they are the people who then become instructors for our 10th grade. So they have a really nice time leading that last few days because of their knowledge and their background through it.

Um, then at the end, this all comes together in the final project where we ask y'all to create a canyon using all the laws and everything you've seen throughout the week. Um, so you have to have five units, I believe, so that's five layers of rock. Um, explain how you know what time each is, have an unconformity, which means a missing rock layer there in the middle somewhere, and explain, hey, why do you know it's an unconformity?

Just by looking at it, or do you have to look at fossils in the rock and see, like, oh, the fossils, these fossils are this, this old, these fossils we know are this old, that means there's this much gap in time between these two rocks. So we have y'all talk about that, and then kind of think about, okay, could this canyon that I've created be able to exist on Mars?

Based on what we know. So that's kind of, um, a thing of where, okay, if you said that your canyon, yeah, you could tell the time in your canyon because of fossils, then are there fossils on Mars? And then you kind of have those moments where you think about it. And so we really like that because then students, one, get to be creative because they get to create whatever canyon they want.

They can, like Dio was saying, make it out of Play Doh, shape it however they want. They get to name their layers however they want. But then also, you have to be thinking about it, so it has to make some type of sense. So we, they make those connections during it, and it's really cool to then see the students who maybe you thought weren't, were not paying attention and did not care, but they have these really cool layers, and they do have an uncomfortably, and it makes sense, and they actually are getting it all together, or throughout the making of the canyon, they're asking these very, These very good questions that even you're, even myself, when I think back.

I'm like, I don't think I would have asked those questions in my 10th grade trip, like, 

[00:34:32] : I, 

[00:34:33] Jennifer Peña: those questions would have gone right over me, so it's really cool to see, and that's the whole 10th grade that then sets us up for the 11th grade. The year later. Mhm. 

[00:34:46] Diya Gaur: Yeah, and I think that's so important too, because today, like, I don't really see many opportunities for high school students to learn geology, and that's kind of one of my motivations for making this podcast, but just the fact that GeoForce is able to provide all of these research mentors and just give their experiences out and show that, hey, this is how stuff on Mars and the moon works, I think it's super cool.

Like, me personally, I remember Miss Stephanie Suarez, she was on my 10th grade academy and she studies, like, moon rocks, like, all of those different formations on the moon, and I remember she just had a box of rocks and she was like, Hey, you guys can touch this, and now I can say, Yeah, I touched the moon in my 10th grade Geoborce Academy.

So it's super cool. I really love the experiences that you guys are giving out to kids and it's really just truly amazing how far it's like going and just the extent of the program is just amazing. 

[00:35:43] Jennifer Peña: Yeah, exactly. And Stephanie is an alumni. Stephanie is from Houston and did the GeoForce program and then decided to go into geology.

So it's just amazing. Really great to have those full circle moments where, honestly, I, sometimes I forget that I did the whole program and then came back and all that, but it's really cool seeing that and seeing, um, people like Stephanie or like, um, Priscilla Paez, who is from Del Rio, who did the program, then kind of took some time off, and then now is working at Chevron, being a G.

O., Technologist and it's coming back and do, and doing these trips as an alumni mentor, it's really nice to see both the fact that they're being so impacted by the program, but also the fact that they would like to come back and want to give back and want to kind of help out this next generation of Geo Four students is really nice.

And something that I personally want to see continue times a thousand, um, with the GeoForce program, because the students are one, the main thing, why we do this program is because of the students. Um, but also the alumni, because how, how are you going to have these students and tell them, oh, go into geology, and then just never speak to them again when they start doing geology or when they go off to college?

I feel like the alumni are so important, and they are really the people who are going to make the, to make the Geoforce program continue on, just because at the end of the day, They're the people who can give the best feedback on the program and really tell you their real feelings on it. And so it's really nice to have them be able to come back and talk to the students both about the great things and maybe the not so great things.

Just because then you can see where it needs to grow and how students can be helped out. 

[00:37:38] Diya Gaur: I see. I see. That's really cool. So you said the good and the bad things, but what would you say some of your favorite moments from this year's 10th grade academy would be? Oh my gosh, 

[00:37:48] Jennifer Peña: okay, so I did, I did two 10th grade academies.

I did the Southwest 10th grade and the Houston 10th grade, which were very fun. I, hmm, let me think. My favorite part, so this year we added Antelope Canyon, which was a very big kind of, Throw up in the air. Let's see if it works. Let's see if kids are interested and if they are liking what's going on and Luckily, they loved it.

They thought it was great. Both groups got to really see it in a really beautiful way They got to take really nice pictures And that was really nice, I'm very glad it happened. But I think overall, my favorite moment on the 10th grade is the Lowell Observatory night, just because, so we go out to Lowell Observatory where they found Pluto, and students get to walk around and see all the exhibits.

However, we go at night, so we end up giving students little glow stick necklaces, so they are each in their counselor groups. And they have the autonomy in their counselor groups to walk around to anywhere they would like at that time, so there's different exhibits, there's different telescopes, there's a little gift shop.

And they get to go do whatever they feel is right in their little counselor groups, and I really like seeing that because as I'm walking around, I see the counselor groups really get together and get really connected. They get to have a little fun with each other. They, as they walk past, on the southwest 10th grade, two of the groups were walking past each other and they started kind of joking at one another.

One of them was wearing blue, the blue necklaces, the other one wearing, I think, green necklaces, and they started kind of going back and forth and fighting to see who was the best counselor group, and then they walked away. And then they got so invested in the telescopes that were happening and in This exhibit that was going on, and so it's really nice seeing those little moments whenever we are able to kind of let you guys be free, but in, you know, in a safe space, in an area where I can see everyone in their little glow stick necklaces, um, and so that's probably one of my favorite times on the 10th grade, because then, you know, At that point, it's the end of the week, you guys have been working so hard and seeing everything, especially in the hot sun that is the southwest area, like, there, it's 100 degrees, for sure.

Um, so it's really nice to see everyone kind of have a good time, but still be very interested in what's going on. 

[00:40:25] Diya Gaur: Yeah, I mean, at least at the beginning of our GeoForce trip, I remember the way I initially met you was at like, the vending machines. So I was with my best friend Nadiyah, and we asked Jennifer if we could go out to the vending machines.

So, we were trying to buy like, multiple items at the vending machines, and it wasn't working. I don't know what's wrong with the UT of vending machines, but that's just something I still like, remember from today. Just being with my friends, like, having these experiences with all of the different counselors and staff of GeoForce, like, that's one part that's really memorable to me.

And the connections that you make along the way are so important as well, like, all of the guest speakers, amazing. I still have them on LinkedIn, which we did in GeoForce 12th grade. And it's just really nice to see what they've done and, you know, their experiences and to learn from them. So, yeah. 

[00:41:15] Jennifer Peña: Sorry, what were you going to 

[00:41:15] Diya Gaur: say?

[00:41:16] Jennifer Peña: No, I was just gonna say exactly. I think my favorite thing for all the other trips from like the 9th to 11th is those like moments where we let you guys do that at the end. So like the 9th grade, my favorite moment is now we've added skits to it. And so that's just a whole afternoon where kids have to work together and make a little skit and then perform it.

And it's the most, it's the craziest thing, because you just tell a group of kids, like, hey, talk about weathering and erosion, and they'll create a poem that they act out, or they'll create a K drama. And explain the K drama with music behind it. Like, it is so interesting. And then the 10th grade, like I was saying, Lowell Observatory is amazing.

On the 11th grade, we have a beach night, um, on the second to last night. That is really, honestly, just so you guys can be together and really have that moment. Where you can de stress and relax and be there all together as one. And so it's those little moments on those trips that I really enjoy. And then on the 12th grade, it really is for me the symposium.

Just because at the end, you guys are so stressed at the beginning, but by the end everyone's relaxed. Everyone's kind of just talking to each other, chit chatting to the group next to them on their posters. And it is really fun. A blast. So it is always those little moments that are really great. 

[00:42:39] Diya Gaur: Yes, well, I love to hear it, like, really, so amazing.

So, earlier, you did mention Antelope Canyon, and I just wanted to, like, ask, like, why is it so important that we have kids go to these different places to learn about geology? Like, how does it complement what they're learning in GeoForce as a whole? 

The Value of Hands-On Learning

[00:42:59] Jennifer Peña: I am a very hands on learner. I can read a book a thousand times, and I will get it, I guess, but I really like hands on experiments.

And so, it's really nice on these 10th grade trips where you can actually go and see what is happening, the laws, the unconformities, you can see the unconformity in the Grand Canyon. We go down the Kaibab Trail and you can actually see the layers changing as you're going down. Um, in Antelope Canyon, you can see the crossbeds.

Like, you are walking against crossbeds. And so it's just so beautiful that we can talk about it all day long and they can draw it on a whiteboard. But whenever you're out there, you are actually seeing the effects of it, and then, um, being able to connect to it. Because it's now it's no longer a thing in your textbook, a little picture, or something on your computer screen.

It is now something that you feel like you've seen, but also that you can connect with, and that you can do again. One other thing I really like about why we go out and why we show students this is besides the fact that now they're knowing geology, now they can see themselves doing geology. They can see it as a viable thing for their futures and as something that they can pursue after high school.

So everyone wants to be a doctor or a lawyer because people see doctors all the time and There's a thousand shows about lawyers and the law and all that. So it's really nice that we can put you guys in these spaces where you can ask professionals these questions and then actually have some good answers that can work you towards that end goal if you would like and let you know that that is an end goal that's possible to you.

Like, it is not crazy and absurd to think you can be a geologist going out to the field and looking at these sites later on. It is, it is a reality that you guys can have. And so that's really nice and what I really like also about GeoForce. 

[00:45:02] Diya Gaur: That's amazing. I feel like I'm saying this over and over again, but like really, it's so cool, it's so amazing to see what you've been doing with GeoForce.

Like, I really love to hear about all of this different types of stuff and I'm sure our listeners as well can relate to that as well. If you see GeoForce, it's such a unique program, like, it's an experience that you won't really find anywhere else. It's just so great to see what you guys are doing, like, behind the scenes, and not just what we see in the forefront as the students ourselves who are participating in GeoForce.

[00:45:33] Jennifer Peña: Yeah, it's really cool. I think it is why I then applied to be a coordinator was, besides obviously loving this and wanting to do science communication, it was then, like you had said, whenever I was then a college student, I Of course I wanted to be a counselor! So I then applied to do it, and actually seeing the background, a little, like, taste of what goes on in the background, was so interesting to me.

Because then, it felt more real. It felt less like, oh, I'm just signing up, and I'm gonna be there for a week, and then I'm coming back, and I'm going back home, um, and this is just a fun thing to do a week in the summer. It now felt like this whole production rea well, not production, but this whole This holistic program that really takes the whole year to run and really has thought behind it.

So that was really nice to see as a counselor and then now obviously as a coordinator to see kind of everything in the background and have a little, have a little say in like, hey, we should add Antelope Canyon. That would be fun. And then having it be added and having students like it, it was, it's really nice.

It's a really good feeling. 

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

[00:46:42] Diya Gaur: Yeah, well Jennifer, thank you so much. I don't want to take up too much of your time, but really thank you so much for participating in my podcast, and I would love to have you back on my show. I loved hearing from you, like that was just truly so amazing, and when it goes out, make sure that you subscribe and rate our podcast, The Art of Subduction.

[00:47:03] Jennifer Peña: Also, before you stop the recording, beautiful name, beautiful name, I saw it come up, who was telling me, I think it was Mitchell had told me what it was, and I said, that's incredible, I was like, okay, I was going to say yes beforehand, but now that I know the name, incredible, yes, of course, 1000%, so thank you Diya also for having me on.

And asking me these interesting questions that I don't really ask myself enough, so also to have you ask them and to think about them is really nice, and I'm hoping a lot of students, both in GeoForce and not shown GeoForce, really get to see this and get to think about it and hopefully apply or at least think about geology as a potential science and a potential project for them later on in the future.

[00:47:50] : Thank you. 

[00:47:51] Diya Gaur: Right. Thank you so much. This is Diya and Jennifer on the Art of Subduction signing out.