Contact: Ron Kalb, Dir. of Public Information ron.kalb@dri.edu,
(702) 862-5420, 702-498-8916 (cell)
On-site contact: Paul Buck, 702-204-3703 (cell)
All DRI News Releases available at: http://news.dri.edu/
December 9, 2004
News Media Advisory: Young geologists at Tule Springs "Big Dig"
Reporters and Editors, Please Note:
WHO: Shadow Ridge-Tule Springs Geoscience Education Project
WHAT: Archaeological dig, sediment mapping field trip as part of new program
WHERE: Tule Springs site across from Shadow Ridge High School
(See driving directions below)
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 13; Tuesday, Dec. 14
TIMES: 7 to 8:30 a.m., 8:30 to 10 a.m., noon to 1:20 p.m. both days
HOW: Meet at northwest corner of Shadow Ridge H.S. campus at 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., or noon (Decatur and Iron Mountain Road)
WHY: To learn greater appreciation for "science in our own backyard."
VISUALS: Ninth grade students and teachers from Shadow Ridge H.S. with DRI and UNLV scientists mapping geologic sediments in the famous Tule Springs "Big Dig" site.
BACKGROUND: The Shadow Ridge-Tule Springs Geoscience Education Project is a National Science Foundation-funded collaboration among Desert Research Institute, UNLV, Nevada Power and Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas. Its purpose is to create an innovative earth system science curriculum. As part of the course of study, the project incorporates authentic research at the Tule Springs archaeological and paleontological site, which is less than 300 feet from the school. The program resulted in initiation of the first earth science honors class in the Clark County School District and involves about 165 students each semester. This course will be ongoing offering for ninth grade students at Shadow Ridge High School.
Shadow Ridge High School
5050 Brent Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89131
702-799-6699
Driving directions to Shadow Ridge High School
A nonprofit, statewide division of the University and Community College System of Nevada, DRI pursues a full-time program of basic and applied environmental research on a local, national, and international scale. Nearly 450 full- and part-time scientists, technicians, and support staff conduct some 150 research projects at DRI annually. More than 80 percent of DRI's annual $37 million operating budget consists of research grants and contracts obtained by its scientists. The balance is received from the state of Nevada for administrative costs.