Ontario and the Upper Peninsula (2016)

Kacey Lohmann, Adam Simon, and Peter Knoop led a seven-day field trip to Ontario and the Upper Peninsula during the last week of August. The students spent time near Elliot Lake examining diamictites and stromatolites that record oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere. In Sudbury, they examined evidence for a giant asteroid impact that resulted in ore deposits that are the source of platinum that is the base for synthesizing the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin. Students also learned how to pack up camp quickly in the dark to avoid a thunderstorm, how to make wonderfully delicious shish kabobs over a campfire, and spent a lot of time discussing life and career paths with the faculty. The trip provided a wonderful opportunity to connect the students to the geologic events that make humans possible and enrich the fabric of modern society.