Research and Scholarship: Field Research, Reports, and Curriculum

Overview Statement

Given my ongoing work in Yellowstone, I have organized this specific section to chronicle field research trips, original field course curriculum, and official reports required by Yellowstone National Park and the federal Park Service. Between 2002-3, my fieldwork involved only 2-3 independent study students supported by either my NSF/MO-RUI grant or the ASM URF program. Starting in 2004, however, I initiated a major long-term monitoring project that forms the centerpiece of my guided research program called GERMS: Geochemistry and Ecology of Red Mat Systems. In this research experience, 6-8 total undergraduates and/or educators travel to Yellowstone for 7-10 days each summer and perform sampling and data collection at 3 RLMO sites - all archived on our on-line database (published/presented via several referenced venues). An outline of all related activities for my field-based projects is provided below and serves as a key for supporting documents that have been provided in this section.

1. Field Trips I Have Lead and/or Supported

Additional team information (including more pictures and a "where they went" section) is archived on my on-line RLMO Database.

Trip Synopses	Choice Photo
July 2006 - K. Shipley (leader) and the following GERMS participants (half WOU undergraduates and half WOU alumni/secondary science teachers): Katie Noll, Nana Hanson, Jared Brougher, Toni Johnson. 7 Days. Basic GERMS survey, monitoring, and collection at Hillside, Fairy, Imperial. Photo: Team at Hillside Spring.
June 2006 - S. Boomer (leader) and K. Shipley. 4 Days. Sample collection and experimental set-up. Photo: Sarah in her Alaska rubber boots, Fairy Spring.
September 2005 - K. Shipley (leader), Terry Manning (student co-leader), Jennifer Esparza (independent undergraduate research), and the following GERMS participants (all WOU undergraduates): Nathan Howell, Nana Hanson, Morgan Huffstetter. 7 Days. Basic GERMS survey, monitoring, and collection at Hillside, Fairy, Imperial. Photo: Team at Fairy Spring.
July 2005 - S. Boomer (leader), K. Shipley (co-leader), Terry Manning (student co-leader), Jennifer Esparza (independent undergraduate research), and the following GERMS participants (all secondary science teachers): Curt Ralston, Carolyn Smithee, Amy Lindahl. 7 Days. Basic GERMS survey, monitoring, and collection at Hillside, Fairy, Imperial. Photo: Team at Sulfur Mountain/Hayden Meadows.
September 2004 - S. Boomer (leader), K. Shipley (co-leader), and independent research students: Terry Manning, Jennifer Esparza. 3 Days. Sample collection and limited survey following the Big Sky NSF/MO Workshops. Photo: Jenn and Terry filtering water samples back at the hotel.
June 2004 - S. Boomer (leader), D. Lodge (co-leader), K. Shipley (co-leader in training), Terry Manning (student co-leader), and the following GERMS participants (all WOU undergraduates): Nathan Howell, Jennifer Esparza, Elizabeth Jacobsmuhlen, Monica Smith, Jana Brooks, Maria Quezada. 7 Days. Basic GERMS survey, monitoring, and collection at Hillside, Fairy, Imperial. Photo: Team at Fairy Spring.
August 2003 - S. Boomer (leader), D. Lodge (co-leader), Terry Manning (undergraduate research student), and tag-alongs: Christina Vann (now Lodge) and Dr. Emma Dutton. 8 Days. Experiment follow-up at Fairy Spring, major backpacking survey (Shoshone and Ferris Fork). Photo: Terry guides team through Yoga on the shores of Shoshone Lake after backpacking in 9 miles.
July 2003 - S. Boomer (leader), D. Lodge (co-leader) and independent research students: Terry Manning, Peter Williams. 6 Days. Experiment follow-up at Fairy, major sample collections at Hillside, survey attempt of Summit Lake region - and then Terry got a septic Streptococcal infection and so we treated him and rushed home. Photo: Danny, lost and confused on the shores of Summit Lake.
August 2002 - S. Boomer (leader) and independent research students: Peter Williams, Melissa Boshee. 4 days. NSF Site Visit in Yellowstone with MO Program Director Dr. Matt Kane and MO recipients (Drs. McDermott and Young) from the Thermal Biology Institute/Montana State University. Hikes to Imperial and Norris (TBI research sites). Photo: TBI oarsmen prepare for put-in on the Gallatin.
August 2002 - Danny Lodge (course participant). Yellowstone Association Institute Course "Geysers, Mud Pots, and Hot Springs" to Joseph's Coat and Ponumpta Basins (I personally supported Danny taking this credited workshop out of pocket - $1K), lead by Geologist Duncan Foley (Pacific Lutheran University). Photo: Danny's transportation, Fern Lake Camp.
June 2002 - S. Boomer (leader), D. Lodge (co-leader) and undergraduate research students: Terry Manning, Peter Williams, Melissa Boshee… oh, and my sister Allison (philosophy/environmental science major from Whitman). 9 Days. Pre-GERMS troubleshooting at Hillside, Fairy, Imperial plus new surveying in the Central Plateau region. Photo: Team at Hayden Meadow.

2. Investigator Annual Reports: 2003-5 permit reports submitted to, approved by, and published via the Yellowstone Center for Resources/Research and National Park Service (prior reports already reported in earlier files).

Provided Materials

2003 IAR Report

2004 IAR Report

2005 IAR Report

3. Sample GERMS Materials: For this section, I have provided major contract and trip-related documents developed for running this special research experiences. I have also selected Central High School science teacher Curt Ralston's GERMS portfolios - both field and lab sections. Curt was one of our all-teacher team from July 2005 and, like others in his cohort, was very impressed by this program (as evidenced in his essay/thank you statement).

Provided Materials

All Participant Paperwork (contract, liability statement, equipment/packing survey)

All Field Methods

All Lab Methods

Curt Ralston's Field Portfolio

Curt Ralston's Lab Portfolio