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Traveling Research Environmental eXperience (TREX)
TREX is an undergradute field research class taught annually during MIT's Independent Activities Period. The class has been offered since 2001 and, for much of this time, has been taught on the Big Island of Hawaii. Students learn fundamentals of data collection, management, and analysis, sampling design, community engagement, and presentation of research findings to stakeholders. Past research projects have investigated the origin and atmospheric transport of volcanic smog (VOG) downwind of Kilauea, the impacts of climate change on forest composition, soil chemistry of agricultural plots, and many other topics in environmental science and engineering. Professor Des Marais has taught the class since 2020.
TREX 2023
Prof. Jesse Kroll describes the origin of vog at the Kilauea summit crater. TREX 2023
Steam caught in an inversion in Kilauea Iki crater, with steam plume from Kilauea summit crater in the background. TREX 2023
Lava lake at the Kilauea summit crater. TREX 2023
Students surveyed forest diversity on the slopes of Mauna Loa. TREX 2023
Plume rises above the Kilauea summit crater at sunrise. TREX 2023.
Students studying forest ecology on the slopes of Mauna Loa. TREX 2023
Students tour Ahu'aila'au (formerly Fissure 8) in the Leilani Estates, a remnant of the 2018 Kilauea eruption. TREX 2023
TREX 2022
TREX 2020
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