the GeoSPACE Project

Field courses are a formative part of the geoscience learning experience. Field experiences contribute to student's academic success, sense of belonging, and development of professional networks. Many geoscience degree programs require field courses, and field experience is often a requirement for successful geoscience industry and graduate school applications. Yet accessible field programs are incredibly rare, and the benefits of field experience are rarely available to students who struggle with the environment, format, time commitments and culture associated with traditional field courses. 

The GeoSPACE program is built on the idea that field courses can and should be accessible and inclusive. Beyond the field course, GeoSPACE students become part of a mentoring and support network designed to help students find success in their future geoscience endeavors. In addition to creating opportunities for all students to gain field experience, mentorship and community, our goal is to act as a model for other field course leaders who are interested in creating more equitable experiential learning opportunities for their students.

GeoSPACE Planetary Field Course is a two-credit hour course offered through the University of Florida (see the Details page for more info). Course topics include landscape interpretation (on Earth and off), volcanology, remote sensing, digital data collection (including geodetic and geophysical data), project management and geo-ethics - all through the lens of planetary geoscience. You can find a full syllabus on the Resources page.