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Teachers Earth Science Institute 2004

Teachers Earth Science Institute featured as a summer learning highlight by National Science Foundation

~TESI-Class #4 2004 Session Photos~
Click on snapshot for a larger image


TESI-4 Class of 2004 at Caledonia Mine Portal.


TESI-4 Classroom on shore of Lake Superior: making 'bridges' from their experience to the classroom.

Michigan Tech is hosting high school and middle school teachers from all over the United States for the Teachers' Earth Science Institute. The program is funded thanks to a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. During the institutes, which began in the summer of 2001 and continue this summer through 2005, secondary teachers will team up with University researchers and engineers to conduct original research, both in the lab and in the field. Topics will range from geological exploration to mining engineering to mineral processing.

Institute graduates will return to their middle and high school classes with new teaching ideas and experiments, plus a fresh perspectives. Teachers are expected to incorporate TESI ideas into their classrooms and further expand the impact of TESI by communicating ideas to others in the teaching profession.



Learning about minerals at the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum.


Dr. George Robinson demonstrates specific gravity of rocks and minerals in mineralogy lab.


Dr. Ted Bornhorst presenting the regional geology (with Allison Hein).


Dr. Francis Otuonye speaking to TESI 4 class.


Geology field trip shows big intrusion into older rocks.


And time for some fun at Fort Wilkins State Park picnic.


Hunting for and studying rocks and minerals in the field. Earth science teachers collect samples to share with students in the classroom.


Field trip scene with class on Lake Superior shoreline on the 'Copper Harbor' conglomerate.


Exploration geology using a portable drill.


Preparing explosives for the drill hole and blasting the rock.


Fire in the hole! Click for blast (2.5 Mb MOV file).


Drilling underground for copper ore.


Drilling a hole for blasting at the Caledonia Mine.


Preparing the explosives for blasting the rock.


Charging the drill holes with explosive.


The load haul and dump cycle.


Checking for loose rock after blast.


A group of miners pose after installing timbers.

In addition to the NSF grant, significant support for the Teachers' Earth Science Institute comes from industry, including Red Metal Minerals, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., and White Pine Copper Refinery. Principal investigator for the NSF grant is Dr. Francis Otuonye, Tennessee Technological University. Co-principal investigators for the Michigan Tech subcontract to carry out the institute are Dr. Ted Bornhorst, A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan Tech; and Allison Hein, Institute of Materials Processing, Michigan Tech.


Murray Gillis and teachers are grinding up the copper ore at Institute of Materials Processing pilot plant.


Professor Duane Thayer showing flotation and separation used in mineral processing.


Dr. George Robinson, mineralogist and Nathalie Brandes, geologist, show the regional geology.


Dr. Otuonye talking about the magnetite iron ore on field trip.


Teachers' poster session at the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum.


Banquet Celebration at the Michigan Tech Memorial Union ballroom.



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Updated on August 6, 2004
If you have comments, corrections or suggestions send to: ehgroth@mtu.edu.