Welcome to the Earth and Space Sciences Department

Professors from across the country were drawn recently to the biological crossroads known as the Big Thicket to learn first-hand about the amazing diversity of plants and animals there. The 13 college professors and a rain forest expert from Panama took part in the field course May 28-31.

Earth and Space Sciences professor Jim Westgate and Big Thicket National Preserve Ranger Leslie Dubey conducted the Big Thicket Chautauqua, a part of the National Chautuaqua Program for university professors, a program that derives its heritage from the adult education movement of the late 1800s. Today the Chautauqua brings entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day.

The group toured the Big Thicket National Preserve and various forested tracts in the region. This Chautauqua is one of many that take place around the world.

The Chautauqua’s primary aim is to provide undergraduate teachers the information necessary to keep their teaching current.

The professors are responsible for the travel, but housing is covered. This year, the professors were housed at the Field Research Center of the Big Thicket National Preserve.

On Thursday, the professors were given a detailed overview of the Big Thicket Preserve and its history. After lunch, Jeff Pittman, of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences and Randall Terry, of the Department of Biology, led a two-hour exploration of Rush Creek, near Woodville, Texas.

The course was supported by Lamar University’s Department of Earth and Space Sciences, the Center for Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Texas in Austin, and the Big Thicket National Preserve.