Description: “The CSMS Academics Group is dedicated to furthering the geological education of CSMS’ membership through a more scholarly, traditional approach. All who are interested in furthering their core geology knowledge and learning the fundamentals of the science are encouraged to join. Regardless of what level of education you may already possess, be it some college or high school only, courses are designed to be understandable at a novice to intermediate level, with adjustments to advanced levels as needed (no need to worry about ‘ivory towers’ here). Disclaimer Note: Although lectures taught by the CSMS Academics Group are at a college/university level, they are not accredited for college credit hours (it’s the same content at a fraction of the cost, but you don’t get degree credit for it – that’s the trade-off).
Current courses taught include:
Introductory Geology: Introduces students to the basics of Geology, with an emphasis on understanding and applying knowledge. Covered material includes: fundamental principles of the science, common key minerals and rocks and their identification, plate tectonics and geologic structures, basic landscapes and their origins, and highlights in paleontology.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a dedicated class notebook for notes and standard school supplies (e.g., writing utensils, colored pencils, a ruler, a protractor). Attendees must be members of CSMS to participate, and courses are otherwise free of charge at this time (if students are interested in lab activities, additional costs may need to be implemented).
AJ Anderson leads and presents the lectures of the Academics Group, which meets on the 1st & 3rd Monday of each month at the Manitou Springs Library, located at 701 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, from 6:30pm-9:00pm (lectures are about 1hr to 1.5hr, with the remaining time being office hours for answering questions and/or lab activities). Please check the calendar for when specific lectures are presented, and to double check when meetings are occuring.”
Schedule So Far: (All meetings are at the Manitou Springs Library from 6:30pm-9:00pm)
Mon 6/1 – Lecture 4: Mapping
Mon 6/15 – Lecture 5: Minerals Overview and Native Elements
Mon 7/6 – Lecture 6: Mafic and Felsic Minerals
Mon 7/20 – Lecture 7: Halide and Carbonate Minerals
Mon 8/3 – Lecture 8: Sulfate and Sulfide Minerals
Mon 8/17 – Lecture 9: Metamorphic and Oxide Minerals
Mon 9/7 – Lecture 10: Igneous Rocks I
Mon 9/21 – Lecture 11: Igneous Rocks II
Mon 10/5 – Lecture 10: Sedimentary Rocks I
Mon 10/19 – Lecture 11: Sedimentary Rocks II
Mon 11/2 – Lecture 10: Metamorphic Rocks I
Mon 11/16 – Lecture 11: Metamorphic Rocks II