Educational Resources

Water Resources and Innovative Water Strategies in Central Texas

Join us for a virtual field trip to travel to field sites in the Texas Hill Country. Our discussion will cover surface water, groundwater, and innovative technologies. Field sites for the trip include visits to Mt. Bonnell, Tom Miller Dam, Barton Springs, Jacob’s Well and recharge features along Onion Creek and the Blanco River, as well as the Ruby Ranch Water Supply Corporation aquifer storage and recovery site.

Topics covered on this trip will focus on the setting in Central Texas and floods and droughts on the Colorado River.  We will also cover groundwater from the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, recharge features, and innovative water strategies. A presentation on produced water is also included.

Leaders: Linda Ruiz McCall, Chock M. Woodruff, Jr., and Brian B. Hunt

Originally presented at GeoGulf 2021 - The 71st Annual Gulf Coast Geoscience Convention

Austin Earth Science Week Zoomerama 2020

The Austin Earth Science Zoomerama 2020 is a distance-learning series of video conferences using Zoom. This educational series is designed to engage middle school and high school students in exploring topics and careers in the geosciences.

The Zoomerama 2020 video conference series includes fourteen separate sessions to connect geoscientists with students. Geoscientists include geologists, hydrologists, paleontologist, petroleum exploration geologists, aerospace engineers, meteorologists, and geoscience educators.

Educational items from The Bureau Store
The Bureau of Economic Geology's Central Texas Rock Kit and other educational items of interest to teachers, students, and the public

Earth Science Literacy Principles Video Series
A set of short videos has been created for the Earth Science Literacy Principles by the American Geosciences Institute. They are designed for use in formal and informal educational settings.

EarthDate
EarthDate is a public service radio program with a mission to engage listeners in earth science and reconnect them to the wonders of their world. Conceived and hosted by Dr. Scott W. Tinker, Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin; written and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Harry Lynch; and researched by Juli Hennings, a career geoscientist, EarthDate tells captivating stories to remind listeners that science can enlighten, educate and entertain.

GeoFORCE Texas
Rewards South Texas and urban Texas students from grades 8–12 with the chance to travel, meet inspiring people, and discover careers in the earth sciences.

Geologic Wonders of Texas
The Geologic Wonders of Texas web module to learn about the earth across the State of Texas. Descriptions include significant geological features such as rocks and fossils, geologic age, additional resources, answers to frequently asked questions, and lesson plans.

K–12 educational resources from the Gulf Coast Carbon Center
Educational materials suitable for K–12 teachers to explore carbon capture and storage (CCS) through the scientific principles of climate change, greenhouse gases, energy production, and carbon cycles, requiring only a few low-cost, readily-available materials.

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS)
Consortium of 100+ universities dedicated to the operation of facilities for the acquisition, management, and distribution of seismological data. IRIS provides a wide range of education and outreach resources with a mission to advance awareness and understanding of seismology and earth science while inspiring careers in geophysics.

Stoneburner Family Rock Garden
The design and layout of the Stoneburner Family Rock Garden, a diverse collection of rocks from across Texas, are based on the geologic map of the state. Boulders in the garden are geographically placed where they are found in the state, and all rocks in the garden, including landscaping, are sourced from Texas mines or quarries. Rivers are illustrated with glass tiles in the poured patio. We hope you enjoy your tour of the rock garden.

Switch Energy Alliance (SEA)
The mission of this project is to transform the energy conversation, from polarized to practical, with knowledge. Promote efficiency and conservation. SEA's global video- and web-based approach engages students and general viewers in a positive conversation to work collaboratively on energy challenges.

Texas High School Coastal Monitoring Program
Engages students and teachers who live along the Texas coast in the study of their natural environment.

USGS Resources For Teachers
Tap into over 140 years of USGS research in the natural sciences in the form of lesson plans and activities, maps, podcasts, online lectures, videos and animations, and much more. Browse thousands of ideas for using these resources in elementary, secondary, university, and informal education settings.

Water Exploration
Water Exploration is a Web-based education program for Texas high school students developed by the Institute for Geophysics in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas teachers, and the Texas Water Development Board. Water Exploration uses a project-based learning approach permitting students to conduct research and build an understanding about water science and critical water-related issues.