Achievement

In March 2011, 23 UW IGERT Astrobiology Program trainees, associates, and faculty took part in a research field trip to study the geology and volcanology of the Big Island of Hawaii. An important goal was to foster interdisciplinarity by having non-experts (e.g., astronomers and theorists) be exposed to how field research is carried out in these important areas of astrobiology. During a series of hikes and field experiences we studied volcanos and their deposits ranging in age from weeks to one million years. In the process we learned how volcanologists assemble the “story” of the past. We had excellent cooperation from the Hawaii Volcano Observatory run by the US Geological Survey. In addition, on one day we were able to visit three of the major astronomical observatories on Mauna Kea at an elevation of 14,000 ft.