Maymester

EES frequently offers a study abroad course for the month of May. For May 2022, the course will take place in New Zealand and is titled EES 3865: Field Investigations: Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Glaciers in New Zealand.

In this course, students will learn the methods of field geology and will apply them to understand geologic processes at an active plate boundary in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. We will study a variety of topics in the field of Earth and environmental sciences by exploring the varied and diverse geologic activity of New Zealand. Topics will include current and past volcanic activity, earthquake geology and hazards, geothermal energy, and glacial geology.

Significant emphasis will be placed on natural hazards and resources in a geologically active region. We will study volcanic super-eruptions, their deposits and associated hazards; energy resources associated with magmatic systems in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of the North Island; mountain building and destruction processes; effects of glaciers on landforms; and earthquakes and associated hazards in the South Island. And we will do so while visiting much of New Zealand and exploring fantastic scenery in the South and North Islands.

Instructor: Guil Gualda

For more information on this Maymester, visit the course page.

For information on other Maymesters offered through Vanderbilt University, visit the Vanderbilt Global Education Office.