By Dakota Galvin, USF College of Arts and Sciences
Located in central Idaho, the field station is near the first International Dark Sky Reserve in the United States, offering some of the best stargazing in the country. (Photo courtesy of Judy McIlrath, 2024)
After 10 years of planning and partnership, the OB体育官网鈥檚 Geosciences Field Station in Mackay, Idaho, has officially opened 鈥� marking a significant milestone for the
School of Geosciences and generations of alumni whose support helped bring the facility
to life. To celebrate, more than 45 alumni traveled from around the country to honor
the occasion.
Professor Mark Rains described the alumni turnout as a powerful testament to their lasting connection
to the program.
鈥淲e had alumni ranging from 1985 to 2023 鈥� a span of nearly 40 years,鈥� he said, reflecting on the experience. 鈥淒uring one of our field trips, we visited a fault scarp formed by an earthquake in 1983. John Clark (鈥�85) had visited that same site just months after the quake and brought photographs to share. That moment 鈥� seeing generations of alumni sharing in the wonder of geological processes and time 鈥� was really special.鈥�
After seeing photos and concept drawings of the field station for the last ten years, Geology Alumni Society member Matt Wissler (鈥�02), who is now a senior principal hydrogeologist with Geosyntec Consultants, helped plan the event because he, like his fellow alumni, was excited to finally see the field station in person.
鈥淭he moment when everyone arrived at the field station was my favorite part. Like me, everyone else had heard about the progress and seen the photos but had never actually laid eyes on the new field station,鈥� Wissler said. 鈥淚t was amazing having that many alumni there to reminisce and reflect upon each of our field camp experiences.鈥�
The field station is more than just a USF building 2,500 miles away from home 鈥� it鈥檚 a long-awaited solution to the academic and logistical challenges of meeting students鈥� capstone requirements. Globally, geology programs traditionally culminate in Field Camp: a six-week immersive course taught in a single block, with a focus on structural geology and mapping. USF has reimagined this experience through a modular approach, delivering five distinct two-week segments: structural geology/mapping, volcanology/mapping, geophysics, hydrology and coastal geology.
鈥淲e cannot teach all of these modules in Florida,鈥� Rains said. 鈥淢any years ago, we chose to teach some of those modules in the Lost River Valley in Idaho. We were transient each year 鈥� some years we rented space at a local field station, other years we rented space at a local lodge, occasionally we camped.鈥�
Up until this year, Rains explained, program coordinators would spend months organizing sufficient and cost-effective housing for the staff and students. This time around, they were able to focus on ways to make the trip a success for the students.
鈥淭his is such an important time for the students. They鈥檝e spent years learning about geological patterns and processes in books, with the occasional field trip. Here, they鈥檙e finally given real-world problems to solve in six weeks with both standard and cutting-edge tools and technologies,鈥� Rains said. 鈥淭his is when they stop being students and start being professionals.鈥�
Current Geosciences students enjoying the fire pit built by the alumni. (Photo courtesy of Erika Rodriguez Pena)
Judy McIlrath, a senior instructor at the School of Geosciences who organized the alumni Open House event with Wissler, described this launch as a significant milestone in the growth of USF鈥檚 Geosciences program.
鈥淲ith the field station, students and faculty now have a dedicated space to conduct fieldwork, collaborate on research and apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings 鈥� an essential part of geoscientific training,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t also signals the program鈥檚 increasing ability to support advanced research and attract students and partners who value immersive, field-based education.鈥�
During the open house, alumni came together to build a fire pit 鈥� a gift for current and future generations of students. They imagined a time when those students might reunite under the stars, swapping stories and photos from their geological journeys, just as the alumni had done at the grand opening.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more than just a gathering place 鈥� it鈥檚 a symbol of connection, legacy and the enduring spirit of the School of Geosciences,鈥� McIlrath said. 鈥淚t represents their commitment to the next generation, creating a space where stories, knowledge, and community can continue to grow.鈥�
Learn more about the Field Station and how you can support future generations of field scientists.