SUNY Fredonia students and faculty from the Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences will host an outreach booth at the Buffalo Geological Society’s 54th annual Gem Mineral Fossil Show in Hamburg, NY, on Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17.
It’s as much a learning experience for students as it is a chance for them to conduct demonstrations, including one that shows the effects of erosion on a stream table, and also introduce tools typically used in earth science investigations that children can see and touch.
“We’re going to bring our stream table. It should be fun for the kids to play with. It’s basically a sandbox with water, and we make a river run through it,” explained Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences Associate Professor Thomas Hegna.
The water erosion demonstration table was also displayed in Houghton Hall during the department’s 60th anniversary open house held last fall during homecoming.
“There are a number of educational booths [at the show], but the big attraction is vendors that are selling various rocks, minerals and fossils,” Dr. Hegna noted.
Students will also have the opportunity to meet Dr. Loren Babcock, a SUNY Fredonia graduate who earned a degree in Geology in 1983. He is a professor in the Ohio State University’s School of Earth Sciences and director of its Orton Geological Museum.
The event at the Hamburg Fairgrounds is a showcase for society members to display fossils, minerals and jewelry from their collections. This year’s theme is “Birthstones.” Demonstrations, exhibitors and mineral and fossil identification are offered. Over 5,500 people attended last year’s show.
Professional geologists will also be available to discuss what geologists do and job opportunities in the area.
Gem show participants also include New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, the Buffalo Association of Professional Geologists and Paleontological Research Institution, along with jewelry designers and other lapidary artists.
