Utah Valley University Field Station at Capitol Reef National Park: A Venue for Improved Student Learning and Retention

Abstract:

The unique geo-environment offered in Capitol Reef National Park and its surrounding areas has a long-standing history of inspiring geological scientific exploration. The Capitol Reef Field Station was established in 2008 as part of collaboration between the National Park and Utah Valley University in order to support teaching and research of the natural environment found within the park and on the Colorado Plateau. The facility itself situated deep within the park, well off any public road system offers state of the art alternative energy and sustainable construction and makes extensive use of passive heating and cooling, in order to maintain its status of being “off-grid.” The field station is a 6200 square foot complex of classrooms and dormitories supporting university level education and field studies of the Colorado Plateau. The complex includes a classroom and dining area, professional kitchen, and two separate dormitories, which can sleep up to 24 overnight visitors, while the daytime usage can accommodate up to 40 visitors.

The vision of the facility is to support teaching and research toward responsible, respectful, and sustainable stewardship of the natural world – including

• Interdisciplinary learning between arts and sciences
• Student internships and service learning in collaboration with the National Park Service
• Field-based scientific research (as well as inventorying and assessing Park ecosystems changes)
• Field training in scientific research
• Collaboration between National Park Service scientists and local, regional, and national institutions

The park is situated at 38°N 249°E at elevations greater than 2000 m in Southern Utah. In contrast to the more famous neighboring sister parks such as Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, which are in relatively close proximity to large road systems and cities, Capitol Reef offers what is believed to be the darkest night sky in the US. The culmination of features creates an ideal location for studies of the faint upper atmospheric airglow emissions. This presentation details the upper atmospheric undergraduate educational program at UVU, and will also include a section regarding the newly established interdisciplinary air pollution educational program, and how communities outside of UVU can use the facility.