NMHU Geology

Tim Burton Exhibit, Prague

One of the most recognizable directing styles in modern filmmaking comes from Tim Burton. Burton has directed classics like Batman, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and Big Fish to name a few.  Needless to say, when the media team found out he had an exhibit in Prague, it became a must see. The exhibit was primarily dedicated to his art work and sketches that would go on to inspire some of his most recognizable visuals. Seeing the process of creating something on a piece of sketch paper and translating those into filmable compositions was very inspiring for the young artists to see. 

Warsaw, Poland

Being that many of our field sites are located in southern Poland, it’s not uncommon for students to have the opportunity to visit some of the larger cities in the country. The media team was fortunate enough to spend a few days touring Warsaw with IRES mentor Sam Poppe. Places like the reconstructed old town and oldtown walls illustrate the destruction of the second world war and places like palace of culture are clear indicators of the communist occupation following WWII. The city is also home to many modern and contemporary buildings and public spaces. 

The Heart of Europe, Prague

Throughout history Prague has been an important center for culture, art, politics and an economic hub throughout central Europe. The 1,200-year-old city has also functioned as a centralized meeting location for the IRES participants and mentors for the last seven years. It’s fitting that the first place the students get to experience what Europe is really like is Prague. The city is packed with beautiful historical architecture, spires, churches and bridges. Prague embodies what one thinks of when they think of central Europe. This video highlights some of the beautiful sights the city has to offer. 

Prague National Museum

Of all the museums visited by the IRES participants, the Prague National Museum quickly became the favorite. The museum has exhibits that cover natural history and the history of the Czech Republic. The geology students were particularly interested in the large mineral and gem collection in the natural history portion of the museum. The collection contained some of the most colorful and beautiful items the students had ever seen. The building itself a beautiful example of Czech history, architecture and the inspiration that institutions like this provide to young scientists and artists. 

AGICO labs

AGICO is the leading company specializing in geophysical instruments and software for the global scientific and research community. Renowned for innovations like the Kappabridge and JR-6 Spinner Magnetometer, AGICO combines cutting-edge engineering with scientific research. For over 30 years, their high-precision instruments have supported geoscientists worldwide. AGICO maintains a global network of collaborations with academic and commercial scientists, ensuring their instruments meet the evolving needs of the geoscientific community. We would like to thank AGICO for hosting IRES participants allowing them full use of their rock magnetic laboratory.

Cultural Videos

Brno, Czech Republic

While in the Czech Republic the students were lucky enough to visit Advanced Geoscience Instruments Company (AGICO) in Brno, Czech Republic. The students were able to use their facilities free of charge and learn how the instruments are manufactured. The company is also located in the Czech Republic’s second largest city and home to the Brno University of Technology. This city was an important stop for the students as it provided both scientific and cultural experiences. The old town square, Špilberk Castle, incredible cuisine and hiking the highest hill in the city provided culturally enriching experiences. 

Utrecht, Netherlands

Another unforgettable stop on the trip was to the city of Utrecht in The Netherlands. The students were invited to present their work at the 18th castle meeting hosted by the paleomagnetic laboratory at Utrecht University. This conference gave the students the chance to network with other geologists and as well as attending poster sessions and presentations from successful scientists in related fields. The city also provided the media team the opportunity to visit historical and culturally significant sites around the city. 

Hydrology in Czechia 

A new addition to the IRES grant this year is the inclusion of Hydrology: the study of water. Being native to a dry climate like New Mexico, Darian Duran has always been fascinated with water and the different roles it plays in the environment. This summer Darian was given the opportunity to analyze water from systems throughout the Czech Republic to learn more about how these systems work in different climates and environments. He also assisted the team with geologic field work. The knowledge he gained on this project contribute to his understanding of hydrology, geology and Czech culture.

Sandstone Pillars

Forming part of The Table Mountain along the Czech and Polish border, the Broumov Walls or Broumovské Stěny are towering elongated sandstone pillars and slot canyons. These geologic marvels were formed by selective weathering and joint patterns in the rock. Weathering and erosion of soft layers and joints in the sandstone left behind the harder more resistant layers causing wall and pillars to form. The media team was lucky enough to visit these formations and document what they saw. 

Behind the Camera

One of the most important roles of a documentarian when producing work is to be as invisible as possible. The less an audience thinks about the production of a documentary, the more successfully immersive the film is. Even though  people often do not see the processes that take place behind the cameral the collaboration between the filmmakers and subjects is quite involved. For the first time on this grant the media team has created a video that focuses on how they represent the IRES participants and their work to a general audience. This video will give you a look at how they approach this material as well as the inspirations that influence the final product.

A Paleomagnetic Investigation

Luke Romero has been working on the IRES grant since the summer of 2019 when he was still an undergrad. He came back as a master’s student in the summer 2022 to continue conducting his field work at Vinařická hora, an abandoned quarry in central Czech Republic. On this trip he completed his field work and acted as mentor to the new geology students, helping them acclimate to the area and field work. He’s expecting to finish his thesis in the Fall of 2024 and plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in geology. 

​​Paris, France

After completing field work and attending conferences, the students decided to spend a few days traveling on their own. The last stop on this expedition was to the iconic city of Paris, France. The city is known for its exceptional contributions to the worlds of art, cuisine, culture, architecture, cinema and history. While there the students took full advantage of all the city had to offer. On the final night of the trip the students took a trip to the top of the Eiffel tower, a fitting and to such an epic journey. 

Geology Videos

Banksy Exhibit, Prague

One of the most famous street artists of all time is an unknown figure who goes by the name of Banksy. Despite becoming the world’s most famous street artists, his real identity is still a mystery. Because of this Banksy has done something most artists have not, he became famous exclusively for the work he does and what it means. This is especially powerful when considering the controversial topics Banksy chooses to bring light to with his work. The Banksy exhibit in Prague has flawlessly recreated the artists’ work in one centralized location. The media arts team took advantage of this unique immersive exhibit dedicated to a true artist. 

Rock Magnetism in Southern Poland

For over two years Madison Allcorn has been working on analyzing data from Świerki quarry, an abandoned quarry in southern Poland. The quarry is one of many field sites that runs along a mountain chain in southern Poland. The goal of this research is to better understand how these ancient volcanoes were formed and how they’re connected. This is the first time Madison has ever been outside of the United States. Her hard work and dedication have provided her with an invaluable experience that has advanced her as a geologist.