Wharton County Junior College geology students and faculty take a photograph with a drone while visiting Enchanted Rock in the Texas Hill Country. A National Science Foundation grant will enable the college to purchase additional drones and training equipment.
WHARTON, TEXAS – A National Science Foundation grant will provide Wharton County Junior College geology students with the real-world experience they need to succeed in their chosen field of study.
Part of a collaborative effort between WCJC and the University of Houston Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, the experiential learning grant takes a hands-on approach to learning that enables students to get out of the classroom and into the field. This is the first NSF grant WCJC has been a part of.
“Providing applied real-world experience for our students in STEM fields out in the locations where the research is actually done — and with the tools industry and academic professionals actually use — is invaluable to their education and experience here at WCJC and beyond,” said WCJC’s Instructor of Geology Peter Anderson.
The NSF grant is for $1 million over a four year period, of which $40,000 is earmarked for WCJC. Already, grant funds have allowed for the purchase of three drones and a workstation/computer designed to process drone photographs and videos. Future expenditures will ensure students remain familiar with cutting-edge technology and techniques.
###
