What can rocks reveal about Idaho’s past, present, and future? In this first episode of The Idaho State of Discovery, host Jim Widmann, Dean of Idaho State University’s College of Science and Engineering, welcomes Dr. Ryan Anderson, associate professor of geosciences and ISU Field Camp director, and geology master’s student Caden Anderson.
They discuss the difference between geology and geoscience and the appeal of learning science in the field. Listeners will learn about the careers that take students from Idaho classrooms to construction sites, environmental projects, mineral exploration, and remote field camps. The conversation also explores ISU’s five-week geology field camp near Mackay, Idaho, and the state’s tectonic and sedimentary history. Students at the field camp get their hands dirty while performing research, learning about geologic hazards, and discovering the growing importance of critical minerals for technologies.
Ryan and Caden share their own paths into the field, including research and experiences in Nevada, Bolivia, Nepal, Alaska, and central Idaho. They also invite community members to connect with ISU Geosciences through the department’s annual Mineral ID Fest, where visitors can bring in rocks and minerals for identification.
