Winona State University researchers are scheduled to present at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA) held Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in Denver, Colo.

Researchers include Jennifer Anderson, geoscience; David Dockter and Toby Dogwiler, Southeastern Minnesota Water Resources Center and geoscience; and Jessica Giesen, WSU student.

Anderson’s session, “Solar System Classification: How Many Planets Are There?,”  showcases a hands-on, inquiry-based activity she designed and uses in class. The goals of the activity are to familiarize students with different solar system objects and challenge them to think critically about defining a “planet.”

Dockter and Dogwiler’s research, “Use and Verification of DEM-Based Terrain Analysis to Identify Source Regions of Erosion and Saturation in Southeastern Minnesota Watersheds,” focuses on four agriculture and forest-dominated watersheds in southeastern Minnesota. They developed a methodology using high-resolution topographic data to predict the areas of the watershed most susceptible to erosion. This will aid in identifying the areas where implementation of agricultural best management practices will reduce sediment pollution in area streams.

Giesen’s poster, “Learning Through Sand,” highlights her research in developing a teaching collection and lesson plans using geoscience’s “Sands of the World” collection. She was awarded “Best Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation” at the North-Central Section of GSA’s Regional Meeting in April.

Approximately 6,000 scientists are expected to attend the GSA Annual Meeting.

For more information, call Toby Dogwiler at 507-457-5260 or e-mail: tdogwiler@winona.edu.