From December 30, 2025, to January 10, 2026, GES faculty Dr. Brandon Lutz and Morgan Baker led a group of 13 students to the remote Mojave Desert in eastern California for the department’s first-ever Death Valley Winter Field Course.
Over the course of ten days in the field, students learned and practiced the skills of traditional geologic mapping, off-grid camping, and remote desert research. The group flew to Las Vegas, rented two vans, and camped in the desert for 10 nights, traveling across a landscape that records some of the deepest chapters of Earth’s history. As they moved through the region, students encountered geologic features spanning immense time scales—from approximately 1-billion-year-old fossil lifeforms and ancient sedimentary rocks to complex tectonic faults and active desert processes—alongside modern desert wildlife, including living roadrunners.
In addition to technical field skills, the diverse cohort developed teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills essential for future careers in the geosciences and beyond. Students worked collaboratively in a challenging environment, taking turns cooking meals, managing camp logistics, and supporting one another throughout the expedition. Most of all, participants gained a shared, immersive experience that combined scientific discovery, independence, and community—one that many described as transformative and likely to remain a highlight of their undergraduate education.
Experiential learning opportunities in GES, like the Death Valley Field Course, are made possible in part through donor support. The department is grateful for the generosity of friends to the department, like alumnus Brian Elliston and his wife Laurie, who help sustain amazing hands-on educational experiences like this for our students.
Photo credits: Gavin McCall and Morgan Baker
Group of students in Death Valley
