Field Trips
Students enrolled in GEOL 1303 Physical Geology and GEOL 1103 Physical Geology Lab have the option to attend field trips. These trips take place on campus and at various locations throughout the Texas area. Students unable to attend in-person trips can utlize our virtual options. Please direct any questions regarding upcoming field trips to Jinny Sisson or Daniel Hauptvogel.
In-Person Field Trips
Registration
Spring 2025 field trip registration is OPEN.
Central Texas
Field trips to Central TX showcase traditional geology by looking the rock cycle, minerals, faults, intrusions, and an unconformity. There are typically 4 stops on this trip, with the last stop at Enchanted Rock State Park where you can take in a gorgeous late afternoon view of Central TX. A physical geology faculty member will lead this trip. Trips leave UH at 6:00 am and do not return until about 10:00 pm. A 55-passenger coach bus is used for this trip with a restroom on the bus. The bus will make 3 stops throughout the day for food and drink supplies, or you may bring your own.
Galveston/Upper Texas Coast
Field trips to the Upper Texas coastal area explore coastal and river processes (depending on which faculty is leading the trip). You can expect to learn about beach erosion, sediment transport, ocean currents, and more. A physical geology faculty member leads this trip. Trips leave UH at 8:00 am and return around 5:00 pm. A 55-passenger coach bus is used for this trip with a restroom on the bus.
UH Rocks! Campus Tour
There are no rocks naturally present in the Houston area, however many of the buildings on campus are made from geologic materials (at least on the outside). This tour is led by physical geology teaching assistants, and you'll learn about the rocks that some buildings, walkways, and hallway walls on campus are made from. Tours are 1-hour long, with many options for days and times each semester.
Virtual Field Trips
Virutal field trips will be available at the end of March. Be sure to follow the submission instructions outlined in the "Assignment and Instructions" document for each trip. Virtual field trip submissions are due by April 28, 2025. Registration is not required for virtual field trips.
Virtual UH Rocks! Tour
The virtual version of our UH Rocks! tour uses Google Earth to show a dozen different building stones throughout the UH campus.
Assignment and Instructions | Virtual Tour link to Google Earth
Virtual Field Trip to Central TX
In this virtual trip, you'll watch videos of faculty explaining field trip stops, answer questions, and make geologic interpretations on high-resolution images.
Assignment and Instructions | Virtual Tour link to Google Earth
Virtual Field Trip to the Upper Texas Coast
This virtual trip includes videos explaining field trip stops and 360o images showing key geologic features.
Assignment and Instructions | Virtual Tour link
Virtual Field Trip to the Earth's Mantle
Geoscientists use computerized tomography (CT) to create three-dimensional images of Earth's interior, similar to doctors using CT scans to create images of the body. The images are created from the speed of seismic energy seen traveling through the Earth. On this trip, you will explore the Earth's mantle in several different tectonic settings, including convergent margins, passive margins, and a mantle plume (hot spot).