Outreach
The Gulf Coast Repository (GCR) supports outreach through tours of the facility, community engagement with the Brazos Valley, presence at geologic meetings and conferences, access to cores for educational purposes, and workshops.
Tours
Tours are offered year-round by appointment. Any size group can be accommodated, however larger groups may need to be divided into smaller groups due to limited space in some laboratories. Please contact gcr@tamu.edu to schedule a tour.
More Information on Visiting the GCR
Community Engagement
The GCR joins local schools and community groups for STEM/STEAM nights. Our staff bring a wealth of knowledge and experience as well as interactive demonstrations of microfossil identification, an inflatable model of a scientific drill ship, core replicas, cold-water immersion suits to try on, as well as educational materials.
Please contact Laurel Childress, childress@tamu.edu with information about your event.
Meetings & Conferences
GCR staff frequently attend geologic meetings and conferences to present scientific research and better connect the community with the repository.
Please stop by and say hello at our exhibit hall booths (see calendar)!
Cores for Education
Replica Cores
The GCR owns several replicas of critical interval cores, including the K/Pg Boundary and the PETM. The U.S. Science Support Program at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University maintains a set of replica cores available for loan across the U.S. Visit their website for more information.
Sample Request for Education and Outreach
Core materials and data can be used or loaned for education and outreach purposes including:
- viewing and describing for teaching and educational purposes.
- sampling by educators (if core materials are abundant in the collection, and thus not in demand for research purposes).
- public display, such as in museums or at professional meetings.
All educators, museums, and outreach officers who receive samples and/or data for educational or display purposes incur the following obligations. Please see the Scientific Ocean Drilling Programs: Sample, Data, and Obligations Policy for more information about obligations.
Please contact gcr@tamu.edu for more information.
Workshops
CORE School
CORE (COres for Research and Education) School is a five-day workshop hosted by the Gulf Coast Repository (GCR). The overarching goal of CORE School is to provide a mechanism to maintain expertise in scientific ocean drilling methods and subseafloor core analysis.We welcome applications from a wide range of specialties (e.g., sedimentology, physical properties, paleomagnetism), and we encourage graduate students, early career scientists, and faculty from non-R1 institutions, including two-year colleges, to apply.
Other Workshops
The GCR is available for a wide range of workshops and meetings, including legacy research projects and outreach. Early consultation with the GCR is strongly encouraged, and GCR staff can provide guidance and suggestions prior to funding proposal submission.
Other Resources
Additional resources, including a public photo archive are also available.