Instructor(s): Diego Ruíz Aguilar, Luis Ochoa-Tinajero and Edgar Mastache-Román

Description: Magnetotellurics is a geophysical technique that consists of measuring on surface the natural variations of the electric and magnetic fields to probe the electrical conductivity of the subsurface structure. Depending on the frequency range of the measured signals, one can image the resistivity distribution from the near surface to deep structures (i.e., approximately from 10 m to 300 km or deeper). Thus, this method can be applied for many geological targets, such as groundwater exploration, environmental investigations, geotechnical studies, geothermal exploration, and tectonic studies.

In this short course, we will cover basic theoretical aspects, data processing and interpretation, and hands-on field work. In addition, we will present case studies to demonstrate the different capabilities of Magnetotellurics. For the field part, we will go outside of the classroom to show how to set up a magnetotelluric station.

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Instructor(s): Mélanie Noury

Description: This short course offers a focused introduction to thermochronology, a technique used for unraveling the thermal evolution of rocks. It begins with the core principles of thermochronological methods, exploring how temperature-sensitive isotopic systems record the thermal history of minerals. The course covers two widely used low-temperature thermochronometers—fission-track dating and (U-Th)/He dating—highlighting their methodologies and interpretative frameworks. It then introduces modelling tools, such as HeFTy and QTQt, used to reconstruct time–temperature paths through forward and inverse modelling approaches. Finally, sampling and analytical strategies are presented to optimize data quality and support robust thermal history interpretations across a range of geological settings.

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Instructor(s): Blanca Lucia Prado Pano, Mayra Hernández Moreno

Description: Soil is a living, multifunctional system that sustains life on Earth by providing essential ecosystem services such as food production, regulation of biogeochemical and water cycles, and carbon storage. Despite its importance, soil is often overlooked across various disciplines. Soil degradation puts life on the planet at risk. This workshop offers a multidisciplinary perspective on the value of soil. By the end of the course, students will understand why it is essential for scientists, professionals, and citizens to understand and protect it. Participants will explore simple, accessible tools to assess soil health and gain insights into how soil functions are connected to broader environmental and societal challenges.

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Instructor(s): Jonny Wu, Edward Clennett

Description: North American plate tectonic reconstructions provide a comprehensive framework to understand our geologic and geophysical observations. In this interactive course, you will learn how to visualize and analyze North America Cordilleran plate tectonic history for both science and teaching using free GPlates software. The course is designed to accomodate both entry-level beginners and intermediate GPlates users seeking to broaden their skills. Creating high quality graphics, movies, and output data is emphasized. The course begins with visualizing and comparing Cordilleran plate reconstructions. Hands-on learning is applied to various plate tectonic case studies including: modifying existing plate models, adding maps or data, adjusting terrane motions (i.e., Baja-BC), and modeling subduction of oceanic features, using the Shatksy Conjugate plateau as a case study. Participants then work on a mini-project of interest, with guidance from the instructors. Opportunities are provided to share your research or teaching case with the class to inspire new ideas. To increase access, we aim to make our course materials available in both English and Spanish. A PC or Mac is required and participants should download and install the free GPlates software before the course begins.

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Instructor(s): Gregory R Wessel, Christian Teyssier, Elisa Fitz Diaz, Joann M Stock, Ester Sztein, Cristobal Arellano

Description: This course is for teachers and students interested in reviewing the fundamentals of Plate Tectonics and Geodynamics, and learning about new educational resources on these subjects. The course will be divided in three parts linked by the emphasis on sharing different teaching approaches to improve educational outcomes. First, Dr. Joann Stock will go through the essentials of teaching Plate Tectonics. Then, Dr. Christian Teyssier will walk participants through the "Plate Tectonics" textbook that was recently coauthored with Haakon Fossen (Cambridge University Press). Finally, Greg Wessel et al. will present the third edition of The Geology of Plate Tectonics chart.

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Instructor(s): Oscar Ocampo

Description: El Radar de Penetración Terrestre (GPR) es una tecnología que utiliza ondas de radio para obtener imágenes del subsuelo y detectar objetos enterrados y sus límites. Se ha utilizado ampliamente en geología durante más de 40 años para el mapeo de la estructura geológica y la estratigrafía, así como para la exploración de aguas subterráneas y minerales. Los sistemas GPR solían ser complejos de usar, pero los sistemas más modernos ofrecen diseños e interfaces de usuario más simples que permiten a usuarios de diversas comunidades adoptar la tecnología para sus problemas y desafíos específicos.

Este curso abarca la teoría básica del GPR, la interpretación de datos, el trabajo práctico de campo y los casos prácticos. La parte práctica lleva a la clase al exterior para practicar la recopilación de datos del GPR, incluyendo secciones transversales integradas con GPS. Después, regresaremos al aula y el instructor transferirá los datos del sistema GPR a la computadora y los procesará en el software. También se aborda la integración con GPS y la visualización de datos en Google Earth. Se presentan algunos casos prácticos para que los estudiantes conozcan datos de otras áreas de aplicación.

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Instructor(s): Darrel Cowan, Manuel Contreras-López; Elisa Fitz Diaz

Description: This two-hour course will begin with definitions of the term melange, and a history of the term: where and when it originated and how it was introduced into California. We will summarize how they are thought to be related to subduction, with special reference to the Franciscan subduction complex. Instructor will review their work and that of others at San Simeon in coastal California, which has led them and others to favor an olistostromal origin. The course is open to anyone, but one of the primary goals is to share US perspectives about mélanges with students and professionals from other parts/latitudes along the western margin of North America, particularly those from the Mexican part of the margin. The course will finish with a dedicated Q & A session.

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Instructor(s): Basil Tikoff, Sarah Trevino

Description: This short course will introduce participants to the newly expanded capabilities of the StraboField mobile/web application for field data collection, data storage, and open data sharing. Digital data curation is the new frontier for all geosciences, with an ultimate goal of a community data management and storage system. Inside demonstrations in the morning, connected to the internet, will show how to manage projects and download data for offline use. In the afternoon, we will go outside to collect field data. The focus is on using the application for teaching and research purposes. Boxed lunches will be provided.

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