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There is much more to Joey Rauk’s interest than he first thought – which was simply to grab a shovel and start digging. After a total of six hours of painstaking, deliberate digging with a trowel and sifting through dirt to unearth bits and pieces of historic ruin, Rauk became even more enamored with becoming a forensic scientist. 

Rauk is part of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) Collinsville High School (CHS) program. Thirty UBMS seniors participated in field-based scientific research from Monday-Friday, June 13-17 at the Gehring site (a Native American archaeological site located on SIUE’s campus), hosted by the SIUE Department of Anthropology, in collaboration with the Departments of Environmental Sciences and Geography and (GIS) and the SIUE Center for STEM Research, Education, and Outreach. 

The project, “Creating a Community Partnership to Introduce Local High School Students to Field-Based Majors in Careers in STEM,” was aimed at introducing local youth to technology and practical experiences within field-based sciences in order for students to pursue majors, research opportunities and careers in regional, field-based jobs, according to Carol Colaninno, PhD, RPA, research associate professor in the STEM Center. 

“Field-based scientific research, conducted by scientists in the disciplines of archaeology, environmental sciences, and geography are rarely seen as career options by students, despite the St. Louis area serving as a major hub for these high paying, rewarding careers,” she added. 

“The archeological dig proved to be a classroom like no other for our students. It helped solidify choices for some and raised questions for others,” said UBMS Program Director Desiree Tyus. “In the U.S., there is a gap in the accessibility to education and often, some students are left behind. This educational gap in the U.S. isn’t only relevant for our students, but also goes on to affect the country’s workforce and the economy. By providing authentic hands-on, STEM-related, collegiate-level educational opportunities such as this anthropology course, we hope to bridge the academic gap.” 

“Working alongside SIUE undergraduate students, UBMS students learned how archaeologists excavate sites while making scientific observations,” explained Colannino. “Additionally, students used drones to learn how field mapping is conducted, and how it can be used to study ancient and modern landscapes. The final day of the program, the students toured several research labs on campus to learn how scientists process archeological artifacts and other field-collected data. They also heard from a panel on careers in the field sciences.” 

“It was an incredible experience,” said Rauk, who plans to major in forensic science and go into the field of crime scene investigation. “I found the coolest thing – a bigger piece of pottery. I learned there is a lot more to it than I thought. Originally, I thought you just found a place and started digging for bones or pottery, but there are many details about the process. They use specific tools to determine where certain discoveries might be.” 

“I love having my hands in the earth. I love the outdoors,” enthused Paulina Gutierrez. “I like the idea of preserving things, discovering how people lived back then, and how they maintained what they had.” 

Gutierrez wants to major in environmental sciences. Her group found a piece of pottery, and she found a piece of something that was once used as a tool. “I really enjoyed it, because it was an outdoor classroom.” 

Julianna Sotelo liked the dig, but not the outdoors. “I’m not a big fan on being outside,” said Sotelo. “I’d rather be inside and do the lab work.” She has an interest in health and sciences. 

“The dig opened my eyes to many career opportunities,” she continued. “Also, I didn’t know archeology was the study of people in the past, their culture, and how they interacted. I thought it was just digging for bones.” 

“During the four-day field study, I was able to observe the students actively learning and engaging in an area of science they would have otherwise not been exposed to,” said Melissa Bidinger, UBMS program coordinator. “The students learned about the structure of the communities indigenous to the local area, the history of the specific site and how to excavate. I enjoyed seeing their interests piqued by new information, and the excitement when they discovered something new (bones, pottery, flakes). One student discovered a deer tooth from more than 1,000 years ago! It was an amazing experience to see the students participate in real science and be the first ones to hold artifacts that have not been touched by humans in thousands of years.”  

“This project empowered 30 high school students to see the significance of field-based research in this region and the potential for careers in these fields, while connecting them to the relevance of the history and place of their community,” said Susan Kooiman, PhD, assistant professor in the SIUE Department of Anthropology. “Students discovered a variety of artifacts that help archaeologists interpret life at the site some 1,000 to 2,000 years ago, including animal bone fragments discarded after cooking and consumption, pieces of broken pottery vessels used for cooking and storage, and debris from stone tool manufacturing. The students also gained skills in mapping archaeological excavations, all while asking thoughtful questions about life of the ancient Indigenous people that inhabited this area.” 

During the week-long program, students interacted with Colannino, Kooiman and Adriana Martinez, PhD, associate professor in Geography and GIS and Environmental Sciences. 

Funding for this project was provided by the Meridian Society Awards, which funds community-based collaborations with SIUE. 

The SIUE Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) program helps youth prepare for higher education and serves students from Collinsville. Participants receive instruction in advanced mathematics and science during the school day, homework assistance and hands-on STEM workshops twice a week after school, and cultural, career and college preparation on Saturdays. During the summer, students participate in a six-week residential program that allows participants to reside on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s campus and undergo college preparedness. Services provided prepare students for successful high school completion and entrance into post-secondary STEM degree programs. The program is designed to serve low-income and/or potential first-generation college students who are currently in grades 9-12. For more information about how you can get involved in our program, please visit us at collinsvilleubms.com.  

Photos:
UBMS Kaylee Cooper works at the Gehring site. 

L-R: SIUE student Antonio Louis Jr., UBMS students Conner Tegtmeier and Hayden Honeycutt take measurements at the dig site. 

L-R: Keeping their eyes on the drone are: Reznor Hartmann (white hat) UBMS sophomore; Josiah Tyus (blue shirt), Xander Davidson and Giovanni Roman, all UBMS freshmen; and Adriana Martinez, PhD, associate professor in Geography and GIS and Environmental Sciences.