What kind of rock are you?
It's not necessarily a question one expects to hear in an
introductory geology class, but such assignments are standard
fare in Professor Ray Pestrong's classroom.
freshmen decide they are granite with rough exteriors hiding beauty
within or conglomerate rock made up of all they have encountered
in their travels, the lessons are designed to help students make
connections between themselves and the natural world.
and music play central roles in Pestrong's teaching. "I
use aesthetics to get students interested," he says. "First
you need to see the Grand Canyon or a beautiful pattern in rock
before you can get into the scientific details of geology. It's
that initial attraction that grabs you."
the past 45 years the professor has captured stunning geological
images in an effort to bridge the worlds of art and science.
photograph above shows tafoni along the San Mateo coast, the subject
of his research for more than four decades. The delicate, intricate
sculpture is produced through the natural weathering of sandstone
and can be found worldwide along coastlines and in deserts and
mountain ranges. Though the formations are shrouded in mystery
and are the subject of geological debate, Pestrong has concluded
that tafoni forms rapidly, geologically-speaking, meaning in hundreds
and thousands of years, rather than millions.
that can be discussed after a good look at the image.