Program Description
The Geological Observatory of Coldigioco (OGC) is situated in a small, centuries-old mountain village in the Marche Region of central Italy.  It is a private institution devoted to research and education in the earth and environmental sciences.  Set in rugged, picturesque terrain, it is fully equipped with laboratories, classroom space, vehicles, and comfortable dormitory-style accommodations.  Using Coldigioco as a base, the two-week program will incorporate field excursions to nearby areas of geological and ecological interest.  These will include the famous Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary layer at Gubbio.  Discoveries there inspired the theory that a meteorite impact caused the sudden mass extinction of most life forms around 65 million years ago, including the dinosaurs.  We will also measure remarkably continuous condensed stratigraphic sections, looking for evidence of cyclicity in Earth’s history as it relates to global climate change over the long term.  We will bring this forward to more recent times, examining tree rings for insights into climatic interactions with human history.  In the course of the excursions, we will also visit archeological and historical sites ranging from Etruscan to modern, while we experience the charm of contemporary Italian rural life and cuisine first hand.

Housing
Participants in the program will be housed in one of four renovated stone farmhouses in Coldigioco village.  Each room accommodates from two to four people. Each house has a bathroom including toilet, sink, and often a shower. Showers may also be had in the bathhouse, which is better equipped to handle larger groups. Beds, sheets, and pillows are provided by OGC. Towels are not provided (but are nice to have, especially for swimming in the Adriatic Sea or the local reservoir). Laundry can be done using several laundry machines. As in most European households, clothes are line dried.  Images of the village and buildings may be viewed by clicking the link.

Meals
The program cost includes all meals while on site.

Faculty
Michael A. Kruge, Ph.D., is Professor of Earth and Environmental Studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He was formerly Associate Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at MSU, Professor and Chair in the Department of Geology at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and a Geochemist for Standard Oil (Ohio)/British Petroleum.  He holds a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of California, Berkeley.  His research interests include: Environmental geochemistry and forensics of organic contaminants in sediments; marine, estuarine and lacustrine biogeochemistry; geochemistry of peat; fossil organic matter as indicator of environmental change; applications of analytical pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; biological marker compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in, petroleum, petroleum source rocks, oil shales, coal and sediments; nature of organic sulfur in fossil fuels, a precursor of acid rain.  He is the author of about fifty peer-reviewed scientific publications.

GEOS 494 Selected Topics in Geoscience Prerequisites: Departmental approval. An in-depth study of a particular topic in geoscience, the specific subject matter of which is not offered regularly in an existing course. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 10.0 credits as long as the topic is different.
GEOS 484. Geology Field Trip. Prerequisites: GEOS 112 and 114.
A five-day to one-week trip through areas of geologic significance. A geoscience major is expected to participate in at least two of the trips. Field trip report and collection required. Expenses shared by the participants.

Graduate students: GEOS 592 (4 credits)
Special Problems in Geoscience. Prerequisites: Departmental approval. Independent research project to be performed by the student under the guidance of the faculty. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 10.0 credits as long as the topic is different.

K-12 teachers may join as non-credit participants and receive 60 professional development credits

Program Cost: Approx. $3,100
The program cost includes:

• Roundtrip airfare
• Inter-city transfers in Italy
• Shared occupancy rooms
• Use of labs, internet, laundry and other facilities
• Transportation for field trips
• Local research center administrative fees

Undergraduate and graduate students:
$3,100 plus tuition and fees for four credits.

Professional Development and non-credit participants:
$3,400 (includes a certificate for 40 hours of professional development).

Application procedure:
This summer program is open to teachers for graduate credit or professional development, community members, MSU and non-MSU undergraduate and graduate students. Non-MSU students and new transfer students will need to submit two references forms plus an official transcript(s) from their home institution(s).

All student participants are required to have
1) a minimum GPA of 2.75;
2) an interview with one or both of the faculty leading the program;
3) a reference form completed by a faculty member other than the faculty leading that program; and
4) the $100 non-refundable application fee.

Non-MSU Students:
Applicants should submit two reference forms and official transcript(s) from the home institution(s) plus a $100 non-MSU administrative fee. Telephone interviews with the faculty will be accepted for out of state students. After completion of the program, non-MSU students will need to request an MSU transcript for submission to the home institution.

Payment Schedule:
Once accepted into the program, the payment schedule for program costs is as follows:
By February 15, 2010:  $800 including $100 non-refundable application fee
By March 15, 2010:      $1,000
By April 15, 2010:         Balance due for payment in full
Make checks payable to “Montclair State University”

Registration for undergraduate and graduate credit summer session courses is done through the online WESS system in May, and tuition for the three credits is then paid directly to the Bursar.

For Further Information:
Contact the Global Education Center at 973-655-4185 or email simonW@mail.montclair.edu.

For further information about the program, contact Dr. Michael Kruge 
at 973-655-7902, or krugem@mail.montclair.edu.

Coldigioco village images

Field site images