Create an interactive that helps solve a science mystery! You have a sample collected from sediments 2 miles below the ocean's surface 200 miles off the California coast (rough map). The sample is called a core-a long tube of material collected while drilling beneath the sea floor (1037A image). When researchers got this cored sample up to the ship, they noticed right away a darker layer, very different from the surrounding finer, lighter-colored layers that are typical of deep ocean sediments (watch JOIDES Resolution Expedition 328 to see the core being collected, and to see cores being analyzed).
It turned out that the darker layers contained many mineral grains and larger rocks, along with the remains of land plants, specifically bits of leaves, wood, and pine cones. Clearly this material had come from land. Scientists were amazed to find such well-preserved land material in sediments far from land, beneath such deep ocean.
But where on land did this material come from? Like forensic experts working a crime scene, we can look for clues to piece together an understanding of this core sample.
Allow people to analyze the minerals found in the layer of dark, land sediments in core 1037A. Allow people to compare the rock/mineral makeup of the deep ocean sub-seafloor core and three west coast rivers to determine where the sediment in the core came from. In the process, they should come to understand that by drilling samples from deep within the ocean floor, ocean scientists can learn about life on Earth, including life on land.
The interactive game should have the following steps:
The core: In this gaming challenge, you must have an image of the core. We have sent a high resolution actual segment which represents this story. However if a realistic-looking art representation would work better, that would be acceptable-the most important elements are the shift in texture and the shape of the core; you can change the color if you like. The core must be oriented vertically in order for viewers to easily understand the progression of sediments from older to younger. The core image does not show the rocks and minerals.
The map: We're attaching a rough map showing five important things-the 3 rivers, the drilling site, and the location of Glacial Lake Missoula. They can use this map if they are willing to clean it up a bit. Any map must show relative distance accurately. There is also a map in the Zuffa article on page 2, which shows the location of the drill site. The map on Nova's Mystery of the Megafloods video shows the position of Glacial Lake Missoula. Or see iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/maps.html to learn how to add drill sites to Google Earth.
Conclusion: Analysis of minerals from these 3 different rivers shows that the sediments were washed in from the Columbia River 700 miles north of where the drilling site was located, rather than from one of the two nearby rivers that are only 200 miles away. The cause was a cataclysmic event on land that resulted in 550 cubic miles of water rushing from Glacial Lake Missoula MT all the way down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean in about a day.
Here are the proportions of mineral types found in core 1037A and in the three rivers, based on an arbitrary unit scale.
Unit values:| Mineral/Rock type | 1037 core | Columbia River | Klamath River | Eel River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedimentary Rock | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Metamorphic Rock | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Glaucophane | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Pyroxene | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Amphibole | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Basalt | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
To represent the rocks/minerals, you can use actual images or your own icons to distinguish the different rocks/minerals.
A lot of work went into providing the content for this challenge and you need to include the following credits in your submission:
Your team member namesFriday, June 28th: Projects are due at noon, presentations and judging at noon, awards given out after judging. You will need at least one person from your team to be at the event to present the project.
Winning projects will be play-tested with audiences at the Shedd Aquarium this summer, and the concept could be included in a future proposal for National Science Foundation funding.
These resources show how elements look. Your team should create your own original content to represent the elements.
What skill requirements are needed?
None! All skill levels are welcome. Just be willing to learn and participate.
How much time do I need to spend working on it?
The month-long time frame doesn't mean you have to work non-stop during the month - it just means that it is slower paced than a 24-hour game jam or hackathon. The amount of time you want to contribute is up to you and your team.
I'm not in Chicago this summer, can I still join?
Yes! You don't have to be on campus or in the city - you can work remotely! It is up to you and your team how you coordinate.
Can my friend from another department join? Can graduates participate?
Each team just needs one IAM person (such as a current IAM student or an IAM alum) so if you have friends outside of the department (or the school) who you'd like to work with - great! If you don't have a team no worries - we are meeting up on June 1st to see who is interested and get the teams formed.
Do we have to build a game?
Nope. You can build any type of solution to the challenge as long as it is interactive.
Can we build something physical?
Yes! Any technology can be used. If you want to build your own version of Optimus Prime, an interactive environment, or a board game that's fine. IAM does have a laser cutter, 3D printers, and other neat tech.
If you haven't participated in an IAM Summer Challenge yet, it's like a hackathon or game challenge.
If you've done one of those in 24 or 48 hours, imagine what you can do in a month!
No skill level requirements - just enthusiasm and willingness to create something awesome.
