The Great Rift Science Symposium will be a gathering of scientists, educators, regional community leaders and the general public who share an interest in the unique landforms, biology and history of the great lava desert of Southern Idaho. Most of the Great Rift areas is now protected within the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Created in 1924 as a 53,545 acre National Monument, the Craters of the Moon area was expanded to 753,863 acres in 2000. The Monument contains the youngest and most geologically diverse basalt lava terrain of the Snake River Plain and the largest basaltic lava field of Holocene age in the United States. This unique lava supports some of the most intact sage-steppe ecosystem remaining in the world. Finally the Great Rift area has been a significant challenge to the human community over the past 15,000 years and still defies habitation and use: the strangest 75 miles on the continent.

This four-day symposium will be held October 6-9, 2005 at Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. The event will begin with two days of intermixed keynote speakers, concurrent scientific panels, plenary sessions, poster sessions, breakout meetings and evening cultural events. It will coincide with Idaho teacher in-service days so that educators can easily attend and gain academic credits. The two days of professional presentations will be followed by two days of site tours, including North Laidlaw Park, the Pioneer Mountains interface, Headquarters area, Pillar Butte, and the Wapi Flows.

The scope of the Symposium is based on Presidential Proclamation 7373 that expanded Craters of Moon National Monument on November 9, 2000. The area protected by this and previous Presidential Proclamations include the entire Great Rift Volcanic Zone and associated lava features, as well as important sagebrush steppe ecosystems and associated plant and animal populations. The tracks or major topics covered at the symposium will relate directly to the subject areas of the Proclamation.

The four-day Symposium is expected to attract several hundred scientists, students, educators and the general public who share an interest in the unique landscape of the Great Rift volcanic area. It will provide Idaho educators at all levels with an opportunity to incorporate science into curriculum, research activities and interpretation. The final product of this Symposium will be a bound proceeding and tour guide published by the Idaho Geological Society, identifying the state of the science in the Great Rift area, past research, ongoing efforts and future research needs. The proceedings will serve as an information base to guide resource management and interpretation for students, educators and the regional community


Mission Statement:

The mission of the symposium is to support understanding, appreciation and protection of the geological, ecological, and cultural objects and resources found within the Great Rift region, including Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, through sharing information from past research and encouraging future collaborative research efforts and education.

Goals

• Present a summary of scientific investigations relating to the Great Rift region and identify research considered necessary to guide future management decisions affecting the resources of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.
  
• Facilitate dissemination of this research information to scientists, educators and the general public at all levels.
  
• Increase awareness within communities adjacent to the Great Rift of the significance, sensitivity and intrinsic value of the natural and cultural resources within this area.
  
• Identify future research needs that will guide management decisions affecting resources of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
  
• Provide a professional development forum for Idaho teachers to coordinate teaching strategies, develop curriculum, and gain graduate credits while learning about Idaho’s unique Great Rift resources.