Educator Guide: Climbers Help Scientists Vibe With Utah’s Rocks

Castleton Tower, a sandstone formation near Moab, Utah

Castleton Tower (right), a soaring sandstone formation near Moab, Utah, is among the most popular climbing destinations in the world. Researchers have enlisted rock climbers to help them assess the natural vibrations of Castleton and other similar geologic structures.

46053374@N05/flickr.com (CC BY-2.0)

About this guide

In this guide, students will learn about a citizen science project that is helping scientists better understand the physical properties of rock formations. Students will then explore other citizen science projects that they could participate in based on their hobbies and interests.

This Guide Includes:

Joining forces for rock science

Students will answer questions about the online Science News article “How climbers help scientists vibe with Utah’s famous red rock formations,” which describes how researchers teamed up with rock climbers to collect data that can help assess the seismic stability of red rock formations in Utah. A version of the article, “Climbers help scientists vibe with Utah’s rocks,” appears in the April 23, 2022 issue of Science News.