From a report submitted by David King, Auburn University
The proposer used MetSoc funds to pay for field travel to acquire geological materials in order to develop new and more effective geological displays, for example large slabs of tilted rim-rocks with structural attitude (strike, dip direction, and dip magnitude), clearly labelled, which are designed to resonate with general audiences, area teachers, and public school students. In addition to display of well-labelled and described geological sample from the crater, there are new graphics made by the proposer now on display that show where the samples originated with regard to the crater’s geology and geography.
This project was specifically targeted to local audiences so as to broaden public awareness and knowledge of meteorite impact structures among visitors to the city, local people, teachers, and public school students, specifically regarding Wetumpka impact structure, Alabama. The city of Wetumpka, which owns the Discovery Center, will benefit from the proposed activities because the quality of geological displays will be enhanced at no expense to them. The proposer has worked with the city on public education aspects of the crater since 1999, and the proposed work is an extension of that effort. Even though Wetumkpa, Alabama, is a small town, the presence of a large native-American gaming facility in the city attracts over 1 million visitors per year, some of whom visit the Discovery Center. The visitor rate is approximately 7,000 people per month, according to the city tourism director.