High School Students from 10 Local Schools
Hands-On Learning with Sauropod and Pterosaur Footprints
Bangucheon in Ulsan, a land renowned for its world-class petroglyphs and designated as a national treasure, has now transformed into a living geology classroom.
On November 15 at 9 a.m., the Ulsan city government will host a "Saturday Field Geology and Fossil Exploration" event in the Bangucheon area, joined by about 40 participants including students and supervising teachers from 10 high schools in Ulsan.
This exploration program, organized annually by the Ulsan city government and the Ulsan Earth Science Teachers' Association to discover the value of geological heritage and foster awareness of its preservation, marks its ninth year in 2025.
The main activities include outdoor geological surveys and safety education, exploration of dinosaur footprint sites, and a visit to the Bangudae Petroglyph Museum.
A total of 30 students, three from each of the 10 schools, will participate. Guided by Professor Kim Kyungsoo of Jinju National University of Education, they will directly observe and record fossils during the exploration.
In the morning, the group will visit the Cheonjeon-ri fossil site to explore sauropod footprints, followed by an afternoon visit to the Daegok-ri pterosaur footprint fossil site. Afterwards, students will present their reflections and participate in a Q&A session by school.
Through this field learning experience, students will be able to verify what they have learned in the classroom on-site, cultivate curiosity and a spirit of inquiry through outdoor activities, and develop problem-solving skills and teamwork. It is also expected to enhance their scientific understanding of Ulsan's geological heritage and foster local pride.
Shim Misoon, the association president who participated in the exploration, said, "Every time, I witness students confirming what they have seen in textbooks and seeing their interest and attitude toward earth science change dramatically through various field experiences."
A city official stated, "We hope that students, who should learn and experience Ulsan Geopark the most, will feel and be inspired by the value of geological heritage through this field learning. We also ask that they continue to take pride in Ulsan's geological heritage in the future."
The city is preparing to build educational programs and facility infrastructure under the theme "A Journey to the Cretaceous Along the Taehwagang River," aiming for certification as a national geopark in 2027.
Focusing on Ulju-gun and Dong-gu, Ulsan has designated 10 geopark attractions: the Daegokcheon footprint fossil site, Cheonjeon-ri dinosaur footprint fossil site, Jeongjoksan Mujechi Wetland, Guksucheon fold, Jaggwaecheon, Ganwoljae, Daewangam marine erosion landform, Jujeon-dong mammal rock, Ganjeolgot wave-cut platform, and Seonbawi.
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