<p>For decades, the "field" has been treated as a character-building barrier in geosciences—a place for the rugged and the able-bodied. But what happens when we view the outdoors as a classroom rather than an obstacle? In S2EP16, <strong>Jeff Zurek</strong> welcomes <strong>Brett Gilley</strong>, a Professor of Teaching at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a master of field pedagogy.</p><p>They dive into the results of a groundbreaking accessible field trip held right here in Vancouver. From the shores of Stanley Park to the volcanic peaks of Whistler, we discuss <strong>Universal Design for Learning (UDL)</strong> and the "Mammoth Cave" inspiration. You'll hear the transformative story of a visually impaired student who traded her seeing-eye dog for a rock scramble and a professor with a progressive disability who finally got off the bus to argue geology again.</p><p>Whether it's using Silly Putty to feel 3D models or running "Mission Control" from a dorm room, this episode proves that diversity is the lifeblood of discovery. Plus, we find out why Brett has an IMDB page and why he thinks "gravity sucks."</p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><ul><li><strong>(00:00)</strong> Intro: Rethinking the Degree</li><li><strong>(01:50)</strong> Fieldwork as a Rite of Passage</li><li><strong>(03:20)</strong> Guest: The "Rate My Prof" Legend</li><li><strong>(06:10)</strong> Why High Schools Skip Geology</li><li><strong>(09:30)</strong> Funding and Enrollment at UBC</li><li><strong>(13:20)</strong> Why Geoscience is Unique for DEI</li><li><strong>(15:15)</strong> Designing the Vancouver Workshop</li><li><strong>(17:40)</strong> Inspiration: Mammoth Cave</li><li><strong>(21:00)</strong> Redefining "Disabled" in the Field</li><li><strong>(23:45)</strong> Data: Transforming the Experience</li><li><strong>(28:00)</strong> "Hold My Dog": Scrambling Blind</li><li><strong>(31:20)</strong> Multi-Sensory Exploration</li><li><strong>(35:30)</strong> Meta-Discussion: Validating Disability</li><li><strong>(39:00)</strong> Universal Design for Learning</li><li><strong>(42:20)</strong> Silly Putty and 3D Models</li><li><strong>(45:45)</strong> Post-COVID: Mission Control Learning</li><li><strong>(50:00)</strong> Geodude: The IMDB Mystery</li><li><strong>(53:30)</strong> Call-outs: Join the IAGD</li><li><strong>(55:00)</strong> The Punchline: Geologists vs. Engineers</li></ul><p><strong>Links &amp; Resources</strong></p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://theiagd.org/">The International Association for Geoscience Diversity</a> </li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdj-6-g_f7Y">Geodude Youtube </a></li><li><strong>Support:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://www.patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths">Pateron</a></li><li><strong>Socials:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://bsky.app/profile/whimsicallambda.bsky.social">Bluesky</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://bsky.app/profile/whimsicallambda.bsky.social"> </a>| <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://www.instagram.com/whimsical.wavelengths/">Instagram</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/whimsical.wavelengths/"> </a>| <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengths">Facebook</a></li></ul><p><strong>Whimsical Wavelengths:</strong> Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by <strong>Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo)</strong>.</p>