Dr. Ellen Metzger

Ellen MetzgerI’m a metamorphic petrologist with a joint appointment in the Science Education Program and my research interests span both petrology and Earth and environmental education. Current petrologic and geochemical research focuses on high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Adirondack Mountains of New York and serpentinite and Miocene volcanics found in nearby Henry Coe State Park. I am Co-Director of the Bay Area Environmental STEM Institute (BAESI),a professional development program for teachers of grades 4-12 and have authored several publications that address how education at all levels can foster more sustainable ways of living.

Professor: Metamorphic Petrology, Geochemistry, and Earth Science Education
BAESI Director

Phone: (408) 924-5048
Office: DH 319
Office Hours: By appointment
E-mail: ellen.metzger@sjsu.edu

BAESI website

Education

  • Ph.D. 1984, Syracuse University

Research Interests

Current research includes studies of granulite facies metamorphism in the Adirondack
Highlands, geochemistry of volcanic rocks in Henry Coe State Park, and education for
sustainability.

Recent Classes

  • Fundamentals of Mineralogy (GEOL 120)
  • Petrology (GEOL 122)
  • Advanced Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GEOL 213)
  • Earth Systems Science (GEOL 145)

Recent Activity (2011-2017)

*Student author

Awards

  • Metzger, E.P., April 2013, Pacific Section American Association of Petroleum Geologists Distinguished Educator Award.

Published Research

  • Metzger, E., D. Gosselin, and C.H. Orr, 2021, Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. In J.C. Gill and M. Smith, Editors, Geology and the Sustainable Development Goals: Facilitating Responsible Earth Stewardship. Springer-Nature. In Press.
  • Curren, R. and Metzger, E., 2019. Education in the Anthropocene: A Pragmatic Approach. On Education. Journal for Research and Debate, 2(1).
  • Curren, R. and Metzger, E., 2018. The art of preserving opportunity: A response to Ferkany, Ahlberg, Macleod and Ruitenberg. Theory and Research in Education, 16(1), pp.113-117.
  • Curren, R., and Metzger, E., 2017, Preserving Opportunity: A Précis of Living Well Now and in the Future: Why Sustainability Matters: Ethics, Policy & Environment, v. 20, p. 227-239, doi: 10.1080/21550085.2017.1374000.
  • Curren, R., and Metzger, E., 2017, Living Well Now and in the Future: Why Sustainability Matters: Cambridge, The MIT Press, 312 p.
  • Curren, R., and Metzger, E., 2017, Preserving opportunity: A précis of living well now and in the future: why sustainability matters: Ethics, Policy and Environment, v. 20, p. 227-239.
  • Metzger, E.P., Blockstein, D.E., and Callahan, N., 2017, Interdisciplinary teaching and sustainability: An introduction: Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 65, p. 81-85.
  • Metzger, E.P., and Curren, R.R., 2017, Sustainability: Why the language and ethics of sustainability matter in the geoscience classroom: Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 65, p. 93-100.
  • Andersen, D.W., *Shostak, N.C., *Locke, K.M., *Ramstetter, N.P., and Metzger, E.P., 2016, Composition of sediment records late Quaternary paleogeographic evolution of Santa Clara Valley, California: Geosphere, v. 12, no. 2, DOI: 10.1130/GES01259.1
  • Chang, H.C., Kelly, R.M., Metzger, E.P., 2016, A qualitative study of teachers' Understanding of Sustainability: Education for sustainable development (ESD), dimensions of sustainability, environmental protection: in Urban, M. J.; Falvo, D. A. eds., Improving K-12 STEM Education Outcomes through Technological Integration, Hershey, PA: IGI Global, p. 1-436.
  • Metzger, E.P., Miller, R.B., Harper, G.D., and MacDonald, J.H., 2016, Synthesis of geochemical data for mafic rocks in the crystalline core of the North Cascades and potential correlatives: Tectonic implications, in Cheney, E., ed., The geology of Washington and beyond: Seattle, University of Washington Press, p. 156-180.
  • Chapman, A.D., Ernst, W.G., Gottlieb, E., Powerman, V., and Metzger, E.P., 2015, Detrital zircon geochronology of Neoproterozoic–Lower Cambrian passive-margin strata of the White-Inyo Range, east-central California: Implications for the Mojave–Snow Lake fault hypothesis: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 127, p. 926-944.
  • Metzger, E.P., Miller, R.B., Harper, G.D., and MacDonald, J.H. Jr., 2015, Geochemistry of mafic rocks in the Crystalline core of the north Cascades and possible correlatives: Tectonic implications: in, Cheney, E.S., ed., the Geology of Washington and Beyond: from Laurentia to Cascadia: University of Washington Press, p. 156-180.

Grants

  • Metzger, E.P., "The Next Generation Science Standards Implementation Collaborative", All Points North Foundation ($50,000) 06/2016—05/2017.
  • Metzger, E.P., "Collaborative Resources in Education to Advance Technology Engineering and Science (CREATES)", California Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant Program ($77,650) 2015—2016.
  • Metzger, E.P., "Collaborative Resources in Education to Advance Technology Engineering and Science (CREATES)", California Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant Program ($440,000) 2015—2016.
  • Metzger, E.P., "The Youth Digital Storytelling STEM Academy", National Science Foundation ($1,099,567) 09/2015—08/2018.
  • Metzger, E.P. (E. Cordero, PI, with D. Chai, G. Smith, and E. Walsh), "The Youth Digital Storytelling STEM Academy", National Science Foundation ($1,099,567, 9/15/15-8/31/18).
  • Cordero, E., Metzger, E.P., and Walsh, E., "The Green Ninja Project", City of San Jose - Silicon Valley Energy Watch ($59,932, 8/1/2013—12/31/2014).
  • Metzger, E.P. and Williams, D.W., "Geochemical and Petrographic Investigation of Miocene Volcanic Rocks Near San Luis Reservoir, Central Diablo Range, California", San Jose State University Undergraduate Research Grant ($997, 7/1/13—6/30/14).
  • Metzger, E.P., “California Alliance for Sustainability (CASE) at SJSU”, Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation ($71,333, 1/15/2012—6/15/13).
  • Metzger, E.P., "Improving 6th Grade Climate Literacy Using New Media and Teacher Professional Development", NASA ($385,981, 9/01/2011—8/31/2014).
  • Metzger, E.P., "Bay Area Earth Science Institute", Chevron ($106,300, 2010—2012).

Published Abstracts

  • Curren, R.R. and Metzger, E.P., 2017, How Earth educators can help students develop a holistic understanding of sustainability (Abstract ED44A-0): 2017 AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
  • *Swanson, B., Leech, M., and Metzger, E.P., 2017, Kyanite-bearing migmatites at Ledge Mountain, Adirondack Highlands (Abstract V31B-0512): 2017 AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
  • Metzger, E.P., and Curren, R.R., 2016, Investigating the wicked problems of (un)sustainability through three case studies around the water-energy-food nexus: Abstract ED13E-0955 presented at 2016 Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, Calif., 12-16 Dec.
  • Reeder, J., Metzger, E.P., Bickford, M.E., and Leech, Mary L., 2016, Kyanite-bearing
    migmatites from the Central Adirondack Mountains: A new P-T-t path and implications for tectonic models: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 48, no. 7.
  • Reeder, J., Metzger, E.P., Bickford, M.E., and Leech, Mary L., 2016, Kyanite-bearing
    migmatites in the central Adirondack Mountains: Implications for late to post-orogenic
    metamorphism and melting in a collisional orogen: American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2016, abstract V23D-3009.
  • Metzger, E.P., Cordero, E., and Santone, S., 2015, integrating sustainability into teacher education: Examples from San Jose State University: Earth Educators’ Rendezvous, University of Colorado, Boulder, https://serc.carleton.edu/earth_rendezvous/2015/program_table/abstracts/100972.html.
  • Metzger, E.P. and Curren, R.R., 2015, An education in sustainability: Perspectives from a geologist-philosopher collaboration: Earth Educators’ Rendezvous, University of Colorado, Boulder, https://serc.carleton.edu/earth_rendezvous/2015/program_table/abstracts/105107.html.
  • Cordero, E., Metzger, E.P., and Smith, G., 2013, Promoting action on climate change through scientific storytelling and the Green Ninja Film Academy: Abstract ED13B-0771, 2013 Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco.
  • Metzger, E.P., 2013, A model for long-term teacher professional development: reflections from twenty-three years of the Bay Area Earth Science Institute: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 45, no. 7, p. 795.
  • Metzger, E.P., Santone, S., Smith, G., and Cordero, E., 2013, A self-paced online module for teachers using climate change as a context for bringing sustainability education to the classroom: Abstract ED11A-0708, 2013 Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco.
  • Gervais, S.M. and Metzger, E.P., 2012, A multi-method study of metamorphism and fluid flow through the May Lake interpluton screen, Yosemite National Park, CA: Abstract #V11A-2742, American Geophysical Union Meeting.
  • Metzger, E.P., Smith, G., Cordero, E.C., and Santone, S., 2012, The California Alliance for Sustainability: A collaborative pilot project to build regional advocacy and leadership for sustainability education: Abstract #ED51E-06, American Geophysical Union Meeting
  • Smith, G., Schmidt C., Metzger, E.P., and Cordero, E.C., 2012, Improving 6th Grade Climate Literacy using New Media (CLINM) and teacher professional development: Abstract #ED11E-02, American Geophysical Union Meeting.
  • Gervais, S.M. and Metzger, E.P., 2011, Preliminary analysis of Borosilicate minerals in pegmatitic leucosomes within aluminous granulites at Ledge Mountain, Central Adirondack Highlands, New York: Abstract #V31F-2594, American Geophysical Union Meeting.

Technical Presentations

  • Metzger, E.P., October 2013, “Improving climate literacy with new media and the Green Ninja”, 42nd Annual Meeting of the North American Association of Environmental Education, Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Metzger, E.P., October 2013, “Teacher education for sustainability: examples from San José State University”, 42nd Annual Meeting of the North American Association of Environmental Education, Baltimore, Maryland.

Reviewing and Editorial Service

  • Metzger, E.P., Associate Editor, Journal of Geoscience Education

Other Professional Service

  • Metzger, E.P., January 2016 – present, Member of a team of California State University and Committee College faculty convened by the CSU Chancellor’s Office to develop a cross-campus Minor in Sustainability.
  • Metzger, E.P., and Cordero, E., March 2013: "Energy Detectives", a hands-on workshop for ~ 130 middle school students attending MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) Day at San Jose State University.
  • Metzger, E.P. (with Jonathan Hendricks and LeAnne Teruya of the Geology Department, and SJSU faculty from the departments of Meteorology and Climate Science, Elementary Education, Biological Sciences and Astronomy and Physics), January-November, 2013: the Bay Area Earth Science Institute presented six full-day interdisciplinary Saturday workshops that addressed earth and environmental science topics; each session served 15-25 teachers.
  • Metzger, E.P. (with SJSU lecturer LeAnne Teruya and Will Schweller), July 17-19, 2012, “California Geology and Geologic Hazards” workshop for 30 middle and high school teachers.
  • Metzger, E.P. (with Eugene Cordero and Grinell Smith), July 10-12, 2012, "Earth Science, Society and Sustainability" workshop for 20 middle and high school teachers and four teacher education faculty from SJSU and CSU East Bay.
  • Metzger, E.P. (with Eugene Cordero, Grinell Smith, and Cynthia Smith), June 25-29, 2012, “Climate Literacy” workshop for 20 middle school teachers.
  • Metzger, E.P., April 2012 NASA-NOAA-NSF Climate Change Education Principal.
  • Metzger, E.P. (with Jonathan Hendricks and LeAnne Teruya of the Geology Department, Chevron geologists, and SJSU faculty from the departments of Meteorology and Climate Science, Environmental Studies, Elementary Education and Biological Sciences), September 2011-September 2012: the Bay Area Earth Science Institute presented 10 full-day interdisciplinary Saturday workshops and field trips that addressed earth, life, and environmental science topics; each session served 20-25 teachers.
  • Metzger, E.P. (with Cordero, E., Smith, G., and others), two multi-day climate change education workshops for middle and high school teachers.
  • Metzger, E.P., Guest Associate Editor for a special theme issue of the Journal of Geoscience Education; “Interdisciplinary Teaching and Sustainability."