Earth Systems and Engineering This five-day program explores the massive forces that move our planet. We’ll start by looking at the Earth’s inner ""engine"" to see how heat and pressure deep underground actually move the ground we stand on. From there, we’ll get into the science of materials—testing mineral hardness and even ""making"" our own rocks using heat and pressure. We’ll also put a custom-built stream table to work, experimenting with water flow to see exactly how rivers carve the landscape and move sediment. Plus, we’ll look at the ""push and pull"" of the Earth's crust to see how mountains are folded and how energy builds up to cause earthquakes. To wrap it all up, we’re focusing on local Kentucky geology, where students will act as engineers to design building foundations that can stay standing even during a simulated sinkhole collapse.