Memoirs from Earth - Fellows Colloquium
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
7:00pm on Cal State Long Beach campus and via live Zoom simulcast
Human space travelers often describe our planet from the vantage point beyond its atmosphere as a fragile blue marble. But, the story of Earth as told by rocks and geologic archives is one of resilience. Earth is quite tough.
The sediments deposited in ocean basins, the lava that cools to form volcanic islands, and the large boulders left behind from glacial ice that once occupied the mid-latitudes all record an ever-evolving planet that changes both slowly over geologic time and catastrophically on human timescales. Rocks tell the story of Earth's past because they record both the physical conditions they are exposed to and the chemical changes that happen constantly over millions of years.
We tease these tales from rocks and find that some of these changes occur reliably and repeatedly and others occur stochastically without notice. Yet over 500 million years, our planet has offered the rare and precious conditions that support life.
Dr. Andrea Balbas will discuss the tools that geologists use to determine the ages of rocks and discuss examples from her research on gradual and catastrophic changes.
Registration
Registration is required for this event. If you are planning to attend in person, please register by Friday, 4/15.
How to Attend
You may attend this event in person, or watch at home via our live Zoom simulcast. After you RSVP, you will receive information about how to attend using either method.
If you are attending in person, check-in begins at 6:30pm in the Hall of Science building. The presentation will be in room 103.
Did not receive a confirmation email after registering? Please contact CNSM-Fellows@csulb.edu.
Parking
If you are attending in person, please remember that paid parking is required at all times on campus.
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Virtual parking permits can be purchased for $12 from pay stations in Lot E10, E11, or E7. Lots labeled as "Employee Parking" (E) are available for general parking after 5:30pm.
- Lots E10 and E11 are accessible through Beach Drive (off of Bellflower Blvd) or West Campus Drive (off of 7th Street).
- Lot E7 is accessible through University Drive (off of Palo Verde) or East Campus Drive (off of 7th Street).
You'll need your license plate number when you purchase your virtual parking permit as CSULB Parking Enforcement uses license plate recognition technology in all parking lots. Once you purchase your parking permit at one of the grey parking stations, your electronic permit will be stored in the system until 11:59pm.
Fellows members are eligible to receive free parking and will be emailed a parking coupon code along with parking instructions the week of the event.
About the Presenter
Dr. Andrea Balbas
Andrea is captivated by the stories told by rocks, and she specializes in determining the formation age of geologic materials. Her research has focused on determining the timing and duration of dramatic magnetic field fluctuations, the past rate of cosmic radiation, the timing of megaflood events and more recently has focused on determining the origin of ancient volcanos deep in the Pacific Ocean.
To collect these ancient volcanic rocks, she participates in remote-operated-submersible expeditions that explore the deep flanks of seamounts to categorize the geology and biological communities. These exploratory dives are live streamed wherein she provides commentary on the observations in real time.
Andrea is also a passionate educator who focuses on engaging all students in class and believes that science is strongest when a diverse set of minds work together to solve problems.
Dr. Andrea Balbas is an Assistant Professor in the Geological Sciences Department.
