Holly Dolliver, Ph.D., Department Chair of Plant and Earth Science, U. of Wisconsin, River Falls.
Seminar Lab Subject:
Soils: The Most Undervalued and Overlooked Geologic Resource
Seminar Lab Location :
In-person only at U of Minnesota, Keller Hall, Room 3-230
Lecture start time 7:00 PM CT.
Seminar Lab Details:
Abstract:This resource is a vital part of planet Earth. Every time you stand up, sit down, take a drink of water, or eat a meal, you leverage the power of this resource. This resource is constantly changing in response to its environment. Depletion and degradation of this resource is an existential threat to humanity. Attend this presentation to find out what this resource is and learn about the secrets to its life-giving power and importance.
Biography:Dr. Holly Dolliver is Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Plant and Earth Science at the University of Wisconsin- River Falls. Holly grew up on a small farm in central Minnesota, which cultivated her lifelong interest in the natural environment. As a first-generation college student, she earned her B.S. in Soil Science and Geology from North Dakota State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the effects of land use change and land management practices on soil quality, carbon sequestration, contaminant transport, and soil resilience. Holly is a passionate educator who is deeply committed to the power of higher education and the mission of teaching-focused institutions. In addition to teaching and research, she leads multi-week geology field trips and coaches the 5-time national championship UWRF Soil Judging team. Holly’s happiest place is high alpine mountains where she immerses herself in long-distance hiking and bikepacking with her family.
Jeff Thole, Geology Laboratory Supervisor and Instructor at Macalester College.
Seminar Lab Subject:
Saturday Lab: The Crystallography of Common Rock Forming Minerals
Seminar Lab Location :
Lab time is 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon (We suggest arriving by 9:45.)
Macalester College Geology Dept., SW area of basement of Olin-Rice Science Center (Building 14), (south end of campus, by tennis courts). Park to the south or west of the building. The doors are card-access only; someone will be stationed at the south door (at least) to allow participants in. Olin Hall has lots of interesting specimens and exhibits on display.
Summary: We will talk about the description, systematics, and formation of crystals of some common minerals. Seven crystal families (lattice systems) will be described along with the shapes, symmetry elements, and some physical properties (e.g. crystal shapes, cleavage, optical properties) that are inherent to those systems with an emphasis on how we can identify these differences in some common minerals. Visitors will have the opportunity to see models of "ideal" crystals and try their hand at identifying the symmetry elements that define a particular crystal system. Using petrographic microscopes, visitors will be able to see how different crystal systems can be distinguished using optical techniques (extinction angles, crystal shapes, optical interference figures). A selection of the best available examples of euhedral (well-formed) crystals will be displayed along with the examples of how they are more commonly found (little to no discernable crystal shapes) and in what rocks they can be found in.
Biography: Jeff Thole is the Geology Laboratory Supervisor at Macalester College. He arrived at Macalester in 1996 after doing 5 years of environmental consulting. His work experience also includes spending a year as a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Virginia. His primary duties include teaching introductory geology labs and maintaining, running, and user instruction for the instrumentation housed in the Macalester Science Division’s Keck Laboratory. Jeff received Master of Science in Geology from Washington State University in 1991 and Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Minnesota – Duluth in 1987.
