Pritzker Lecture: Geology Affects Biology

Ever wonder how Earth materials and processes directly impact the distribution and health of living organisms? Academy geologist Jean DeMouthe will present a richly illustrated lecture on the nature of geologic materials and how they affect living things.  She will  provide examples of how geologic processes affect ecosystems, from a tiny spring on a hillside to a big explosive volcanic eruption. We will  explore the minerals, rocks, and soil that provide nutrients as well as substrate on and in which plants and animals live. We will learn about how geological factors can produce chemical or physical barriers that affect what can and cannot live in a particular area. The talk will wind up with a discussion of how the Academy's geologic collections provide insight into and history of biodiversity and evolution.

Speaker: Jean DeMouthe, Academy of Sciences