NEWPORT NEWS, VA. - The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility kicks off its 2012 science lecture series on Tuesday, Jan. 24, with a discussion about the region's geologically active past.
Guest speaker Elizabeth Johnson, assistant professor with the Geology and Environmental Sciences department at James Madison University, will present "Volcanoes in Virginia!"
The August 2011 earthquake that originated in Virginia and shook the East Coast has made many wonder what other surprises Virginia's geology may hold, according to Johnson. "Could there be a volcanic eruption in Virginia? Probably not today," she says, "but during the Eocene, about 35-48 million years ago, a number of mysterious eruptions occurred in western Virginia."
Johnson's talk will investigate the possible origins of these eruptions, and what they can tell us about the crust and mantle underneath Virginia.
The lecture is free and open to students and adults with an interest in science. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m., in the CEBAF Center auditorium located at 12000 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, and will last about an hour. Seating in the auditorium and overflow area is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to about 300 people. People arriving once capacity has been reached will be turned away.
All those under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Everyone over 16 is asked to carry a valid photo ID. Security guards may perform ID, parcel and vehicle checks.
For directions and additional information about Jefferson Lab public lectures, visit: http://education.jlab.org/scienceseries/index.php or contact Christine Wheeler, email wheelerc@jlab.org or call 757-269-7560.
A live video stream is available for those not able to attend the event. Lectures are added to the video archive for on-demand viewing upon approval from the presenter.