If you are interested in geology and different types of rocks, Professor and Geology Department head Nicole Myers will be hosting monthly online Zoom lectures. These lectures, titled ‘Dig Into Nature: The Rock Beneath Your Feet’, will focus on rock formations and geology.

Myers has had a passion for rocks and volcanoes since childhood, and since then, she has been pursuing her passion. Myers tells her zoom audience, “I grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where I learned to love nature at an early age. I began my first rock collection when I was 5 years old, and decided I was going to be a Geologist. My family moved to Santa Rosa, and after my first visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park at age 10, I decided I was going to be a Volcanologist. I pursued my passion in college, where I learned that I love teaching. For the past 12 years I have taught geology, paleontology, meteorology, climatology, oceanography and more.” She’s been a professor in the Geology Department at SSU since 2007, and also teaches the inMotion program in the Rec Center.

This lecture series will feature monthly Zoom meetings where you will explore the rock cycle and how they adapt and change over time. Myers says that she , “will be focusing on the information and data collection that goes into the creation of geologic maps, and how scientists and citizens can use geologic maps to identify geologic patterns in the Earth’s crust” and goes on to state more of what will be available for students to learn through these meetings. The Rock Cycle will be taught and shown as a tool to help participants understand why and how the rock cycle works. Keeping it local, these zoom meetings will revolve around the rocks and geology that make up Western California. You’ll learn about the unique changing life cycle of different types of rocks, as well as their distinct characteristics. Attendees of the Dig Into Nature series will be encouraged to explore and download the innovative app, Rockd.org, and see how rocks are formed beneath your feet and how they continue to change and evolve.

There will be monthly online meetings on Zoom where students and participants will learn as much as they would like about geology. Students are encouraged to sign up and join the monthly meetings even if you have no previous experience or knowledge on the subject. According to Seawolf Living, “This event is recommended for ages 16 and up. During the event, we will take time to go out into our own “local nature” areas such as the surrounding areas of your own home to look for rocks. Zoom meeting details will be sent to you upon registration.

Many different types of rocks and rock formations surround us, and make up the ground that we walk on today. Rocks are constantly being used to develop new technologies that are used daily, and you’d be surprised by how often they are used each day.

Learning about rocks is an important step in learning more about the earth and the materials it has to offer. When asked about why students should be interested in the program, Meyers says that “everyone relies on the materials that we acquire from our own environment, from the minerals that make up the walls of our homes to the rocks that form our roads and sidewalks. The ingredients that are necessary for technology come from the planetary surface, and they provide a window into the past to help us predict the evolution of our future, helping us to sustain the environment and human civilization.” This type of information is important for the next generation, because it allows us to do our part to keep our planet healthy. Registration for the online Dig Into Nature zoom series is available at seawolfliving.com.