NEWS TIP SHEET
Symposium on Earth Impacts and Extinctions Slated for CU-Boulder Aug. 27
Colorado experts studying past Earth impacts by asteroids and comets as well as the potential environmental and societal consequences of future impacts will participate in a public symposium Aug. 27 at CU-Boulder.
Sponsored by the CU Graduate School, the event will be held in the Glenn Miller Ballroom at the University Memorial Center from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
"We try and select scientific topics that have a high interest to the general public," said Graduate School Dean Carol Lynch. The symposium was coordinated by Assistant Vice Chancellor Jerry Peterson.
Participants in the Aug. 27 symposium and their talks include:
o Kirk Johnson, Denver Museum of Natural History: "An Extraterrestrial Impact and the End of the Age of Dinosaurs."
o Professor Nicholas Schneider, CU astronomical and planetary sciences department and the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics: "The Impact Threat: Astronomical Reality or Media Hype?"
o Professor Brian Toon of CU's Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Program: "Environmental Consequences of Large Impacts -- Global Incineration and a Long Cold Darkness."
o CU Museum Director Linda Cordell: "Catastrophes, Chaos and Disasters in the Unwritten Past: An Archaeological View."
o Natural Hazards and Applications Information Center Director Dennis Mileti: "Human and Societal Impacts of a Catastrophic Asteroid or Comet Impact."
The asteroid talk is tied to a current exhibit at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Museum titled "Asteroids, Comets and Collisions." The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. The CU museum is free and open to the public.
For more information contact Jerry Peterson at 492-2889 or Jim Scott in the Office of Public Relations at 492-3114.