Sierra Negra in the Galapagos Islands. (Image provided)
This year's American Rock Salt Lecture at SUNY Geneseo will feature volcanologist Karen Harpp, professor of geology and peace conflict studies at Colgate University.
Harpp's lecture, "Short scientific stories from the Galapagos Islands," is on April 15 at 6:30 p.m., and offered over Zoom to the Geneseo community and public. Attendees are asked to register online for the event. An email will be sent with information about joining the lecture.
"The Galapagos Islands, known as Las Islas Encantadas (the Enchanted Islands), are renowned for their amazing flora and fauna, including ocean-going reptiles, giant tortoises, and birds that gave up flying for swimming," says Harpp. "But the islands are also geologically remarkable, the site of beautiful lava flows, volcanic eruptions, and drowned islands. Together, we will explore the origins of these volcanic islands and how they relate to the interior of the Earth, as well as several examples of how geology and biology are intimately intertwined to produce this remarkable (and still nearly pristine) part of our planet."
Harpp earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Dartmouth College, and a master's of science and Ph.D. at Cornell University. Prior to joining the faculty at Colgate, Harpp taught at the University of Idaho and Lawrence University. In 2002, she received the Biggs Excellence in Teaching Award from the Geological Society of America, and in 2010 received the Alumni Corporation Distinguished Teaching Award Fellow. In 2012, she was included in Princeton Review’s The Best 300 Professors, and in 2015 she was recognized at Colgate with the Jerome Balmuth Award for Teaching and Student Engagement.