Geology Open Night

This question has been around for 24 centuries since it was first raised by the Ancient Greeks. During the past 40 years, the exploration of the solar system has provided much new evidence about the origin and evolution of our planets and of the formation of the Earth. The recent discovery of over 60 planets circling other stars has now told us that other worlds exist. In this talk, I will discuss the origin of the Earth and of our solar system. Then I will compare the extrasolar planets with ours to see whether planets like the Earth, capable of supporting intelligent life, are likely to be common or rare in the universe.

Prof. Ross Taylor is a world renowned geochemist and planetary scientist whose recent research interests include the origin and evolution of Earth's continental crust, the origin of the Moon, and the formation and early evolution of the solar system. Among his many scientific accomplishments was to perform the first chemical analysis on lunar rocks as part of the Apollo 11 Preliminary Examination Team. He has received both the Goldschmidt and Leonard Medals, the highest honors in the fields of geochemistry and planetary science, respectively, is a Foreign Associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences and has had an asteroid named after him. He has published 225 scientific articles, on a wide range of topics in geochemistry, cosmochemistry and planetary science, as well as eight books. His recent book, "Destiny or Chance: Our Solar System and Its Place in the Universe", was also published as a "books on tape" by Orion Audio Books.

David Bernstein

Director, Institute for Long Island Archaeology
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology
State University of New York at Stony Brook

Human Life on Long Island:
The First Ten Thousand Years

7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday October 26

This slide illustrated talk traces the 10,000 year history of Native Americans on Long Island before the arrival of the Europeans in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During the millennia prior to the European invasion, Native peoples adapted their lifeways to changing environmental and social conditions by strategically utilizing the rich and varied natural resources of the island. The results of recent excavations conducted by SUNY-Stony Brook will be presented in order to highlight how modern investigations have produced an understanding of local Native American societies. In addition to the lecture, examples of artifacts typically recovered on Long Island archaeological sites will be displayed and discussed.

Professor Bernstein is an archaeologist with a research interest in New World prehistory. He has conducted archaeological investigations throughout northeastern North America, as well as lower Central America and the Caribbean. Much of his work focuses on past coastal societies, an interest he is now actively pursuing on Long Island in his role as Director of the Institute for Long Island Archaeology. Professor Bernstein is the author of numerous scholarly publications, including the book Prehistoric Subsistence on the Southern New England Coast.

Ralph Lewis
Connecticut State Geologist

Geology of
Long Island Sound Basin

7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday November 30

A total of approximately 22.7 billion cubic meters of marine sediment has accumulated in the Long Island Sound basin in the past 15,000 years. The major geologic components of the Long Island Sound basin, bedrock, buried coastal-plain strata, recessional moraines, glacial lake deposits, and the remains of a large marine delta, interact with the water body sufficiently to affect the distribution of these sediments. A significant portion of the marine section of the central and western basins was redistributed from the eastern Sound, as tidal scour removed up to 5 billion cubic meters of fine material from glacial lake and early marine deposits east of the Connecticut River.

Ralph Lewis has been the State Geologist since 1997. In this capacity he is responsible for overseeing the activities of the State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut. The Survey develops and conducts geological and biological programs involving basic research, data collection, inventories, monitoring and analysis, habitat and species protection, resource evaluations, technical assistance and outreach.

Recent outreach activities have involved developing several geology workshops for earth science teachers. Previously, Ralph was the Director of the Long Island Sound Resource Center where he was involved in research relating to the geologic framework and sediment system of Long Island Sound. Ralph is a Certified Professional Geologist with 24 years of professional experience. He has published over 100 papers and abstracts culminating in a Thematic Section of the Journal of Coastal Research, which he co-edited.

Geology Open Night

Fall 2001 Offerings

There will be Refreshments and Demonstrations after the Geology Open Night Presentations.

Admission is Free!!

Are We Alone in the Universe?

Human Life on Long Island:
The First Ten Thousand Years

Geology of
Long Island Sound Basin

In-service credit available for teachers