What does front line research tell us about the current state of the immense volcano that makes up much of Yellowstone National Park? Dr. Michael Poland, Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, will share his insights on what’s going on below the park in the first presentation of the Winter/Spring Science Inquiry Series.
The talk will be presented at the Museum of the Rockies at 600 W Kagy Blvd in Bozeman, Montana on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 7 p.m. in the museum’s Hager Auditorium.
The series, sponsored by the Gallatin Valley Friends of the Sciences, explores cutting edge science topics, their latest developments, and their relevance to society through speaker presentations followed by conversations between speaker and audience. The talks are free to the public.
In his presentation, entitled “The Yellowstone Volcano: News from the Front,” Poland will discuss the geologic hazards of the Yellowstone region, activity that has been recorded in 2019, and recent research into how the Yellowstone volcanic system works.
Courtesy of Michael Poland.
Dr. Poland holds a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from Arizona State University. He is a research geophysicist with the Cascades Volcano Observatory in addition to his duties with the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, and has studied volcanoes in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest as well as the Yellowstone caldera. He uses space-based and ground-based technologies to study surface deformation, gravity fields associated with volcanic activity, the character of the fluids that drive volcanic unrest, and improving forecasts of volcanic activity.
The presentation will be followed by an opportunity for audience members to engage in conversation with Poland in the museum lobby with light refreshments served.
The speaker presentation and audience participation segments together will last a little over an hour. All lectures have a limited capacity and are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each lecture, and attendees may not save seats.