Matt Joeckel, professor and geologist in the School of Natural Resources, will present “Everything You Wanted to Know about Rocks but Were Afraid to Ask” at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Hardin Hall auditorium. The seminar is free and open to the public.
Joeckel will talk about his years of experience in working with rocks, their origins and how their fates are fundamental in the study of the solid earth.
“Understanding rocks is a very important part of understanding how the planet works,” Joeckel said. “Rocks aren’t boring. In fact, they’re fascinating and they exist because of the rules of physics and chemistry.”
During the seminar, Joeckel will provide background on the public’s understanding of the rock cycle and examine how rocks are puzzle pieces that reveal much more than the human eye sees on the surface. He and other experts will be on-site to assist attendees in the identification of any rocks or minerals they may bring to the seminar.
“I hope that those who come to the seminar will have a significantly greater appreciation for the solid earth and the immense role that it plays in global ecosystems and human civilization,” Joeckel said. “Rocks may seem to be everyday things, but every rock tells a story.”
Joeckel has worked for the Conservation and Survey Division at UNL since 2000. He earned a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Iowa and was previously a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Tennessee. He is currently a fellow of the Geological Society of America.
UNL’s School of Natural Resources is hosting a series of educational outreach seminars. Joeckel’s seminar is the second in the series. The third seminar will take place on Dec. 3. More information can be found at http://go.unl.edu/seminars.
