The Geology Department is hosting their first annual event known as “Rocktober,” which will run through the entire month of October.
Rocktober was created to inform staff and students about “rock” science and all that it has to offer. Assistant Professor of Geology and Paleontology Director Scott McKenzie and Associate Professor of Geology Nicholas Lang, Ph.D., are hosting two events in honor of Rocktober.
“It’s a great opportunity for students to learn more about earth science,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie hopes to make this an annual tradition for the Geology Department. “We want to get people excited about the earth and what it does,” McKenzie said.
Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., Lang will be presenting “A Voyage Through The Solar System,” in the Walker Recital Hall. The presentation will explore Earth’s celestial neighbors and what scientists know about them. After the presentation, students and staff will be able to ask questions.
Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., McKenzie will present, “Prehistoric Erie,” in the Walker Recital Hall. This presentation will give some insight on what creatures once roamed Erie, based on the fossil record.
There will be a chance for students to check out Mercyhurst’s own fossil collection, and how they can further their research into Erie’s past. McKenzie, who has one of the largest privately owned collections of meteorites and other materials in the world, will cover the story on how one local fisherman found a mammoth.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in Rocktober. Students will be allowed to bring rocks or fossils to the presentation and professors will give them a free identification.
“My job is to get people excited about this topic, so what better way than having them bring in items they want to know more about,” McKenzie said.
Rocktober will kick off Oct. 1. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 814-824-2545.