Nature & Environmental Science   

Every day of our lives we eat, drink, and breathe minerals and trace elements. For most of us this interaction with natural materials is harmless, perhaps even beneficial, supplying us with some essential nutrients. However, for some, the interaction with the minerals and trace elements can have devastating, even fatal effects. Examples that will be discussed include: a town in Montana that has been devastated by trace quantities of asbestos in a vermiculite deposit; a deadly fungus mobilized by earthquakes that impacts people in the U.S.; natural groundwater that has contributed to the death of more than 100,000 people in the Balkans and a similar situation that may exist in parts of the U.S. In every case there are opportunities for geoscientists to work with public health researchers to mitigate these and other environmental health problems.

"King Coal" has had enormous impacts, both positive and negative, on our lives, our society, and on civilization in general. This presentation will describe why coal can be credited with the development of canals, railroads, factories, even cities and why WWII would not have been possible without coal. Members will look at the positive (and there are many) and negative (they are serious) aspects of coal use in Texas and around the world before considering what the future may hold for coal.