The Center for Advanced Study presents, as part of their 2014-2015 Interdisciplinary Initiative Retrospective, Susan Kieffer (Center for Advanced Study and Walgreen Professor Emerita of Geology and Physics, University of Illinois) with a presentation in the CAS Interdisciplinary Initiative Retrospective  entitled “Natural Hazards and Human Behavior:  The Dangerous Dynamics of Megadisasters” on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in the Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 South Gregory, Urbana.

Normally the earth slowly releases energy stored from its formation and from on-going radioactive decay, but sometimes the releases are very rapid.  Such releases create disasters catastrophic to humans – landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts and floods.  In this talk, she will describe some recent events and their causes and a possible way forward for coexisting with these natural processes.

Reviews from Susan Kieffer 's most recent book, “Dynamics of Disaster” (2013):

“Kieffer's brisk and lucid presentation has some of the relish with which surgeons reputedly regale each other with tales from the operating theatre. Laid out before the reader are the suppurating wounds, scalds, tremors, and scars acquired by the Earth over millennia, centuries, decades, or minutes.” (“The Times of London”)

“Geologist Kieffer analyzes recent earthquakes and eruptions with a clear eye on improving our planning for, and response to, these inevitable events.” (“Discover Magazine”)

“If you are an amateur weather geek, disaster wonk or budding student of the earth sciences, you will want to read this book.” (“Seattle Times”)

This presentation is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact the Center for Advanced Study at 333-6729 or cas.illinois.edu.

Thanks to the Center for Advanced Study listserv for this information item.

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