SUNY Potsdam Offers Free Planetarium Shows, Plus Seismology and Geoscience Programs

Dr. Frank Revetta Presents Three Free Educational Series for SUNY Potsdam's Department of Geology

POTSDAM, NY (01/15/2015)(readMedia)-- Geology Professor Emeritus Dr. Frank Revetta will offer three free educational series again this year at SUNY Potsdam -- including his popular planetarium shows and seismology workshops, as well as a new geoscience theatre program.

All are welcome to attend these free educational events, so mark your calendars!

Planetarium shows are held every other Thursday afternoon, at 4 p.m., in the College's planetarium, located in the basement of Stowell Hall. Each show lasts about 45 minutes, and guests of all ages are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early. The Spring 2015 planetarium show schedule is as follows:

  • Jan. 22: "Circumpolar Constellations"
  • Jan. 29: "Winter Constellations"
  • Feb. 5: "The Brightest Stars"
  • Feb. 12: "Spring and Summer Constellations"
  • Feb. 19: "Worldwide Constellations"
  • Feb. 26: "How Astronomers Locate Stars"
  • March 12: "Constellations of the Zodiac"
  • March 26: "Solar Systems and Planets"
  • April 2: "The Sun's Path"
  • April 9: "Seasons"
  • April 16: "Precession of Equinox"
  • April 23: "Stars Through the Years"
  • April 30: "Southernmost Constellations"
  • May 7: "Planetarium Music"

Seismology workshops will also be held on alternating Tuesdays, at 4 p.m. The workshops will be held in Timerman Hall Room B23, Revetta's seismology laboratory. Class size is limited to 16 participants, so everyone is able to use a computer for the sessions. The Spring 2015 seismology workshop schedule is as follows:

  • Feb. 3: "How are Earthquakes Detected?"
  • Feb. 17: "Where do Earthquakes Occur?"
  • March 10: "Seismic Waves and the Earth's Interior"
  • March 24: "Seismogram Interpretation"
  • April 14: "Tsunamis"
  • April 28: "Local Earthquakes"

The geoscience theatre program will feature free scientific video screenings. All screenings will be offered on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in Revetta's lab, located in Timerman Hall Room B23. The Spring 2015 geoscience theatre program schedule is as follows:

  • Jan. 21: "Local Earthquakes"
  • Jan. 28: "Loma Prieta Earthquake"
  • Feb. 4: "Plate Tectonic Theory"
  • Feb. 11: "World's Deadliest Earthquakes"
  • Feb. 18: "Mexican Earthquake"
  • Feb. 25: "San Francisco Earthquake"
  • March 11: "The Earthquake is Coming"
  • March 18: "Wave that Shook the World"
  • March 25: "Japan Earthquake"
  • April 1: "World's Deadliest Volcanoes"
  • April 15: "Mt. Pinatuba"
  • April 22: "Asteroid and the Dinosaurs"
  • April 29: "Super Volcanoes"
  • May 6: "Vesuvius"

For more information about the planetarium shows, seismology workshops or geoscience theatre program at SUNY Potsdam's Department of Geology, please contact Frank Revetta at (315) 267-3441 or revettfa@potsdam.edu, or Roberta Greene at (315) 267-2286 or greenera@potsdam.edu.

To learn more about SUNY Potsdam's Department of Geology, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/Geology.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $27 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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