Earth’s Mass Extinctions, Past and Present

Tasmanian geophysicist and Surry summer resident, Dr. Millard F.(Mike) Coffin, PhD, will give a talk about “Earth’s Mass Extinctions, Past and Present,”

Our planet has experienced five mass extinctions of life in its 4.5 billion year history- defined as when greater than 75% of Earth’s total estimated species become extinct in a geologically
short interval. Increasing evidence suggests that humankind is driving Earth towards a sixth mass extinction. The presentation will compare and contrast the potential causes and consequences of these mass extinctions.
Professor Mike Coffin is a marine geophysicist at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) in Hobart, Tasmania. His research focuses on “large-scale volcanism on the seafloor (large igneousprovinces, or LIPs), tectonic plate boundaries, divergent continental margins, and interactions between the solid Earth and Earth’s environment.” Coffin has led or participated in 34 research voyages in the Pacific, Southern, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. He has also held leadership positions at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre and the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.
The presentation is free and open to everyone.