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Watson Lecture on January 19: Claire Bucholz on the Fascinating Story of Earth's Oxygen

On Wednesday, January 19, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Claire E. Bucholz, Caltech assistant professor of geology, will continue the 2021–22 Watson Lecture season with "When Earth Breathed Deeply."

Earth's climate has not been constant throughout history. Oxygen levels in the atmosphere, for example, have increased by many orders of magnitude over time, profoundly affecting biologic and chemical cycles at the surface of the earth. These changes in Earth's climate can be traced through the imprints left behind inside the planet. In this lecture, Bucholz will explore how such shifts in atmospheric oxygen concentrations altered Earth's inner workings.

Bucholz, who joined Caltech's Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences faculty in 2017, is a Biedebach Memorial Lecturer. Through a gift from the estate of Richard C. Biedebach, the lecture series has expanded to also highlight at least one assistant professor's research each season. Bucholz investigates a variety of problems pertaining to Earth's continental crust and subduction zones, and variations in the chemistry and character of igneous rocks.

The 2021–2022 Watson Lectures are free, open to the public, and presented virtually on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. at caltech.edu/watson. Register online for this and upcoming lectures to add them to your calendar and receive email reminders.

Since 1922, The Earnest C. Watson Lectures have brought Caltech's most innovative scientific research to the public. The series is named for Earnest C. Watson, a professor of physics at Caltech from 1919 until 1959. Spotlighting a small selection of the pioneering research Caltech's professors are currently conducting, the Watson Lectures are geared toward a general audience as part of the Institute's ongoing commitment to benefiting the local community through education and outreach.

The Watson Lectures are part of the Caltech Signature Lecture Series, which offers a deep dive into the groundbreaking research and scientific breakthroughs at Caltech and JPL. For information, please visit events.caltech.edu.

Register for this Watson Lecture online.

Questions? Contact the Caltech Ticket Office via email at events@caltech.edu or leave a message at (626) 395-4652. Please allow 48 hours for a response. Reservations cannot be made over the phone or in person for the Watson Lecture Series.

Written by Andrew Moseman

Andrew Moseman