APSU adds new wrinkle to November’s ‘Science on Tap’ about sinkholes
(Posted Oct. 29, 2019)
Austin Peay State University’s Science on Tap – which is set to return 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Strawberry Alley Ale Works – is adding an important element to November’s event.
Attendees can request a certificate of attendance for professional development hours or continuing education units, which will help professionals meet their annual training requirements.
The topic for November’s Science on Tap will be “Sinkholes & Limestone & Caves, Oh My!”, an exploration led by APSU geosciences professor Dr. Kallina Dunkle about a common geological feature in the area: sinkholes.
“The geologic history of the area explains how over hundreds of millions of years the terrain developed to include caves, springs and sinkholes,” Dunkle, also associate dean of the College of STEM, said. “This terrain, especially the sinkholes, can be problematic for buildings, roads and other structures.”
Complicated groundwater flow systems, which can change as sinkholes develop, make understanding the area and potential contamination difficult, she added.
“Despite these complications, this terrain can be uniquely beautiful and allows for interesting research opportunities,” Dunkle said.
During the event, Dunkle also plans to:
- Explain the type of terrain, called karst, in our area and how it relates to locations across the country.
- Discuss limestone, the type of rock we have here, and how it forms and dissolves to form karst terrain.
- Explore the past 350 million years of geologic history to show how we ended up with our modern landscape.
The professional development hours and continuing education units will be especially applicable to “engineers, geologists or other related professions that require these on an annual basis,” she added. Austin Peay officials may offer the certificates at future Science on Tap events as topics allow.
Science on Tap is a monthly lecture series hosted by APSU’s College of STEM that unites two great things: science and local brews.
Past topics have included the science of beer and an exploration of black holes. Science on Tap is the first Tuesday of every month at Strawberry Alley Ale Works.
To learn more
- For more about the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, go to www.apsu.edu/costem.
- For more about the Department of Geosciences, go to www.apsu.edu/geosciences.
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