by
Katherine Lee
Geologist Elisabeth Ervin-Blankenheim.
If you’re one of the lucky few who are students of geologist Elisabeth Ervin-Blankenheim, you might take a virtual trip to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia to study the other-worldly fossilized Carboniferous forest that has been preserved in the rocks there. Or, you might be asked to write a research paper about coal and climate issues, and ponder concepts such as the time it takes geologically for coal to be created versus how quickly we burn it and use it up.
For Ervin-Blankenheim, a geology instructor at Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, Colorado, sharing knowledge and information with her students is just one of the ways she is working to promote understanding of geology and its importance in addressing global issues such as climate change. The AAAS Member is also currently pursuing a Ph.D. in science education and geologic literacy. She also has a book due to be published in summer, 2021 called, “A Song of the Earth: Understanding Geology and Why It Matters,” a biography of the Earth that delves into the development of the planet. The book explores how life and Earth have influenced each other, and the current existential threat posed by climate change.