Assistant Professor of Geology David Jones presents how humans have emerged as powerful geological and evolutionary agents through our impacts on climate and biodiversity. The rock record provides abundant evidence for climate catastrophes and mass extinction events prior to human history. Investigating the causes, consequences, rates and magnitudes of these episodes in deep time illuminates our current Earth-historical moment and helps define what is presently at stake. This is the second of five talks in a series related to this year’s Copeland Colloquium theme, “Catastrophe and the Catastrophic.” Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.