Thursday, February 25, 2021

Wisconsin might not come to mind when one thinks of lava, but as participants in March’s History at Home program will learn, lava has shaped even the upper Midwest. Learn more about “The Story of Ancient Lava Flows Beneath Lake Superior” on Thursday, March 18 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. This talk is being held in conjunction with Badger Talks, a program of the University of Wisconsin.

To register for this Zoom event, visit.fdlpl.org and select this event on the library’s Calendar by no later than Wednesday, March 17 at 6 pm. A link to the presentation will be emailed to participants on the morning of the program.

Esther K. Stewart, a geologist with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, will explain how nearly 1 billion years ago beneath what is now Lake Superior, lava flowed from shield volcanoes and fissures. This talk describes what the environment may have been like as this Midcontinent Rift developed. 

In her work for Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, Stewart uses geologic mapping to address questions about the rocks that underlie Wisconsin. Prior to joining the state survey, she worked for ExxonMobil in Houston, Texas. She has a master’s degree from Idaho State University.

History at Home focuses on stories about the area's past every third Thursday of the month. The programs are free. Many History at Home programs are captured on video and shared on the library's YouTube channel. That link can be found at fdlpl.org/miss-program.

Badger Talks reflects the tradition of the Wisconsin Idea — to extend the resources of the university to citizens of the state. More than 200 Badger Talks are hosted around the state each year, featuring faculty and staff with expertise in a variety of disciplines.

For more information about Fond du Lac Public Library, visit fdlpl.org.