Rivers are everywhere and affect everything. When all goes well, they provide us with water, power, food, transportation, recreation, and beauty. And when things go wrong, they wipe out our homes or even bring poisoned water to our taps. But how much do we know about how rivers actually work? How can a river flood one year and dry up the next? Where do canyons come from? How do we make forecasts of floods and water supplies? How do changes in land use and climate impact our rivers? And how does the study of water flow across the landscape – known as hydrology – overlap with other natural and social sciences, from biology to finance, and astrophysics to conflict studies?
In this talk, environmental scientist Dr. Sean Fleming explores how math and physics can reveal the hidden secrets of rivers, offers insights into the deep relationships rivers have with landscapes, ecosystems, and people, and looks at the threats our rivers face and how we can best protect them over the long run.
November 19, 2019 | Doors Open @ 6PM; OMSI’s restaurant, Theory will be open from 5-7PM
Please Note: OMSI’s restaurant, Theory will now be open for Science Pub! Enjoy wood-fired pizza, salad, ice cream plus draft beer and cider!
$5 advance purchase for guaranteed seats; $5 suggested donation at the door. Tickets will be available online or at the OMSI front desk until 2pm the day of the event; see below for details.
About the Author
Sean W. Fleming has two decades of international experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, ranging from oil exploration to operational river forecasting to glacier science. He operates a data science consultancy and holds faculty positions at the University of British Columbia and Oregon State University.