Science Café to consider questions of shifting sands

Have you ever sat on a beach and asked where the sand came from and where might it be going? Maria Cioppa has, and the associate professor of earth and environmental sciences will discuss her use of magnetic techniques to understand beach erosion and sediment transport in a free public lecture Wednesday entitled “Where did that beach go?”

Working with colleagues and students at Point Pelee National Park, Dr. Cioppa has carried out a series of experiments and measurements designed to investigate potential sediment sources, rates of sand movement, and areas at high risk of erosion.

Cioppa’s research specialties are paleomagnetism and rock magnetism of hydrocarbon-associated rocks, environmental magnetism. Her October 17 lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Canada South Science City, 930 Marion Avenue, as part of the Science Café series. Sponsored by the Faculty of Science, the series offers discussion of important science research for the general public.