February 17, 2011

UCSB Oil Spill Expert to Speak About ‘Science in the Disaster Zone'

George Foulsham

David Valentine, UC Santa Barbara professor of earth science, will deliver a lecture titled "Science in the Disaster Zone: From Coal Oil Point to Deepwater Horizon" on Thursday, February 24, at First Presbyterian Church, 21 East Constance Street, in Santa Barbara.

Valentine's talk is part of the UCSB Affiliates Science Lite lecture series. Admission is $8 for Affiliates and Chancellor's Council members, and $10 for non-members. You can pay at the door, or you can mail checks, payable to UCSB Regents, in advance to the Office of Public Events, MC 1135, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106. Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m. and the lecture begins at 7:30 p.m.

For the past decade, Valentine has studied the interactions of bacteria, oil, and gas off the coast of Santa Barbara and around the world. Last April, his scientific expertise drew him to the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Valentine traveled to the area several times to study the fate of oil and gas released into the deep ocean. In this talk, Valentine will provide a firsthand account of how he was drawn into the science of the disaster, what discoveries he has made, and what it was like to lead expeditions to the site.

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.