Each academic term, volcanologist and UO alumnus and professor Dr. Daniele McKay offers a two-day workshop focusing on how and why volcanoes erupt, and the geologic history of the Central Oregon Cascades. Participants will meet for a lecture on Friday evenings from 5:30–8:30 p.m. before an all-day field trip on Saturday (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) to explore formations that Dr. McKay discussed the night before.

Lectures will cover the same material as a typical undergraduate class on volcanoes offered through the University of Oregon. We will look in depth at the structure of Earth’s interior, plate tectonics, and the generation of magma and igneous rocks. We will also examine various eruption styles and landforms, volcanic hazards, and techniques used to monitor volcanoes for signs of activity.

Field trips will visit various types of volcanoes in Central Oregon, with a focus on recent volcanic activity and the risks and benefits of living in close proximity to active volcanoes.

The Winter 2020 workshop will meet on Friday, March 13, 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the Health Careers Center 140 (HCC 140) at Central Oregon Community College. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. The lecture on Friday will cover a detailed examination of igneous rocks, volcanic landforms, and eruption styles. We will also discuss hazards posed by different types of volcanic eruptions, and techniques used to monitor volcanoes for signs of activity.

Saturday, March 14, will be spent in the field investigating recent volcanic deposits and the impacts volcanoes have had in shaping the landscapes and culture of Central Oregon. We will visit various volcanic deposits in the Bend and Tumalo area, with a focus on the risks and benefits of living in close proximity to active volcanoes. Participants will meet at 8:45 a.m. and park at the library parking lot (Lot D) at COCC. The expected return time is 5:00 p.m. A COCC campus map may be accessed here.