What went wrong on the Deep Water Horizon that led to the Gulf Oil Spill? We will briefly introduce how offshore drilling works, and some of the scenarios that are being reported as reasons for the catastrophic failure. We will then explore various coastal ecosystems and how they might be impacted by oil. Please join us for both oral and poster-style presentations presented by students and faculty affiliated with the Marine Science Consortium.

Dr. Sean Cornell, a field geologist with specialties in oceanography, paleontology, paleoecology, and sedimentary geology, is a faculty member of Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, PA. He is teaching a 3-week summer course at MSC on Coastal Environmental Oceanography during which his students will be involved in several research projects that will produce data to be shared at this presentation. Dr. Cornell’s dynamic teaching and presentation style and love of subject will make this an interesting and educational evening.