Colorado Scientific Society 2025 Past Presidents’ Dinner and Program
Thursday, September 18, 2025
This is also the Colorado Scientific Society’s September meeting.
Dinner and presentation at the Mount Vernon Canyon Club
24933 Clubhouse Circle, Golden, CO 80401
(on Lookout Mtn., off I-70)
We are in the Aspen Room on the top floor, which is accessed by both stairs and an elevator.
Social Time 5:30 pm
Dinner Service 7:00 pm
Program 8:00-9:00 pm
Everyone is welcome.
Menu
Cash Bar
Dinner Buffet
$65 regular
$30 student
Mixed Green (GF) & Peach Panzanella Salads
Colorado Pan-Seared Chicken (GF)
Figgy Piggy (GF)
Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes (GF)
Bistro Seasonal Vegetables (GF)
Rolls with Butter
Assorted cup cakes
Coffee, Hot Tea, Iced Tea
[Vegetarian plates available]
Make your dinner reservations below.
The presentation will also be available via Zoom.
The link to join the Zoom meeting will be posted here later.
Tarryall Valley: Gold, Glaciers, and Giants
Mark S. Hanson, Senior geologist and historian
Tarryall Valley: Gold, Glaciers, and Giants – a 160-year history of the miners, mines, cabins, and the resulting patina on today’s Tarryall Valley of Colorado’s Front Range. A resident and owner of several patented gold claims, Mark will discuss the geology, economic resources, exploitation, and reforestation activities associated with Colorado’s first gold stampede.
Flyer for 2025 Colorado Scientific Society Past Presidents’ Dinner
You are not required to purchase dinner in order to attend the presentation.
Aspen room
Past Presidents at the 2022 Past Presidents Dinner
from bottom left: Lisa Fisher 2011, Marith Reheis 2017, Barney Poole 1990, Jim Cappa 2003; second row: Ned Sterne 2022, Karl Kellogg 1997, Cal Ruleman 2023, Pete Modreski 2012; third row: Bob Raynolds 2018, Bill Nesse 2007, Jim Paces 2020; fourth row: Matt Sares 2013, Scott Minor 2010, Tom Casadevall 2019See over 140 years of Colorado Scientific Society Past Presidents.
Colorado Scientific Society Emmons Lecture
The S.F. Emmons Lecture, which began in 1962, is a highlight of the Colorado Scientific Society’s activities and contributes not only to our standing in the scientific community but to the intellectual growth of our members and colleagues. The series is named in honor of the Society’s founder, S.F. Emmons. The lectures feature speakers that are recognized nationally or internationally as being at the forefront of research in some important facet of the earth sciences.
CSS April Meeting and Emmons Lecture
Tales from the Field:
Using Modern Earth to Assess Life on Ancient Mars
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Brian Hynek, Department of Geological Sciences and Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado
This meeting was held at Calvary Church Golden.
Abstract: After two decades of intense exploration, it is clear that ancient Mars met all the requirements to support microbial life for at least 100s of millions of years. This includes an active hydrologic cycle hosting rivers, lakes, and potentially an ocean. We have also found many “dried up Yellowstones” on Mars and these are crucial habitats since most scientists believe that Earth’s life originated in similar settings and at a similar time in the planet’s history. One way to learn about ancient environments on Mars and the microbes that might have lived there is to study analogous environments on modern Earth. I will talk about some of my recent work from around the world that have detailed some of Earth’s most extreme environments including expeditions to the world’s tallest active volcano, hypersaline alkaline lakes in Tanzania, steaming lava fields in Iceland, boiling acid lakes in Costa Rica, and high-altitude salty lagoons in the high Argentinian desert. Remarkably, most all of these extreme settings host microbial ecosystems. I will discuss our current understanding of ancient Mars and how Earth life’s remarkable resiliency makes the likelihood of past microbial life on Mars quite likely.
A unique ecosystem in an inhospitable desert
Deep within Argentina’s Puna de Atacama, a desert more than 12,000 feet above sea level, a previously undocumented ecosystem could provide scientists with a window to life 3.5 billion years ago. These lagoons surrounded by salt flats are home to microbial communities called stromatolites, which grow alongside minerals to create unusual rock formations over time.
CU Media put together a nice drone video montage that you can view from here:
https://vimeo.com/891536538/268ef5428f?share=copy
Bio: Dr. Brian M. Hynek is Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences and Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. He has spent the last 25 years studying Mars and its potential to host past life. Brian is a world expert on the study of modern terrestrial analogs to understand geological processes that operated on early Mars and the Moon, with recent field-based projects spanning five continents. He has worked extensively with NASA, conducting mission simulations in preparation for robotic and human exploration of the Moon and Mars. Brian has published over 80 peer-reviewed scientific papers, multiple book chapters, and hundreds of conference abstracts.
View Zoom recording of Using Modern Earth to Assess Life on Ancient Mars
Watching this video is best in full screen. (It may sharpen up images.)
No passcode is needed to access this recording. Just click on the video.
Duration: 01:05:52
DISCLAIMER and FAIR-USE STATEMENT: The following Zoom-meeting recording contains content that expresses the opinions, viewpoints, and conclusions of the speakers and does not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or endorsements of the Colorado Scientific Society. This recording is made available to the public for general information and educational purposes only and is not intended to be used for profit. Any use of copyrighted material included therein for other purposes must obtain express written permission from the author.
