EARTHx
Some of the best talks on the planet
You are invited!
Join us for EARTHx, a series of talks by best-in-class speakers making a difference in their fields. No matter your age or level of expertise, these talks are for everyone. Whether you want to participate in person or online, we invite you to get inspired by our great lineup.
Philanthropic Supporters behind the Series:
This year's EARTHx series is possible due to a generous philanthropic contribution from the Gallagher family. Legendary oilman and geologist Jack Gallagher was a dedicated supporter of UCalgary, and his sons Thomas, Frederick and James have continued this tradition of generosity. The Gallagher family has also established the Gallagher Library, the Gallagher Fellowship in Geoscience, and many other university initiatives for more than 40 years. We thank the family for their continued support and contributions to UCalgary.
Contact us
If you would like to receive information about the EARTHx Series, please email scialumni@ucalgary.ca and ask to be included on the Faculty of Science events and communications list.
Exploring Martian Geology with Dr. Ben Tutolo
Join us at the Seaton Y for one of two engaging EARTHx presentations by Dr. Ben Tutolo. Our after-school talk is designed for young space enthusiasts who want to learn more about Mars. Our evening event is research-focused and will discuss how a recent discovery in the Gale Crater, Mars has revised our understanding of Martian habitability. Register for one or both opportunities to learn more.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Event 1: Exploring Martian Geology for Signs of the Potential for Life
(After school talk)
Bring your curiosity, come ready to ask big questions, and share your enthusiasm as we journey into the science of Mars together! Join Dr. Tutolo for an interactive presentation exploring recent discoveries hidden in Martian rocks and what these findings might mean for the planet’s potential to have once supported life.
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Doors Open: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
- NEW Location: Evan Hazell Theatre at Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton
- Address: 4995 Market Street SE
Event 2: Exploring Martian Geology to Understand How Planets Sustain Life
(Research focused event)
Our neighboring planet, Mars, offers a stark contrast to Earth. While Earth has remained habitable and indeed inhabited for nearly all of its 4.5 billion year history, Mars apparently transitioned to a desert planet early in its history. In this presentation, Dr. Tutolo will discuss how our recent, surprising discovery of sedimentary carbonate minerals in Gale Crater, Mars has revised our understanding of the fate of Martian habitability, and what this means for the planet’s potential for having originated life.
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Doors Open: 6:00 p.m.
- Lecture and Livestream: 7:00 p.m.
- NEW Location: Evan Hazell Theatre at Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton
- Address: 4995 Market Street SE
Our Speaker
Dr. Benjamin Tutolo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment at the University of Calgary and a Canadian leader in the field of geochemistry. His pioneering investigations of water-rock interactions on Earth and Mars have provided fundamental insight into the relationships between geologic processes, planetary habitability, and life. His innovative approach to research has also yielded breakthroughs in our understanding of nature-based climate change solutions. He has been a Participating Scientist on NASA’s Curiosity Rover mission to Mars since 2021.
EARTHx and Tom Oliver Lecture Series Are Teaming Up - Explore Before the Roar
There’s something for everyone at this month’s event. Plan to come early and explore the latest student research projects, sign-up for a lab tour, or try a hands on activity. Then, stay for the roar and hear from Dr. Kirstin Brink who will share new insights into the life and death of the "King of the Lizards."
Kirstin Brink
When T. rex Had a Toothache
Pathologies and Paleobiology of the King
Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the most iconic and well-known theropod dinosaurs, represented by an impressive fossil record including SUE, one of the best-preserved specimens known to date. SUE preserves intriguing pathological features, including broken and healed bones and evidence of bone infections. Several holes in the lower jaw have been interpreted as being caused by a parasitic infection. Ultimately, it is unknown what caused the demise of SUE. In this presentation, we will examine a new piece of evidence, some deformed teeth, and consider new soft-tissue reconstructions of the face of theropod dinosaurs. Together, this information offers new insights into the life and death of the “King of the Lizards”.
Date/Time:
- Thursday, October 2, 2025
- 5:00 - 6:45 p.m. Student Research Posters*, lab tours and hands-on activities
- 7:00 p.m. Lives-stream and lecture begin
Location: EEEL Lobby
*Student research poster session is supported by the Tom Oliver Lecture Series.
Recording of event will be available soon!
Our Speaker
Dr. Kirstin Brink is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Manitoba and Adjunct Curator of Fossil Vertebrates at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden, Manitoba. She is a vertebrate palaeontologist interested in the evolution and development of teeth and bones, and how teeth give clues to the way extinct animals interacted with their environments. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta, her Master’s degree at the University of Calgary, her PhD at the University of Toronto, and was a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of British Columbia. Ongoing projects in the lab involve dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and living animal models (green anoles and fish). Her lab uses a variety of microscopy, histology, and geochemical methods to reconstruct the past diversity and ecology of life in the fossil record.
“The series is excellent and provides a good variety of speakers and subjects to keep it very interesting and give a good overview of what is happening in the scientific world. It also helps me keep up to date with what is going on in the world. It is one of the very few good things happening in the world these days. Thank you.”
Attendee from January 2020 lecture by Dr. Barbara Sherwood Lollar