Science Café Las Vegas, supported by the UNLV College of Sciences, is an organization geared towards bringing fascinating science discussions to the public of Southern Nevada.

We invite scientists to give short (~10-15 minute) presentations to the public at our fantastic venue, McMullan's Irish Pub, and then have roundtable discussions about anything you could possibly wish to know.

Science Café Las Vegas is on the first Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8 p.m.

Come on down to the pub for lively science discussion, delicious brews, fantastic food, and a great time! Family friendly (under age 21 allowed).

Erin E. Donaghy, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas -Geoscience Department  

"How Ancient Sedimentary Basins Record Earth’s Past History of Tectonic Events"  

Regional tectonic events, such as mountain-building or extensional faulting, have a profound effect on their surrounding geology and landscape. Although we can directly observe these events today, geologists can study the rates at which similar events occurred in the geologic past to better understand and predict the behavior of modern systems. One way to approach this problem is through the study of sedimentary rocks, as ancient sedimentary basins are excellent recorders of Earth’s large-scale tectonic processes. To study ancient sedimentary basins, a combination of field- and lab-based analytical techniques are used to document the spatial and temporal variations in ancient depositional environments, sediment routing systems, paleogeography, and paleoclimate. Significant changes in these variables are often linked to large-scale tectonic events.

McMullan's Irish Pub

4650 W. Tropicana Ave. #110
Las Vegas, NV 89103
702-247-7000