Special Tate Talk May 12 looks at ‘Utilizing Geology to Mitigate Climate Change’
Kirsten Nicolaysen, Ph.D., a geology professor at Whitman College, will present “Utilizing Geology to Mitigate Climate Change” at the Tate Geological Museum on May 12, 2026. Nicolaysen, a central Wyoming native, will discuss sequestering carbon dioxide using the mineral olivine. (Casper College image)
A special May Tate Talk, “Utilizing Geology to Mitigate Climate Change,” will be presented by Kirsten Nicolaysen, Ph.D., professor of geology at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. The talk will be held at the Tate Geological Museum on Tuesday, May 12, at 6 p.m.
Nicolaysen will be looking at the “… possibility of adding small amounts of the mineral olivine during engineered beach restoration projects to sequester the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by speeding up naturally occurring reactions that will lock it away from the atmosphere.”
Nicolaysen grew up in central Wyoming on a sheep and cattle ranch. Spending much of her time outdoors, she developed an interest in geology. She received her bachelor’s in geology from Colorado College, her master’s degree in geology from the University of Wyoming, and her doctorate in geochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Nicolaysen’s talk is free and open to all and will be live at the Tate or available to watch on the museum’s Facebook page. The Tate Geological Museum is located at the southern end of the Casper College campus, near the T. rex sculpture.
At a Glance:
- Event Focus: Utilizing geology and the mineral olivine to sequester carbon dioxide during beach restoration.
- Key Participants: Kirsten Nicolaysen, Ph.D., professor of geology at Whitman College.
- Logistics: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Tate Geological Museum at Casper College, or via Facebook Live.
- Admission: Free and open to the public.