Professor Karl Karlstrom has spent a lifetime studying rocks, including the 277-mile long natural wonder of the world, the Grand Canyon. He will give a lecture at the University of Nevada, Reno's Discover Science Lecture Series at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19.

His lecture will be about the 140-year long debate about the origin and age of the mile-deep canyon with its billions of years of geologic history exposed by the Colorado River.

Karlstrom is on the faculty in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico and is a foremost expert on the geologic evolution of the Grand Canyon.

Now in its sixth year, the annual Discover Science Lecture Series brings renowned scientists and science lecturers from around the country to share their knowledge with the community.

"The College of Science celebrates living a life of discovery," Jeff Thompson, dean of the College of Science, said. "With the lecture series, we want our community to experience the extent of the universe through science as some of the best scientists on the planet visit Nevada and tell their stories."

Other speakers scheduled for the Discover Science Lecture Series David Quammen, science author, Feb. 4; Paul Alan Cox, ethnomedicine expert, March 10; and Bob Williams, Hubble Space Telescope project leader, April 21.

The Karlstrom lecture will be held at 7 p.m. in the Redfield Auditorium in the Davidson Mathematics and Science Center on the University campus. Parking is reserved for the event on the top level of the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex on North Virginia Street. Admission is free.