Adult Lecture Series

A volcano erupts in Indonesia in 1815, and a year later, Mary Shelley writes Frankenstein. Discover how climate chaos helped spark one of literature’s most enduring monsters.

Dr. Daniel Horns is a Professor of Geology and Dean of the College of Science at Utah Valley University. As Dean, Horns is committed to creating inclusive pathways for students of all backgrounds to engage in the sciences and succeed. In his teaching and research, Horns highlights the profound connection between Earth’s geologic forces and human history, how civilizations depend on the Earth’s resources, and how natural hazards like volcanoes and earthquakes shape the course of societies. With a passion for science communication, Horns brings the dramatic story of Tambora’s eruption and Mary Shelley’s creation to life, inviting us to see geology not just as rock and ash, but as a catalyst for imagination, fear, and myth.

Halloween’s roots trace back to the ancient Celts. Explore the creatures, customs, and traditions that shaped the holiday we know today.

Dr. John S. Ellis is a professor of history at the University of Michigan-Flint. Trained at Aberystwyth University and Boston College, he is a scholar of Celtic studies and national identity in the British Isles. Ellis' work includes Investiture: Royal Ceremony and National Identity in Wales, 1911-1969 (2008) and a literary biography of the Welsh nationalist and author Owen Rhoscomyl (2017).