It's (Probably) Not Rocket Science show logo

A Geological Timeline of the Grand Canyon

Season 2
Episode #7
Spotify logo

The Grand Canyon is beautiful, no matter what rim you see it from, but its history is even more mesmerizing. How the canyon was formed, how old the rocks are, and what the layers mean inside only make the national park more fascinating. In this episode, we hear from two UNM Distinguished Professors, Laura Crossey and Karl Karlstrom, experts on the Grand Canyon who are essentially rewriting textbooks with their new research on the beloved national treasure. To help better understand the concept of time, Karlstrom and Crossey created a geological timeline exhibit at the Grand Canyon for visitors young and old to walk nearly 2 billion years of Canyon history while getting up close and personal to the rocks inside of it.

Learn more about the Grand Canyon’s exhibit, Trail of Time.

About Our Guest(s)

Laura Crossey

Laura Crossey is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at The University of New Mexico. Her research focuses on aqueous and sedimentary geochemistry, which combines field examination of modern environments. Her other activities include geoscience and K-12 outreach, as well as programs to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the science disciplines.

Karl Karlstrom

Karl Karlstrom is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at The University of New Mexico. His research focuses on structural geology and tectonics with interests in field and analytical studies of ductile rock deformation and Grand Canyon geology and outreach.

Hosted by UCAM's Alexa Skonieski

Carly Bowling headshot

From podcast listener to podcast host, Alexa Skonieski is a university communication representative on The University of New Mexico’s Communication and Marketing team (UCAM). She’s thrilled to spread the word on important research coming out of UNM, New Mexico’s flagship university. In addition to producing It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science, she writes stories and creates videos for the UNM Newsroom, the university’s official communication platform.

Skonieski is a graduate of Central Michigan University’s School of Communication, Journalism, and Media (’19). She is a former news reporter/anchor who worked at TV stations in Michigan, Nebraska, and most recently in New Mexico at KRQE News 13, where she won a New Mexico Broadcasters Association award. She is passionate about academic research and wants its topics to be understandable and accessible to everyone. People should know the important role UNM plays. She hopes you’ll subscribe to the show and follow along!