Speakers Bureau

Keith Meldahl

Geology and Oceanography Instructor

Hard Road West: A Historic and Geologic Tour of the California Trail Talk description: In one of the greatest adventures in American history, overland emigrants during the gold rush of 1849-1853 crossed 2,000 miles of arid, rocky wilderness to get to California. The rivers, mountains and deserts that they crossed have a history as well – a geologic history that built the stage upon which the drama of our nation’s westward migration unfolded. Join MiraCosta College professor Keith Meldahl for a 2,000-mile tour of the historic overland emigrant trail to California, focusing on how geologic processes shaped the dramatic landscapes of the American West.
Rough Hewn Land: A Geologic Journey from California to the Rocky Mountains, book by Keith Meldahl. The book takes readers on a 1000-mile-long field trip back through more than 100 million years of deep time to explore America’s most spectacular and scientifically intriguing landscapes.

Taught in Geology Department at Oberlin College in Ohio
Professional training primarily in paleontology and historical geology
Conducts research on geologic history of the Gulf of California; has published research results in professional arth science journals