Santa Maria Sun / School Scene

Learn how disasters shape our world

Disasters, both natural and man-made, affect human beings in many different ways, whether physically, emotionally, politically, economically, or a mix of all four.

The Friends of the Allan Hancock College Library is sponsoring a series of free lectures in October and November that focus on the consequences of such disasters from pre-history to the present.

Class participants will discuss the impact of the sinking of the Titanic, which is observing its 100th anniversary. Such events and society’s responses to them will be viewed through the lens of history, politics, film, and science. The class will also examine why some disasters captivate the world for so long, while others are barely remembered.

Faculty presenters will focus on the following disasters: the sinking of the Titanic, the 1926 Union Oil tank farm fire, the Point Honda maritime disaster, and the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, as well as other large-scale catastrophes in San Francisco and New Orleans, and up-to-date information on the ecological disaster that brought about dinosaur extinction.

Here’s a schedule of lectures:

• “The Calamities in Our Hearts: Disasters’ Place in History,” presented Friday, Oct. 12, by Roger Hall, associate professor of history.

• “The Political Consequences of Disasters,” presented Friday, Oct. 19, by John Ashbaugh, instructor of history and global studies.

• “Worst-Case Scenarios: Disaster and Disastrous Films,” presented Friday, Oct. 26, by Cheryl Weiss, fine arts instructor.

• “The Mother of All Disasters: Dinosaur Extinction,” presented Friday, Nov. 2, by Mick Bondello, professor of biology.

All lectures are held in the Santa Maria campus forum (bldg. C, room 40) beginning at 6:30 p.m. Registration and parking permits aren’t required.

For more information, call 922-6966, Ext. 3322.