Parks Talk: Chasing Magma
Event Highlights:
Date: September 19th, 2026
Location: The Shedd Institute
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Light snacks and drinks provided
– Live talk with National Geographic Explorer & Geophysicist Dr. Jeffery B. Johnson
– Discover the science behind some of Earth’s most powerful natural forces
– Connect with fellow parks, nature, and outdoor enthusiasts
– Featuring Eugene Parks Foundation project updates and exciting upcoming opportunities
Parks Talk Event:
Spend an evening with Eugene Parks Foundation for good food, local connection, and a look at the science and adventure behind volcano research around the world. Guests are invited to arrive at 5:30pm for appetizers, drinks, and time to gather before the program begins.
At 6pm, we’ll begin with updates from Eugene Parks Foundation, including a look at active parks projects and a preview of what’s coming next. From there, we’ll settle in for the featured talk with Dr. Jeffrey B. Johnson.
In Chasing Magma: Field Work and Volcano Science From Around the World, National Geographic explorer, Dr. Jeffery B. Johnson, will take guests on a tour of active volcanoes across all seven continents, sharing stories from the field and the science behind some of Earth’s most powerful natural forces. From lava lakes and lava flows to explosive eruptions and catastrophic debris flows, the talk will explore how Dr. Johnson and his colleagues study volcanoes up close and what those observations can teach us about how volcanos actually work.
Whether you’re already connected to Eugene Parks Foundation or simply curious about adventure, science, and the natural world, we’d love to see you there.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Jeffery B. Johnson
Jeffrey Johnson climbs and studies volcanoes all over the world. Johnson’s primary research is focused on actively exploding or effusing volcanoes, where he takes measurements of earthquakes, sound waves, deformation signals, thermal and gas flux, and flies drones around craters. As a specialist in expedition-based data collection, he often blurs the line between scientist and field adventure. He is a professor of geophysics at Boise State University where he manages a group of graduate and undergraduate students who design and build sensors for volcanoes.