ASU Presents “Switch” This Wednesday

Angelo State University’s Department of Physics and Geosciences will present a screening of the documentary film “Switch” this Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the ASU Planetarium located in the Vincent Nursing-Physical Science Building, 2333 Vanderventer St.
The screening will begin at 7 p.m. in the Planetarium and is open free to the public.  Produced by acclaimed documentarian Harry Lynch and hosted by Dr. Scott Tinker, director of the Bureau of Economic Geology and state geologist of Texas, “Switch” is a nonpartisan effort designed to unite diverse audiences in a shared understanding of energy.  The documentary was first screened at ASU in April and was well received by an audience of more than 500 viewers.

In “Switch,” Tinker travels the world, exploring leading energy sites from coal to solar and from oil to bio-fuels, most of them highly restricted and never before seen on film.  He seeks the truth from the international leaders of government, industry and academia.  In the end, he cuts through the confusion to discover a path to our energy future as surprising as it is practical.  The film also offers answers to important energy questions about fracking and water pollution, the potential dangers of nuclear energy, coal and pollution, and renewable power for the future.

“Switch” is being presented as part of the Geological Society of America’s (GSA) Switch Energy Awareness and Efficiency Program, and is sponsored by leading U.S. geology organizations and the Verizon Foundation.  Local sponsors for the ASU screening are Oran H. “Trey” Berry III, McCammon Oil & Gas Inc, Randal Ross Consulting, the San Angelo Geological Society and Bruce Swartz.

The documentary and the GSA program are both part of the Switch Energy Project, a multi-pronged effort to build a global understanding of energy.  The overall project was created by Arcos Films and includes a website that features more than 300 videos on energy topics and an education program of videos and curricula co-developed with NEED.org and the American Geological Institute.

ASU offers a Bachelor of Science program in geosciences and/or a minor in earth science.  Expert faculty lead courses in structural geology, hydrogeology, petrology, volcanology, geophysics, geographic information systems, stratigraphy, planetary geology and geomorphology.

For more information, call ASU geosciences faculty Dr. Joe Satterfield at 325-486-6766 or Dr. James Ward at 325-486-6767.  More details on the Switch Energy Project are available online at www.switchenergyproject.com.