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Posted on 04/29/2025
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ONLINE - The Life and Legacy of David Johnston; Gifts of Discovery and Understanding
Monday, April 27, 2020 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: https://www.facebook.com/mshinstitute/
Description: This event will be held via Facebook live stream. Simply log onto our page at 6 PM to participate. A Facebook account is not required to watch this broadcast.
https://www.facebook.com/mshinstitute/
Event begins at 6:00 PM PDT.
BYOB
Suggested donation $10
The Life and Legacy of David Johnston; Gifts of Discovery and Understanding with Melanie Holmes and Jeff Renner
A Hero on Mount St. Helens: The Life and Legacy of David A. Johnston (UIP, 2019)
Melanie Holmes
The 1980 eruption killed 57 people, including USGS team member Dr. David Johnston. In spring 1980 when the mountain awoke from dormancy, the science of volcanology was still comparatively young. In the ensuing days, months, and years, Mount St. Helens became the most-studied volcano in history. But who are the people who study one of nature’s most dangerous sciences? Holmes writes about Johnston, an Illinois boy who grew up to study volcanoes, in a way that frames him in the context of the time period in which he came of age—as volcanology was about to experience a growth spurt—and she connects common attributes of volcanologists everywhere. They are not reckless adrenaline junkies; rather, they are curious people who take calculated risks in order to advance a science they love. Most scientists toil in obscurity unless a large event plunges them into the limelight, as happened with Johnston in 1980. He died in the line of duty as he endeavored to protect those close to the mountain. Holmes tells about the son, the brother, the friend, who lived 30 years and 5 months to the day.
Melanie Holmes is a Chicago-based author of three nonfiction books, and recipient of a 2014 Global Media Award from the Population Institution in Washington, DC.
Translating the Legacy of the 1980 Eruption into Action Today
Jeff Renner
The eruption of Mount St. Helens was the biggest natural disaster in the history of the Pacific Northwest; reshaping both the physical and emotional landscape of everyone who lived through it. Renner entered the experience as a science journalist and broadcaster; and he was left with tough lessons born of near-death encounters and the loss of colleagues. These life-altering challenges led to personal transformation, and Renner has endeavored to help transform others through his Emmy-award winning career as a science journalist, broadcaster, explorer, scientist, and author. Renner’s audiences are enriched by concrete steps to transform risk aversion, decision fatigue, and burnout into confident performances, resilient team relationships, and the willingness to pursue bigger dreams. Join Renner for this talk as he extrapolates what he has learned into lessons for today’s landscape, including the current pandemic.
Jeff Renner is a Seattle-based retired journalist with an active speaking and consulting business; he is also executive producer and host of a public affairs tv program, Challenge 2.0.
https://www.facebook.com/mshinstitute/
Event begins at 6:00 PM PDT.
BYOB
Suggested donation $10
The Life and Legacy of David Johnston; Gifts of Discovery and Understanding with Melanie Holmes and Jeff Renner
A Hero on Mount St. Helens: The Life and Legacy of David A. Johnston (UIP, 2019)
Melanie Holmes
The 1980 eruption killed 57 people, including USGS team member Dr. David Johnston. In spring 1980 when the mountain awoke from dormancy, the science of volcanology was still comparatively young. In the ensuing days, months, and years, Mount St. Helens became the most-studied volcano in history. But who are the people who study one of nature’s most dangerous sciences? Holmes writes about Johnston, an Illinois boy who grew up to study volcanoes, in a way that frames him in the context of the time period in which he came of age—as volcanology was about to experience a growth spurt—and she connects common attributes of volcanologists everywhere. They are not reckless adrenaline junkies; rather, they are curious people who take calculated risks in order to advance a science they love. Most scientists toil in obscurity unless a large event plunges them into the limelight, as happened with Johnston in 1980. He died in the line of duty as he endeavored to protect those close to the mountain. Holmes tells about the son, the brother, the friend, who lived 30 years and 5 months to the day.
Melanie Holmes is a Chicago-based author of three nonfiction books, and recipient of a 2014 Global Media Award from the Population Institution in Washington, DC.
Translating the Legacy of the 1980 Eruption into Action Today
Jeff Renner
The eruption of Mount St. Helens was the biggest natural disaster in the history of the Pacific Northwest; reshaping both the physical and emotional landscape of everyone who lived through it. Renner entered the experience as a science journalist and broadcaster; and he was left with tough lessons born of near-death encounters and the loss of colleagues. These life-altering challenges led to personal transformation, and Renner has endeavored to help transform others through his Emmy-award winning career as a science journalist, broadcaster, explorer, scientist, and author. Renner’s audiences are enriched by concrete steps to transform risk aversion, decision fatigue, and burnout into confident performances, resilient team relationships, and the willingness to pursue bigger dreams. Join Renner for this talk as he extrapolates what he has learned into lessons for today’s landscape, including the current pandemic.
Jeff Renner is a Seattle-based retired journalist with an active speaking and consulting business; he is also executive producer and host of a public affairs tv program, Challenge 2.0.