What the heck just happened? An hour ago I was watching a "how to" video on teaching my cat to use the toilet. I just finished an hour long geological lecture on basalt lava floods of the Pacific Northwest.

You Tube's algorithm randomly brought me here and now I'm happily binge watching. Very interesting content. Thank you.

I am in Australia but I can tell you all about the geology of the pacific north west. I started watching these lectures during Covid lockdown and really enjoy them. He is a great teacher.

This is as good as teaching gets. You can completely forget all the modern techno BS, literally all you need is a chalk board and chalk. If you have a teacher who 1) Knows his or her stuff, 2) Is absolutely passionate about it, 3) can tell a story. That is all you need. This guy is fantastic.

I'll never take for granted the fact that I can so easily access lectures like this.

This. This is what the internet was invented for. On a cold winter evening in Minnesota I can curl up with a relaxing beverage and see what The Great Algorithm at UKposts suggests for me. Tonight it was flood basalts in the pacific northwest. As I enjoy the lecture by the AMAZING Nick Zentner, in another window I periodically look up various things in Wikipedia as he mentions them. (The mass extinctions are fascinating!) I don't know how much of the details I'll retain, but I'm left with such a sense of awe and wonderment at our amazing planet and what "we" have learned through the countless hours of hard working geologists etc. being able to weave our billions of years of history into a compelling story. Huge thanks to Nick for making geology too interesting to pass up, and to CWU for providing this wonderful material to us for free!

Outstanding - I'm 84 and I never blinked for the whole video. I'm from Ireland, and we have a little bit of basalt columns too known as the Giant's Causeway.

This should be on television. Instead of Jersey Shore, Kardashians and all the other mindless bullshit that is litteraly destroying young peoples(and older) minds.

Being a truck driver in Washington, and an ex well driller, I've seen above and below the ground these basalt flows, and they always amaze me. In north Spokane thru Deer Park there is a silica sand formation under 200 to 300 feet of basalt with burnt cedar trees. The sand is loaded with water, and the wood so well preserved you can smell the cedar just like a fresh cut board. Amazing

I feel like my University failed me because my geology professors didn't care about engaging students or whether anything was really learned. If you weren't at the School of Mines (Golden CO) then why would you take a geology course anyway. They just assumed we were all idiots. The professors there killed my spirit. Thank you for the lecture. It reminded me why I fell in love with geology in the first place. I'd rather be in the field than working at a bank any day.

This guy is one of my favorite teachers, ever, even though I have never had him IRL, as my own teacher. Whenever UKposts guides me here I stay and I don’t even bother to look at the topic of his lecture at the moment, I just listen, and enjoy! Thanks for the amazing personality and lectures!!

Every now and then the UKposts algorithms pass something across your viewing. This was a absolute gem, I'm not a American but a Australian and I was taken in by the lecture, wit and enthusiasm. Man I would have loved to be in your classroom. Many thanks. Jeff Moore

If i had teachers like this, I would have enjoyed school.

Love this guy and his methods, plus the fact at the end, he welcomes anyone interested to come join a class. If I was in the area, I certainly would have taken him up. Thank you for real teaching. A lost art nowadays. Nick is a gem.

From one geologist to another, awesome presentation. What energy!

If there had been videos like this around when I was a kid in the 60s, I'd be a geologist now. That was very interesting and well presented. Thanks!

A wonderful lecture! As a truck driver I often wondered about these because I saw them for thousands and thousands of miles of driving and I finally understand what they are all about and my enjoyment will be more so to look for the Fissures. I look forward to listening to this these lectures in the future as well

When I first came to Oregon, I drove along the Columbia gorge and gazed in awe at the incredible basalt cliffs on either side of the river. I'd previously lived in places dominated by sedimentary rock, and seeing basalt, hundreds of feet high was a humbling and awe inspiring experience. I tried to conceive of the violence and scale of a lava flow that might generate that. I remember thinking, "no, this can't be. This must be some kind of original bedrock that's exposed somehow. There's no way you could have a lava flow like this." Then I drove a bit further and saw basalt atop metamorphic, layered rock. My jaw hit the floor. I'd been trying to grasp what I was seeing ever since. Thanks for explaining it to me finally.

This guy is awesome. Reminds me of my geometry teacher in high school, who would just walk in and start 'chatting' about things, life in general. Then in the last minutes of the class, Mr. Rowlands would suddenly switch to the math portion of the lesson, and tie it all in so incredibly elegant the the simple chat we had been having. Kudos to this guy, and Mr. Rowlands.

This was great! I'm so glad the uni recorded this and shared it with the public.

This is what teaching should be like. I wish I had this guy teaching me Geology.

I'm in England, northwest and stumbled on these lectures..watched a few now and I think they are great talks.

I am apparently very rich; having access to sources like this lecture enriches me :3

Ever since childhood, I have been fascinated by "pretty rocks". I am 75 now. I lived on a farm in the Willamette Valley just east of Lebanon. After watching these fun lectures, plus a few books about the region, I better understand what I was seeing. There was a hole that we called the quarry which contained water. Now, I think it was a vent hole. On that farm, there were tons of quartz, agates, thunder eggs, all over the fields so we could just pick them up. I have been lucky enough to travel through many areas discussed. Now I know that those "dinosaur backbones" were beautiful vent remains. So cool. Look forward to continuing to watch these shows. I went to school at Central, then Central Washington College in 1964 and was in the library during an earthquake when the building went east-west, then north-south. Thank you so much. I would love to come and visit Prof Zentner's class. He is a great teacher!

I recently found these lectures via UKposts serendipity. I am a Scot living in Scotland, but my husband is American and from Washington State. I can now appreciate his birthplace. Scotland isn't short of fascinating geology- my parents gave me a love of reading the landscape from an early age. Sadly my father is no longer with us, but my mother is also enjoying your lectures. If you ever get the chance- Scotland is a great place to explore. Thank you- we enjoy your style!

Great presentation. In 10,000 years, some future archaeologist will find that rock hammer and be able to say a lot about the lost civilization that once lived here.

You remind me of my old geology teacher. One of the few people who can talk about rocks for an hour and make it engaging.

As I sit here in the south of Britain on a blazing hot day, I find myself enthralled by this lecture! This was presented beautifully, and I wish I could have actually been there for the lecture as it happened. I consider it an absolute privilege to have watched this lecture, and I'd just like to say a big thank you for uploading it! Looks like I'll be binge-watching more of this now!

Nick Zentner is my Favorite teacher, of Northwest Geology.

Nick is so wonderful...he shares his vast knowledge with so much enthusiasm... a treasure... Thanks to the people who produce this fine series...

That was the most interesting video on Geology I've ever seen! I grew up in Southern New Jersey. When I moved out here to Springfield Oregon I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! Wish I'd taken an interest in Geology when I was younger.

I grew up in the Tri-Cities. I didn’t know anything about the geology of the area until I discovered the Roadside Geology series after I left college. Fascinating stuff! Nick, I have enjoyed watching your videos since I discovered them a month ago. The Teacher Company ought hire you to do a geology course of western North America. Geology, like history, can be boring or interesting, it just depends on the ability of the person telling the story. You are a good story teller.

Fantastic amount of knowledge displayed by Mr Nick Zentner about the beautiful region in our American West! Thank you,sir for sharing your videos free of charge to us

As soon as he said "it began 17 MYA", I knew Yellow Stone was involved. Only because I watched the vid about the gold deposits. I love this man's delivery style. Easy to listent to, easy to understand, and easy to remember a lot of it.

This is the kind of professor I would love to listen to, promptly get a C on his exam, and still go home happy.

'Organ Pipes' National Park, on the northwestern outskirts of Melbourne, Australia has a very similar feature - hexagonal basalt columns, a metre across and about 25 metres tall. Much of Melbourne's north and west, are a basaltic lava plain laid down in Australia's last major volcanic orogeny, about 25mya.

I like basalt! They are amazing ! There is a basalt formation in Dunsmuire CA called Hedge Creek Falls. The roof of the cave that the falls stream over befire spilling down as a falls, is basalt. To be able to stand under that roof and look up at the pillars of basalt is a marvelous experience!

I started watching these a few years ago, because they were interesting. Now, I’m planning my second trip to the area. Truly an amazing channel. 🤠

Over 4 years old and still brilliant in content AND explanation. In never get tired of watching this presentation.

Nice to see a lecture where the professor is willing to admit he/she is still learning as well. Just because you have a PhD doesn't mean you know everything. It means that you are good at learning.

Outstanding! It’s instructors like you that keep the next generation wanting to explore and learn more.

Shoot, I'm too old, mean and cranky now for picking up and going back to school here. This is an awesome lecture, my musician brain can handle this. Since I can't shoulda, woulda, coulda, I'm going to remember your name, Mr. Nick Zentner, and watch more of these just for the fun of it. I have already shared this with others.

Geology lecture meets standup comedy. Never thought I'd see that. Love it! Thanks for sharing!

An hour long you tube video seemed to pass in five minutes..... i know nothing about geology and I failed school but can’t remember the last time I payed so much attention to somebody talking about something I never had an interest in. I was wondering what I am going to do with my two week Christmas holiday and now I know I will spend it watching more about basalt volcanoes Thank you for sharing your talk

I think I have watched every one of your videos. You are AWESOME!!!!! Thank you sooo much for the education. Nothing is more entertaining to me, than learning. I appreciate your hard work, and thank you soooo much!

Your delivery is so engaging, an hour flies by in an instant!!

Wonderful, my son is studying to become a geologist and I've shared this gem with him.

A primo professor! Oh, what a teacher! Thank you!

Love your way of teaching. The energy shows. I dont have anything to do with Washington Geology or even USA Geology But I watched all your roadside Geology video and following up on these lectures. Amazing. Keep up the energy. and humor :D

The USGS has a great series of public talks like this.

I've ridden a bicycle around the world. It took three months to cross Russia. Since I'm really into science, I study a bit about the areas I'm going through. I remembered the Sibierian Traps as being a biggy in the history of the planet. Now there's a 1,000km wide swamp in that area of Russia. It also has Lake Baikal, an enormous rift lake, which I SCUBA dove in. It's so large it's practically an inland freshwater ocean. Even has seals, sponges and shrimp.

I learned more from this video than I did in 3 years of highschool. Thank you Nick!

My parents were both geologists so I know a lot of this, but you do a great job of bringing it all together and making it interesting. Excellent presentation.

I can imagine the look on a geologists face in 20 million years when he finds your hammer.

I started watching these geology lectures by Nick about 5 years ago. Somehow I always get sucked in by Nicks teaching style. As a trucker I know I can always turn on one of these lectures, and use them to rock me to sleep....pun intended. Thank you Nick and CWU. It's been very educational listening for so long now.

Having a professor with a sense of humor always helps to keep your attention. this guy is great at teaching.

Guy looks like he should be on a farm throwing hay bales around! What a lecture! And he opens up his lectures to anyone, you sir, are a legend!

Just stumbled upon these CWU lectures by Nick Zentner. The wife and I have been watching them every night for the last week. If I wasn't so old (I witnessed the Mt. Mazama eruption) I'd go back to school and study geology.

This is what teaching should look like. Humility to point out that which isn’t known, or has various possibilities, or is the best current hypothesis being included is the icing on the ‘German chocolate cake’!

Passion and excitement in teaching. Even my 8-year-old son likes to watch these presentations.

Nick, Thanks for sharing your love of PNW Geology. I really enjoy your lectures!

Only 5 minutes in, Watched most of your lectures about this stuff. Yet still learned some new stuff already! the next 55 minutes should be great.

These videos renewed my interest in geology and helped me work through my rather bothersome amphetamine habit

How is this man able to make geology this enjoyable

This guy does and incredible job with his public lectures and when I see him in a video I press play!!

Man I think it's pretty awesome that you let anyone come join your class like that. It'd be great for us older folk who don't really have time or money for actual courses but still enjoy some learning. Sorry about your hammer!

This video was recommended to me over a dozen times before I finally said "okay, fine UKposts. I'll watch it." And so far, it's a really good presentation on German Chocolate Cake!

Like Jeff who commented just down the list, I’m in Australia as well. This is probably the 4th or 5th of these videos that I have watched and I think that they are exceptional. Bringing knowledge to the people who want to learn for no reason other that to seek knowledge and presented in an outstanding manner. Thank you, I will be sure to watch more and if the world ever settles down enough to travel again I will certainly come visit, buy a burger at some of the roadhouses you mention and maybe even drop into what appears to be a fine University.

Learning about flood basalts is a good way to help stay sane in 2020!

Nick you are a boss, I am a simple HVAC techie with a shitload of wonder just moving up here from the deserts of AZ, and this level of passion speaks on many volumes, even without any prior basis in Geology in general. Keep the spirit alive on the academic front mate, cheers! Also, am I the only one sensing a strong "spirit of the Dodo" on your board drawings right from the start? ^.^ You got a new fan regardless!! Take care of yourself as well, as much as possible

His teaching style will educate those who arn't interested. Never monotone, crisp, clear and punctuated with humour. I opened this vid by accident and I'm still here watching his stuff 90 minutes later LOL!! Obviously he's paid attn to what doesnt work.

Hated math, social studies, but geology i found interesting even until this day ,this professor is fun to watch

I am 8 minutes in but I love this show. More to come.i am an amateur geologist and I've seen parts of Columbia River also and it has crossed my mind as to how those rocks were formed. Now I'm learning. Also more about a lot of other stuff.this guy knows his stuff.and funny.

Thanks Nick, this was a blast! I did not know either that there were pyroclastic deposits associated with the CRBs. I hope that the future generations will be able to retrieve your hammer.

Flood basalt, spatter; words that are stuck in my head forever.

I listened to this while waking up, and it was so fascinating I will have to watch it too.

What a fabulous lecture!

This is very interesting. I was raised and still live around George, Wa. I work for a water well drilling company based out of Moses Lake and I’ve always thought it was cool so see the geology underground down to 800’ or more. I’ve always felt like it’s a special opportunity to see geology that most people never get to see on a daily basis all across Central Washington. I also manage a crushed stone operation out of Royal City so I look at rock formations and deposits every day. It’s interesting to see this and correlate my own thoughts and ideas about what we see every day on the job. It’s amazing how many different formations are underneath us and often wonder how they got there.

I might have been a geologist if I had a professor like this all those years ago. Now I get to just enjoy wrapping my head around rocks I'll never see in Kentucky.

This is a BEYOND awesome lecture. Nick you present the information in such an intelligible way to non experts like me.

I truly enjoyed this! When I take my motorcycle trips through all those areas I feel like I'm stepping back in time. I truly enjoy all the fanciest flows in the French Glen, OR area. Thank you for this posting

I was lucky to have a professor like Nick Zentner....who made the topics in Geology 101 come alive. I was also lucky to grow up in San Bernardino, CA only a few miles from the San Andreas Fault system and lots of rock outcrops. These are the most likely reasons why I spent a 30 year career as a geologist. Some of the credit must also be given to my graduate school professors as well.....

What a great lecturer. What a fascinating story.

Fantastic lecture. Brilliantly delivered.

Very interesting subject. Great teacher ! I once had a botany professor that was so good I took every class he taught. It's so great to hear a knowledgeable opinion that all the media hype about Yellowstone is total BS.

If I lived out there, I'd definitely attend this professor's class. Always great to see someone in education who loves what they do. Thanks Mr. Zentner. Your are a fine educator, otherwise I wouldn't be living in Philly and enjoying a great talk on Flood Basalts of the Pacific Northwest.

I was lucky enough to have a few professors like this man in college. They were outstanding. Mind you, just a precious few.

Awesome explanation of our landscape in Eastern Washington

4 million years in the future, a new species roams the earth, and finds a rock hammer in the wrong layer of basalt. All of the scientific community are confused :D These presentations are fantastic, thank you!

I am not a geologist (or even close), but these lectures are wonderful! Anyone can understand the principles behind these eruptions and can view nature with different eyes! Thank you!

Excellent lecture by someone who truly knows how to engage and teach. Teaching isn't about pushing information it's about creating interest and passion. Future teachers and profs please take notes because this is how it should be done.

This was so interesting. It’s great to listen to someone who is passionate about his subject.

man I would love to attend his lectures!!! just awesome, and what a good instructor!

What a wonderful teacher. I LOVE his enthusiasm, bet the students can feel it. His students were SO lucky!

Watching the recent volcanic activity in Iceland brings visuals to what Nick is talking about 4 years ago but on an acutely smaller scale.

Chalk Boards and all, a very good and educational material. Thank you Sir, for your hard work. Great video.

I hate geology but wow what a good teacher . Know I want to learn more. I wish all teachers were this good.

thank you youtube, this is the best unexpected video I needed to see today.

In Ireland: The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills.

Thank you Nick......great lecture. Love your enthusiasm and delivery style.