The Department of Earth Sciences presents a special edition of the K.D. Nelson Lecture Series, the Chauncey D. Holmes Lecture and Award Ceremony, featuring guest speaker Christopher Scotese. Dr. Scotese retired from teaching at the University of Texas, Arlington, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in 2013.  He is now a Research Associate at the Field Museum of Natural History and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern University.  He continues to collaborate with several research groups on topics concerning the history of the Earth System, but his main focus is a book entitled: “Earth History, the Evolution of the Earth System”. He is the co-author of more than 100 scientific publications, and his maps and animations have been used in numerous geological textbooks, scientific research papers, and are on display in museums worldwide.