Professor and former NOAA scientist Bruce Parker examines the violent impact of the seas on human society, and our long struggle to understand them. Parker begins with an exploration of tidal forces and their role in major historical events, from the parting of the Red Sea to D-Day. He moves on to hurricanes, rogue waves, and tsunamis, ending with the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and following tsunamis that killed more than 225,000 people. Along the way, he documents the slow growth of scientific knowledge that gives us a chance to predict and prepare for potential disasters. Parker has published more than a hundred papers and articles and written or edited several books. Free for members, $5 for non-members.