Robert Hildebrand Interview with Nick Zentner

Filmed on March 23, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona.

[gregorygreene]

Love his attitude. "Come challenge me on my papers. I want to defend it." He's open minded and just wants to get to the truth as best we can.

[Rachel.]

WELL! THAT was INTERESTING. It's almost unbelievable to me that he has so much information in his brain, and remembers all of those connections. So much that is familiar. It is funny and sad that "science procedes one funeral at a time." Our first lesson as students was that scientific methods are paramount, but within each discipline ego, time and interest constraints prevent open minded consideration. I think this is a terrific learning experience and am having a blast being exposed to it all. Grateful. ❤🤟

[DesertPackrat]

I am humbled by this scholar’s vast knowledge. This is such a great interview.

[bricefranke]

I like this kind of format, where you learn about the theories and the people behind it. Great stuff.

[AvanaVana]

Wow. Thank you so much for doing this, Nick (and Bob). I have been paying attention to Hildebrand for a long time. It's so cool that he worked for Hoffman and was close to Moores, because I consider those two to be my "geological heroes". And in terms of Moores' work—I've always felt that he had the best intuitions for the Cordillera (coming out of his extensive field research), and Moores was really the progenitor of this microcontinent/ribbon continent explanation for the Cordillera that inspired Hildebrand, Johnston, Tikoff, et al. What I really like about Hildebrand is that he is not afraid to take on difficult and complicated problems. A lot of geologists—and I am not trying to slight anyone here—sort of just work with this myopic perspective, what you call the "postage stamp". Part of it is the way the academic environment is set up, where the scientists have to scale down their work to where they can only get funded for taking baby steps that are a sure thing, baby-steps that don't run the risk of biting off more than they can chew, something small enough where they can write a good paper or two on that little postage stamp with enough data to back it up. People are more likely to go for a sure thing, than chase after a big idea and maybe never get there. Scientists are under pressure these days to publish more and more to further their careers, and they can't afford to noodle on something this big. On top of that, it just requires an immense amount of research and a certain type of mind to have the kind of lateral thinking required to put it together.

But the net result of all of these little myopic perspectives means that no one still has figured out how they all fit together, and no one wants to push the status quo. So I really appreciate Hildebrand for having the courage to do this, and maybe only someone like him, as a relative outsider, who follows in the footsteps of giants like Hoffman and Moores, who were also big-picture, big-idea thinkers (Hoffman still is—I've loved catching him every week on Virtual Seminars in Precambrian Geology during the pandemic). And seeing this interview, I feel Hildebrand is a kindred spirit. When I heard him describe his reading habits and describe himself as a "sponge", and as a big-picture thinker, I felt it could have been me talking about myself. (Thanks for the "Origins" book recommendation, btw!) I'm also something of an outsider, a vinyl record collector, and have many interests.

Anyway, I don't know that Hildebrand is right about everything (as he said, all models are ultimately wrong), but I think he's definitely on to a lot, and I wish more people were paying attention to him. He is seriously underrated and under-respected. He mentioned Hoffman's work in the DNAG—I think what we need is a DCG "Decade of Cordilleran Geology", a well-funded big-picture study with someone like Hildebrand or Tikoff, or both of them, guiding the thing from the top and finally putting all these puzzle pieces together, like the DNAG or the Deep Carbon Observatory.

Was glad to hear Hildebrand mention Cin-Ty Lee, IMO another phenomenal geoscientist. Love his work on formation of continental crust and arc delamination/arclogites. Appreciated that he brought up the issues with the Omineca belt and the Sevier orogeny. People tend to either just take these events for granted or study them individually without connecting them to a larger story. I feel like I could go on and on about this, I was so excited to watch it. But all I will say, in the interests of not droning on and on: I was so happy to see this interview, and I will keep paying attention! Thanks again both Nick and Bob!

[kbob]

A true scientist. Thank you Prof. Zentner for an invaluable interview.

[johnagazim]

Truly a Renaissance Man. Thank you Nick for introducing us to this fascinating individual.

[johnschmitt]

I'd subscribe to the midnight covid sessions with Hildebrand and Tikoff podcast.

[grandparocky]

Great conversation to highlight how science collaborates for change and fact detection.

[jackiepeterson]

This was great! Thanks to both of you for a famous interview!! I'm beginning to wonder if Mr. Hildebrand isn't the Bretz of our time...

[sharonseal]

Anyone else here "cramming" before tomorrow mornings program with Bob? I am so excited to listen to these next two programs! I really understand SO MUCH MORE than I did 10 months ago. Thank you again Nick for preparing us a step at a time until these ideas are within the grasp of our ability to comprehend.

[cindyleehaddock]

Cool! More Tucson stuff! Thanks for this jam packed interview, and thanks for all the previous classes and talks, or this would have all gone totally over my head! 🤪 Thanks, Robert, for chatting with Nick and letting him pass it on to us!

[paulproctor]

Thanks Nick…always great learning new ideas!

[MGeofire]

Excellent! It will take a month to digest this interview--love, love, love it...

[deantheot]

Hey Nick, Glad you had a chance to chat with Mr. Hildebrand. He's a kick. Good interview. Thanks for taking a peek into the SW geology. Take care and look forward to your next.

[donpeterson]

Wonderful interview and discussion. What is great about your videos is while the first viewing is spectacular and one obtains a big delta in knowledge there are many things I don't recall or understand. Then I can go back and watch and/or listen and any time I hit something that generates a question, I can mash the pause button and go to any number of references or previous videos and get some info. Then once I have completed my reference checks go back to the original video and backtrack a bit and listen/watch again with more understanding. I am a two fingered typist so live sessions are not as important to me as is the ability to go back and review several times. I love being retired because I can devote most of my time to yard work, shop projects and learning about things that interest me. Learning is a life long activity and keeps the mind active. Thanks for a great video, Dr. Zentner. You are a special person. I'm 79 and I want to be like you when I grow up! ✌❤🙏🏼🖖

[gladysseaman]

Fascinating and challenging. This 79 yr.old has to go back to study to truly understand his ideas, and he motivated me to do so. I will watch this again as I am overwhelmed by so much new knowledge.

[carolwillett]

Bravo! Throughly enjoyed this interview.

[robertfarrimond]

Do I see a Basil Tikoff +Bob Hildebrand combined interview in store for us next winter?

[steveareno]

FANTASTIC Nick and Bob. And thanks Nick for getting me to the point where I can follow most of it.