Environmental Education Speaker Series

Environmental communication scholars have asserted that despite the mounting ecological, social and political challenges caused by human-driven climate change, mainstream communication practices have largely constrained action by rendering an oddly depoliticized vision of environmental politics that places people in passive roles (Caravalho, van Wesser & Maeseele, 2017).

Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy, published in 2017 by Oregon State University Press, presents an illuminating portrait of the world's premier system for the protection of natural rivers. This book by award-winning author and photographer Tim Palmer reveals the history and essential policies of a unique program and showcases 160 spectacular color photos of designated rivers from all parts of the country.

Learn about the diverse and important roles played by Earth's Natural Recyclers in the environment, their significance to humans, and how we can utilize fungi to decompose waste, grow gourmet food and promote environmental restoration. Topics will include the mushroom life cycle, fungal ecology, bioremediation (healing toxic environments), mushrooms and health, and growing mycelia and mushrooms at home.

For the past 40 years, Wildlands Studies has taught undergraduate field programs and offers students the rare opportunity to join a backcountry study team as a working field associate. Programs take place on five different continents and fifteen different countries, they are nomadic by nature, evolving annually to match the latest environmental concerns of the region. Academically rigorous, each outdoor study program earns 5-15 quarter credits and features direct contact and instruction with PhD.

In late April 2018, the 35-year old eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i, underwent a radical change.  The locus of volcanic activity shifted from the Pu`u O`o and summit vents to the volcano’s Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ), where it erupted in the Leilani Estates subdivision.  Over the next several months, lava drained from the summit reservoir to the LERZ, where it consumed over 800 homes, destroyed the town of Kapoho, and added nearly 900 acres of new land to the island.  The draining of lava from the Kilauea summit area caused the summit caldera to undergo collaps

The Shannon Point Marine Center (SPMC) is Western Washington University’s marine laboratory in Anacortes, Washington.  It is the home base for five WWU faculty members and marine scientists who integrate their research in organismal biology and ecology, community and ecosystem ecology, and ocean and organismal chemistry with undergraduate and graduate level training.  Over a dozen other faculty from a variety of departments at WWU and their students also conduct research at the facility.

These seem like stressful times for the environment.  The climate is changing, but the government doesn’t want to act.  Regulations on air and water purity are being rolled back.  Preserved areas are being trimmed, and even the Endangered Species Act is, well, endangered. But fear not!  Our world is better today than in the past, and it will be even better in the future.  How can I be so sure?  This seminar will tell the story of inspirational conservationists of the past—people like Rachel Carson, Chico Mendes, Billy Frank Jr.

After more than a 70 year absence, wolves have returned to Washington State. They were hunted to extinction, but the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reported that in 2017 our state had at least 122 wolves distributed in 22 packs. As wolves continue reclaiming our wild areas, they bring change not only to our local ecosystems but also to our human culture. Where are these wolves and how are they surviving? How are they affecting the people in our state? How is our state managing these wolves?