Environmental Lecture Series Focusing on Latin America Begins Oct.3

This year is the 22nd annual Environmental Lecture Series. The theme this year is Environmental and Human Health in Latin America.  This regional focus complements the on-going College of Arts and Sciences Symposium (Engaging Latin America and the Caribbean), while provide perspectives from experts in human ecology, environmental and resource management policy, and scientific study related to specific environmental issues.

Village view of Tawahka village, Honduras (photo credit: Kendra McSweeney)

Our first speaker is Dr. Kendra McSweeney from Ohio State University.  Dr. McSweeney is a geographer and political ecologist specializing in the relationship between people and forests.  Her presentation on Drug-Trafficking and Deforestation in Latin America is based on 20+ years of research experience in Honduras.  For more details and photos, see CAS Symposium Blog.

Dr. McSweeney's presentation will be Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 pm in the Ronk Lecture Hall, COE. All Environmental Lectures are free and open to the public.  Information and updates on other presentations in this year's series can be found here.

• Nov. 7/ Dr. Geoff Dabelko--Environment, Peace, and Security: Lessons from Latin America
• Feb. 20/ Dr. Matt Venesky--Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife and their conservation challenges in the Neotropics
• Apr.3/ Dr. Amanda Rodewald--The intersection of coffee, communities, and conservation in Latin America

Volunteer Opportunities at Gorman Nature Center

Gorman Nature Center, Mansfield, OH

For students with an interest in the environment education and environmental issues, Gorman Nature Center in Mansfield, OH, is interested in new volunteers. 

GNC is “dedicated to education, enjoyment, and preservation of Richland County's natural areas and inhabitants.”  It features 150 acres of forests, fields, prairies, ponds and streams, and the Center provides over three miles of public trails. For many years, Professor Merrill Tawse has been running popular programs at GNC for kids of all ages.

Option 1: Director Jason Larson says they “are especially looking for students who would like to help us staff the building on weekends (or even during the week). These students would help to answer the phones, greet the public, etc., but they would also be able to work with our educational animals...showing them to the public, etc. …this would also involve cleaning tanks, filters, cages, etc.”

Option 2: GNC is also looking for volunteers “interested in helping with larger projects like trail maintenance, clearing of invasive species and such.”

And An Immediate Gratification Opportunity: In fact, GNC staff is hosting a big project this weekend at the center to remove invasive, alien species from the GNC fields and prairies.  Invasive plants are a real part of park and preserve management, so this is an opportunity for some valuable experience.

Anyone interested in any of these options is asked to contact Jason Larson at Gorman Nature Center (phone, email, and/or leave a message via Richland Count Park District Facebook page).

Updates on GNC events are kept current on the Facebook page.