Environmentalism

World-renowned ethologist and activist, Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace shared fascinating insights on her evolution from curious young girl to intrepid scientist to global icon, coinciding with the exhibition Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Jane Goodall at the Saint Louis Science Center. She shared inspiring details about her lifetime of advocating for the natural world and how each of us can use her reasons for hope to create a better future for people, animals, and the planet we share.

Shindell discussed the health, labor and agriculture benefits of climate change mitigation in the U.S. An expert on climate science and policy, he has testified on these issues before both houses of Congress, at the request of both parties, and has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications.

Peter Wyse Jackson is the president of the Missouri Botanical Garden and George Engelmann Professor of Botany at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Born in Kilkenny, Ireland, Wyse Jackson obtained a B.A. (Mod.) in botany and an M.A. from Trinity College Dublin, where he subsequently obtained a Ph.D. for work on the taxonomy of Irish Cruciferae.

As founding director of the Living Earth Collaborative, Losos seeks to marshal the might of three world-class organizations – the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the Saint Louis Zoo and Washington University, where he is the William H. Danforth Distinguished University Professor in Biology – into a collaboration that transcends geographic and political boundaries to conserve biodiversity and sustain life on Earth.

Bonner has been president and CEO of the Saint Louis Zoo since 2002; in 2009 he became the Dana Brown President and Chief Executive Officer.

On November 1, 2012 at 7 PM in Graham Chapel, prominent environmental author and advocate Bill McKibben talked about “350: The Most Important Number in the World.”

Joel Sartore is a man on a mission, and he’s running out of time. Like Noah, he’s obsessed with building an ark – the Photo Ark — a groundbreaking effort to document species before they disappear, and to get people to care while there’s still time.

WU professor of social work Gautam Yadama gave a presentation based on his book, Fires, Fuel and the Fate of 3 Billion,” in Anheuser-Busch Hall, Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom. Joining him in the audience question/answer segment was the book’s photographer, Mark Katzman.

As a journalist, Parenti has reported extensively from Afghanistan, Iraq, and various parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In addition to The Nation, Parenti’s articles have appeared in Fortune, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Middle East Report, London Review of Books, and Mother Jones.

The Compton/Ferguson lecture series, established decades ago with endowed funds to support programs covering topics in science, has ended its hiatus and is reappearing this fall under the title, Science Matters.