“Engaging the Public in Natural History Conservation”
October 27, 2017
Moderator: Dr. Erin Peters–assistant curator of science and research at Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Panelists: Stephanie Arne–host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom
Beka Economopoulos–cofounder of Not An Alternative
Emily Graslie–host of The Field Museum’s The Brain Scoop
Lynn Johnson–internationally acclaimed photographer
With so much of the global environment in peril, public action is at both the root of the cause and the basis of efforts to protect it. Any serious attempt at affecting a positive, broad-scale environmental change must therefore involve engaging the public. This very special event will feature four nationally important figures on this important topic, sharing their experiences and inspiring us with their passion for sparking a larger conversation about conservation.
“Natural History in a World After Truth?”
October 28, 2017
Moderator: Dr. Emlyn Koster–director of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and a board member of ICOM’s Committee on Museums and Collections of Natural History
Panelists: Dr. Kirk Johnson–director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History
Dr. Douglas Jones–director of the Florida Museum of Natural History and president of the American Alliance of Museums
Dr. Christian Koeberl–professor of impact research and planetary geology at the University of Vienna, Austria and director general of the Natural History Museum in Vienna
Larry Schweiger–president and CEO of PennFuture
How should we as natural historians phrase our messages when science as a discipline is coming into question? This panel of highly distinguished thinkers will explore the challenges and opportunities of conducting research and conserving natural heritage in a world where scientific observation must fight for credibility with social media, while the planet and its ecosystems are becoming increasingly imperiled. What are the roles, potentials, and constraints for natural history museums and for conservation in general over the next decades?
