Environmental Studies

“Ecosystem management, resilience and resistance. When are our mistakes reversible and how do we avoid making them?” by Dr. Indy Burke, Carl W. Knobloch, Jr, Dean, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Professor of Ecosystem Science.

“The Interspecies Dance: Confrontation and Choreography with the Animal World” by Karima Borni, Scholar in Residence, Dance Program, Middlebury College

This talk explores the process of communication with non-human species using physical listening, spatial awareness and corporeal clarity in order to develop a shared language of movement. Further, the inquiry examines how this practice can impact our embodiment of the human form as dancers, and how this can lead to a more effective choreographic encounter between ourselves and “others.”

“Living on the Wind: The World of Migratory Birds” by Scott Weidensaul, Writer and Researcher.

“Hopes Echo: Learning an Extinct Birdsong for Ecosphere Healing” by Julianne Warren, Writer, Climate Justice Community Organizer, and Fellow, Center for Humans and Nature.

“Thoreau, Katahdin, the Penobscot People and the Maine Woods” by Huey, Independent filmmaker, Portland, ME.

Huey will talk about making films and show clips from his documentary films on environmental issues including his most recent film, Henry David Thoreau: Surveyor of the Soul. His films on Katahdin and Thoreau feature Penobscots discussing their views on the environment, spirituality in nature, and Thoreau’s representation of Penobscots in his book, The Maine Woods.

MIDD-ES STUDENT REFLECTIONS ON LEARNING
Study Away Experiences

“Fighting Dirty Energy: Are We Losing On Climate Because We’re Only Fighting Half the Battle?” by Theo Spencer ‘88, Senior Policy Advocate, Dirty Energy Team, Nature Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The vast majority of money and people power in the fight against global warming has gone into cutting down on what comes out of power plants and vehicles, not what goes into them. That’s a problem we need to fix.

MIDD-ES CORE PANEL DISCUSSION
Pondering Pollutants
Molly Costanza-Robinson, Professor of Environmental Studies and Chemistry and Biochemistry
Rebecca Gould, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
Joseph Holler, Assistant Professor of Geography
Christopher Klyza, Stafford Professor of Public Policy, Political Science, and Environmental Studies

“Negotiating a Relationship with Beauty During a Time of Environmental Degradation” by Megan Mayhew Bergman, Director of Bread Loaf’s Environmental Writers’ Program and Director of the Robert Frost Stone House Museum at Bennington College.

Author and teacher Megan Mayhew Bergman will give a short reading and a talk about the changing notions of beauty in the face of environmental degradation. Are Americans puritanical about beauty? Is access to beauty a privilege?

“The Flint Water Crisis: The Promises and Perils of Practicing Science for the Public Good”
By Siddhartha Roy, Engineer, and Postdoc, at Virginia Tech.