Environmental Studies

Dan Well’s presentation, Starting from a Single Tree: an Ecological and Cultural Perspective on Ancient Forests of the Pacific Coast And Beyond, will start at the base of Iluvatar, a nearly 1700-year-old Coast Redwood Tree, and gradually expand our view outward, exploring ecology, culture and their intersections. Modern ecology tells us in a new language what many traditions from Buddhism to Indigenous North American beliefs have long known—that the world is deeply interconnected and interdependent not only more complex than we know, but more complex than we CAN know.

“The Intersection of Disability and Climate Change” by David Liebmann ‘91, 2021 Sustainability Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Climate change is an existential threat. But for people living with a disability — an estimated 15% of the global population — the threat, compounded by discrimination, marginalization, and other pre-existing inequalities, is even greater. This colloquium will weave together personal and professional stories with a call to action that brings this challenge into focus.

“The Making of Environmental Law” by Richard Lazarus, Charles Stebbins Fairchild Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.

This talk, based on Richard Lazarus’s recent book “The Making of Environmental Law” recounts the emergence and evolution of modern environmental law and its future challenges.

The 2024 Scott A. Margolin ‘99 Lecture in Environmental Affairs presents Jade S. Sasser, Associate Professor in the Department of Gender & Sexuality Studies at the University of California, Riverside.

“No Future for Us? Young People’s Climate Anxiety and the Future of Reproduction.”

Join us for a screening of the much-buzzed about film, “The Oil Machine,” followed by a Q&A with Director, Emma Davie. Facilitated by James Sanchez.

Oil has been an invisible machine at the core of our economy and society. It now faces an uncertain future as activists and investors demand change. Is this the end of oil?

The Green Mountain Club’s Bread Loaf Section and the Environmental Studies program present a talk on “Living with Bears” by Vermont Fish and Wildlife Bear Technician, Molly Byrne, “Living with Bears” will help us better understand our ursine neighbors and provide general information about bear ecology and behavior with a focus on their life cycle and food needs.

Writer and conservationist Adam Welz will read from his new book, The End of Eden: Wild Nature in the Age of Climate Breakdown, and speak of his reporting about the effects of climate change on wild species and natural ecosystems around the world. A deeply researched exploration of wild species reacting to climate breakdown, The End of Eden offers a radical new kind of environmental journalism that connects humans to nature in a more empathetic way than ever before and galvanizes us to act in defense of the natural world before it’s too late.

Come hear alums share their insights on the graduate school application and selection process. Panelists will represent diverse areas of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, and related interdisciplinary fields, as well as myriad grad years and career aspirations. The session will be moderated by Professor Molly Costanza-Robinson (Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Program for Environmental Studies).

No registration necessary.

Come meet fellow Environmental Studies majors, minors, and faculty. Learn more about the major and opportunities in the program and get any questions answered prior to spring registration. Prospective majors and minors are also encouraged to attend. Apples, cider, and cider doughnuts will be served.

“Beavers: A Tremendous Potential Ally” an Environmental Studies Colloquium Series talk by Skip Lisle, M.S. Wildlife, Habitat, and Beaver Biologist, and President of Beaver Deceivers, LLC.