FROSTBURG, MD (September 29, 2015) -- Imagine learning about the land, sea, and air around us from regionally and nationally known experts and artists. By taking a multidisciplinary approach to its Watershed Moments Community Learning Series, the Appalachian Laboratory (AL) offers community members the opportunity to engage their right and left brains as they learn more about the pressing environmental issues of our day, from endangered species to climate change, from water pollutants to improvements in air quality.
On Wednesday, October 7 at 6:00pm, AL hosts “In Deep Water: Dive deep into the BP oil spill that rocked the Gulf.” Dr. Donald F. Boesch, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, will provide a rare look at the largest oil spill in American history—the catastrophic 2010 explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil platform. A New Orleans native and biological oceanographer, he will describe in his role as an expert witness in the $18.7 billion court case against BP. From the depths of the Gulf of Mexico to a crowded courtroom in New Orleans, Dr. Boesch will discuss what led to Macondo well blowout, the loss of eleven human lives, and the immense damage to the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.
On Thursday, November 12 at 6:00pm, AL presents a discussion from one of its own during “Prairie Dog Companion: Discover what these amazing creatures can teach us about ourselves.” Fall in love with a real dog or rather, a pack of dogs. For the last 43 years, Professor John Hoogland, the world’s expert on prairie dogs, has spent half of his year with a family other than his own: packs of prairie dogs in Western North America. His motto of “catch ‘em, mark ‘em, watch ‘em” has led to many exciting, provocative discoveries. Prairie dogs, key members of grassland ecosystems, exhibit a wide range of human-like social behaviors, from friendly behaviors such as grooming, kissing, and play to less desirable traits such as adultery, incest, and murder. (Yes, murder.) Find out why Dr. Hoogland calls prairie dogs his “little people,” and why these almost-endangered species are worth saving.
On Thursday, December 10 at 6:00pm, AL combines art and science in its presentation of “A is for Art: An Upper Potomac report card.” How would you grade a two million-year old river? In this presentation, AL grad students give, rather than receive, the grade. Find out from our future environmental leaders as to how our Upper Potomac watershed is faring, and become immersed in the works of local photographer, Jennifer Amendolara, and her group of elementary and middle school-aged photography assistants on assignment for AL. Their creative photographs of the Potomac Watershed will become a permanent exhibition in AL’s lobby following this special opening event.
These events are free and open to the public at the lab located at 301 Braddock Road in Frostburg. Kindly RSVP your attendance by calling 301-689-7102.