Videos and Livestreams - Lunchtime Lecture Series 2022
The NCDEQ Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs hosts a guest lecture series called the "Lunchtime Discovery," hosted and streamed with our partners at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Professionals from a wide range of environmental fields give presentations about their work and participate in a live moderated question and answer chat with viewers. Topics range from spider diversity in North Carolina to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to how to incorporate music in environmental education programming.
The are several recorded presentations on a wide variety of environmental topics that can be used in the classroom to supplement existing lessons on ecosystems, natural resources, and North Carolina history.
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Dr. Kim Allen, Interim Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University Scholar, Professor AHS, and Extension Specialist,
North Carolina State University
There are many pathways to finding a place to belong, both at home and at work. Some of us know early on what we want in life, and the pathway is pretty straightforward and predictable. For others, we zig-zag our way through life, finding ourselves in places we never even dreamed of. Dr. Allen will talk about her zig-zag path from babysitting to academic leadership and her science of helping others through family life coaching.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
December 14 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Dr. Rebecca Helm, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Georgetown University
There is a thin layer of life that exists between the sea and sky. This ecosystem, called the neuston, is composed of floating golden algae, strange blue jellyfish, purple bubble snails and even open-ocean insects. In this talk, Dr. Helm will introduce you to this floating world, and share ways that you can engage in exploration of and discovery on the ocean’s surface.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
December 7 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
Recording Not Available
Colleen Bockhahn, Assistant Park Manager, Lake Crabtree County Park
Owls are known as symbols of wisdom and magic. Gain some wisdom about our local owl species and discover the magic behind their unique adaptations and natural histories. Did you know that Great Horned Owls prey on other owls? Which North Carolina owl species is declining in northern states? Get the answers to these questions and many more!
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
November 30 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Dr. José Vargas-Muñiz, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University
Fungi are essential for a healthy ecosystem. They play vital roles in the nutrient cycle due to their ability to decompose plant matter. However, a few of these environmental fungi are capable of infecting people. Treating these infections is challenging due to the fungi being more closely related to humans than you think, as well as the emergence of antifungal drug resistance. Dr. Vargas-Muñiz is interested in understanding how the fungal cell works and aims to use that knowledge to develop a novel treatment for existing fungal infections. His lab also seeks to understand how the ability to infect humans evolves from environmental fungi, particularly fungi from the ocean.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
November 16 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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North Carolina is home to over 2,000 fungal species, and the Piedmont is bursting with colorful and beautiful mushrooms. Join amateur mycologist Anna McHugh for a tour of North Carolina’s fungi, from the delicious to the deadly. Anna McHugh, a writer, mushroom hunter and mycological educator, currently works in marketing and content curation in Raleigh and has also worked in government, media relations, legal advocacy and in community and public radio. A longtime “mycophile,” she was the producer of the “Crazy About Mushrooms” documentary project and now leads mushroom walks in the Triangle area and beyond.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
November 9 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Michelle Jewell, Science Communicator, NC State University, Department of Applied Ecology and President, Science Communicators of North Carolina
Breaching — or when large, water-loving animals fling themselves out of the water — is an incredibly costly behavior. There are several hypotheses for why animals like whales, sharks and even Ocean Sunfish do this, from showing off their fitness to ridding their bodies of parasites. Great White Sharks are one of many species that breach, sometimes to catch marine mammals like seals, but the calories they potentially gain don’t balance the cost of the behavior. Could they rather be communicating fitness to potential mates, like whales do? Michelle Jewell takes us through the various hypotheses and details her research recently featured on Shark Week.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Today @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Dr. Bronwyn Williams, Research Curator, Non-Molluscan Invertebrates, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Dr. Michael Kendrick, Assistant Marine Scientist, Crustacean Research and Monitoring Section, SCDNR Marine Resources Research Institute
The southeastern United States is a global hotspot for crayfish diversity. Among the most diverse groups of crayfishes in this region is the genus Procambarus, with 16 and seven species native to South Carolina and North Carolina, respectively. Yet, Procambarus species in the Carolinas are also among the most data deficient, and therefore enigmatic, in part due to a complex taxonomic history. Ironically, these species are facing a serious conservation threat from a non-native counterpart, the Red Swamp Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Our collaboration couples extensive field surveys with genetic and morphological analyses to understand the diversity of native crayfishes, the recent spread of the invasive crayfish, and the impacts of the invader on native species.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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John A. Gerwin, Research Curator, Ornithology, NC Museum of Natural Sciences
The Uwharries region stretches from Asheboro southwest to Morrow Mountain State Park. Within this area we find a good bit of geological and biological diversity which can be enjoyed within a variety of State and Federal lands. Our speaker, John Gerwin, has conducted bird research in this area since 2011, and in his spare time there he documents a lot of other organisms, some of which are unknown to science.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Ron Sutherland, Chief Scientist, Wildlands Network
Red wolves are one of the rarest mammal species in the world, with only around 17 to 20 individuals currently left in the wild, all in eastern North Carolina. Dr. Ron Sutherland has been working to promote the recovery of red wolves since 2012, and he also launched an ongoing field study of red wolf ecology and prey dynamics in 2015. Ron will present some of the lessons he’s learned and insights he’s gained over the past decade, including new recommendations for kickstarting recovery efforts for this incredibly important, often misunderstood species.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, October 5, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Falyn Owens, Extension Wildlife Biologist, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
North Carolina is home to a broad diversity of nocturnal wildlife species, many of which live around us without our notice. Falyn Owens will discuss what “nocturnal” really means and share stories from the local biologists responsible for monitoring and conserving some of these elusive critters here in North Carolina.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
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Sarah Sanford, Former Program Coordinator, NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs
Sarah worked for the NCDEQ Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs in 2018 and 2019 as the office’s program coordinator. After moving to Berlin, Germany, Sarah continued her environmental education training through a totally new lens. This virtual presentation will delve into Umwelterziehung, aka environmental education in Germany. Sarah will also give an overview of the German approach to outdoor learning and education in general. Stop in to learn about EE in the country that put the “garden” in kindergarten!
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
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Dr. Rachel L. Smith, Head, Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Astronomer Dr. Rachel Smith will use new software called OpenSpace to take you on a virtual tour from Earth to our neighboring planets, and far beyond the solar system. As we fly through space, Dr. Smith will discuss the search for life beyond Earth and planetary analogues to Earth’s extreme environments. She will also include some of her own research from ground-based observatories, and explain how scientists visualize the known Universe using data from planetary probes, satellites, and telescopes.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Seth C. Hawkins, MD
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest University
Associate Director, Wake Forest University Wilderness Medicine Fellowship
Medical Director, NC State Parks, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
US Forest Service Local Emergency Medical Advisor, North Carolina Forests and Wilderness Areas
Medical Advisor, North Carolina Outward Bound School
Among many things, living in a pandemic taught us how critical outdoor spaces are to our health and wellness. When many other North Carolina governmental entities closed, most NC State Parks and national parks, forests, and wilderness areas remained open throughout much of the pandemic. However, in the midst of record volumes of visitors, this experience also reinforced the value of modern wilderness medicine and risk management principles in preventing and managing injuries and illness in outdoor spaces in North Carolina. Dr. Hawkins will discuss how to optimize safety and quality medical care in North Carolina wilderness environments.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, August 24, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Rona Kobell, Co-founder of the Environmental Justice Journalism Institute, based in Baltimore, Maryland
When we think of environmental justice, we think of its roots in North Carolina – fighting large industrial polluters moving to Black and lower-income neighborhoods. But environmental injustices are far more pervasive and systematic than that and can impact culture and history just as they harm air and water. The work of the Environmental Justice Journalism Institute in rural communities builds on other research and reporting to show how, why, and what we can do to stop it.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS LIVE
Srijana Guilford, Waste Strategy and Impact Consultant, Town of Cary
Megan Holler, Cary Community Co-Director, Toward Zero Waste
Christine Wittmeier, Organics Recycling Specialist, NC Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS)
North Carolina generates 2.5 million tons of food waste per year and the state has made reducing that amount of waste a priority. This year, with a grant from the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s DEACS, Cary launched a food waste recycling drop-off service. Partnering with a local non-profit to help develop outreach and education, this effort has resulted in over 3500 drop-offs and nearly 11 tons of material collected for composting within four months. Join us to hear how one community is taking a bite out of food waste and learn about resources available from the state to support your community’s efforts.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, August 10 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Elizabeth Fensin, Algal Ecologist and Dan Wiltsie, Algal Bloom Response Coordinator, Division of Water Resources, NC Department of Environmental Quality
Algae are found in all aquatic systems and are an essential food source for many organisms, but under some conditions, they can reproduce rapidly and form blooms that cause major changes in water chemistry. These changes can be harmful to the ecosystem and to human health. Join two scientists from the NC DEQ’s Division of Water Resources to learn about the biology and ecology of algae, why algae blooms occur and how the Algae Lab studies and monitors this phenomenon.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, August 3 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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William Reckling, PhD Candidate, NC State University Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
What do rare plants, septic system failures and algal blooms have in common? They can all be monitored by drones! Typical environmental monitoring methods can be labor-intensive, disruptive of the landscape, or hazardous to personnel. As drones become more commonly used across scientific disciplines, we can identify new applications of this technology. Join us to learn about cutting-edge research which uses drones to locate rare plants, detect leaking septic systems and perform targeted algal bloom sampling.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, July 27 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Dr. Rachel Noble, Mary and Watts Hill Jr. Distinguished Professor of Marine Sciences, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Before March 2020, most people had never heard of wastewater-based epidemiology, also known as wastewater surveillance or wastewater monitoring. Wastewater surveillance is a tool used by public health agencies to test wastewater for compounds or microbes that are of public health interest. The approach provides a community view of the overall levels of infection of a population, and it is not only useful for managing COVID-19, but can also be useful for managing such pathogens as influenza, Salmonella, and E. coli. Dr. Noble’s laboratory has been leading the wastewater surveillance response for the State of North Carolina, partnering with other academic institutions and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. This presentation will highlight the growth of the technology and areas of current development, and will highlight the potential uses of wastewater surveillance in the future.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, July 20 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Dr. Joel Fodrie, Institute for Marine Sciences, Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Coastal sharks can be long-lived and highly mobile — i.e., hard to study! — as well as critical drivers and indicators of ecosystem health. Dating back to 1972, the faculty, staff and students of the UNC-CH Institute of Marine Sciences have conducted coastal shark surveys and targeted experimental work near Cape Lookout, NC. This research has highlighted long-term shifts in shark species
composition and body sizes, important functional diversity regarding the trophic ecology of sharks — both across and within species — and the movement ecology of summertime-resident species at both estuarine and regional scales.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, July 13 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK:
K. Ren Rende, Assistant Professor of STEM Technology Education, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Dr. Carlos J. Valle Díaz, Science Communicator, AirPsych
Erin Apple, Coordinator for Youth Programs, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
In recognition and celebration of Pride Month, join us virtually to listen to the experiences of LGBTQ+ professionals in STEM. The panelists will share their personal paths to a career in science and to the role of mentors, as well as challenges and successes. This event aims to raise the visibility of LGBTQ+ people in science and to celebrate diversity in STEM.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, June 29 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Jordan Byrum, Artificial Reef Coordinator, Habitat and Enhancement Section, Division of Marine Fisheries, NC Department of Environmental Quality
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Program has been creating reefs since the 1970s and currently maintains 26 estuarine and 43 ocean reefs. Artificial reefs are placed to provide opportunities for fishing, diving, and as habitat for fish and shellfish species throughout North Carolina’s coastal waters. These reefs contain a variety of materials, including rock, recycled concrete, reef balls and ships. Join us to learn about reefs in our state, how they are constructed, how they are monitored, and the many environmental and recreational benefits reefs provide to coastal North Carolina.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, June 22 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, NC State University Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
The Spotted Lanternfly is knocking on North Carolina’s door. First detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, this invasive insect is spreading quickly and was recently found very close to our state line. It’s likely just a matter of time until it’s confirmed here. But what will this newest pest mean for our state, and what is being done about it? Join us to learn about this insect’s biology, the many problems it will bring with it, and the survey, management and outreach programs in place.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, June 15 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Patrick Brannon, Outreach Education Specialist and Naturalist, Highlands Biological Station, Western Carolina University
Shrews and other small mammals are frequently trapped in bottles discarded along our highways. Skeletal remains removed from bottles can yield a wealth of data including the geographic distribution of individual species and the effects of littering on wildlife populations. Join us to learn about shrews and rodents, how bottles can be a conservation threat, and various applications of using this method to study small mammals.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, June 8 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Dr. Zackary Graham, Postdoctoral Associate, West Liberty University
Once thought to be the magical horns of unicorns, narwhal tusks are one of the most charismatic structures in biology. Despite years of speculation, little is known about the tusk’s function, because narwhals spend most of their lives hidden underneath the Arctic ice. Some people propose that the tusk has sexual functions as a weapon for fighting or as a signal for mate attraction. Other hypotheses propose that the tusk functions as an environmental sensor. Zack Graham will discuss his research on the narwhal tusk and his use of a unique method to try to understand the purpose of the tusk. Join us to learn about the wild history and biology of one of the most bizarre traits in all of biology!
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
June 1, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Misty Buchanan, Deputy Director for Natural Heritage, Division of Land and Water Stewardship, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The Natural Heritage Program is a small state program with a big mission: to inventory North Carolina’s natural areas and use the information to create a network of nature preserves that will protect our natural heritage for future generations. Misty Buchanan will discuss current research and conservation projects, including how field biologists explore and document North Carolina’s flora and fauna; how we determine which species are common and secure versus rare and imperiled; and how the Natural Heritage Program works across North Carolina to create land conservation agreements with government agencies, land trusts, and private landowners.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
May 18 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Dr. Tracy S. Feldman, Associate Professor of Biology at St. Andrews University - a branch of Webber International University
On leaves in the forest, in your own backyard, or even on your front lawn, hundreds of tiny insects called leaf miners are living their lives under the radar. Some of these species are new to science. Join us to learn about some recent discoveries related to a world of creatures most people never see and find out how scientists know when a species is new to science.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, May 11 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Chris Goforth, Head of Citizen Science, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Jerry Reynolds, Head of Outreach, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Dr. Clyde Sorenson, Alumni Association Distinguished Undergraduate Professor
of Entomology, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University
Learn about the wonderful diversity of fireflies in North Carolina and their amazing biology. The Synchronous Firefly and Blue Ghost Firefly in our mountains attract thousands of people to watch their dazzling light shows. Learn about the recent discovery of a piedmont form of the Blue Ghost Firefly in the Triangle area, possibly a new species, and how you can join the great Carolina Ghost Hunt. Join scientists, educators, and citizens on this hunt to discover where they live, their habitat requirements, and more about their life history. You may discover them living right in your backyard!
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, May 4 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Ron Sutherland, Chief Scientist, Wildlands Network
Dr. Sutherland will present the case for reconnecting, rewilding, and restoring natural habitats to save biodiversity and prevent extinctions. Centuries of habitat loss and roadbuilding have taken their toll on ecosystems around the world, and the resulting fragmentation poses a huge obstacle to climate change adaptation and day-to-day survival. Fortunately, there is a solution: we can do far more to stitch the remaining wild landscapes back together into functional networks, creating wildlife corridors and installing wildlife road crossings to boost habitat connectivity. By scaling these efforts up, we can still get to protecting Half-Earth, E.O. Wilson’s audacious and optimistic goal of saving at least 50% of the planet to protect 90% of the Earth’s species from extinction.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Today @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Fault Lines – Art and the Environment
Linda Johnson Dougherty, Chief Curator and Curator of Contemporary Art, North Carolina Museum of Art
This multimedia exhibition, on view at the NCMA this spring, features contemporary artists whose works focus on urgent environmental issues. Living and working all over the world, these artists examine a broad range of current concerns, including sustainability and restoration, development and habitat loss, changing climates, and environmental justice. Looking at the consequences of inaction as well as possibilities for environmental stewardship and restoration, they also present alternative ways to move forward that are sustainable and renewable. At a time when it is easy to feel inundated by a 24-hour news stream of critical environmental challenges, the artists in Fault Lines offer the possibility for new perspectives and shifts in understanding of how the natural world is changing.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Today @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
Dr. Elizabeth D. Jones, Cretaceous Creatures coordinator and postdoctoral researcher, Paleontology Research Lab, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Join Dr. Jones for the release of her new book to hear the untold story of the rise of the new scientific field of ancient DNA research, and how “Jurassic Park” and popular media influenced its development. She will take you behind the scenes of science and celebrity with the researchers who search for ancient DNA from some of the world’s most interesting creatures.
Wednesday, April 13 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Mary Alice Holley, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Director of Community Innovation
Kelsi Dew, Town of Princeville, Historical Outreach Coordinator
Princeville has historically been recognized as a town along the Tar River prone to repeated flooding. But through strong leadership, innovative partnerships, and a commitment to conservation, the town is re-defining their story by modeling what it means to be resilient in the face of climate change. Hear from Princeville residents and their nonprofit partners as they share how community leaders have come together to build a resilient future for the people of Princeville, the oldest town chartered by African Americans in the United States.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, April 6 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Y. Stacy Zhang, Postdoctoral Researcher, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences
Stacy Zhang is a postdoctoral researcher at UNC Institute of Marine Science. In the last decade alone, North Carolina has been impacted by over a dozen hurricanes that have caused substantial damage to human infrastructure, but what happens underwater? Are coastal fishes and habitats resistant to, or recovering from, these massive natural disturbances? And how will this play out in a global change scenario? Join us as Stacy examines whether fish catches and coastal habitats differ between hurricane years and years with no storms, from 2010–2020.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, March 30 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Grace Di Cecco, PhD Candidate in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, UNC Chapel Hill
Anyone with a smartphone can contribute observations to global platforms like iNaturalist. What can we learn about how participants make observations of their surroundings from their submissions to iNaturalist, and how does that knowledge inform science based on iNaturalist observations? Join Grace Di Cecco to hear more about how pictures you take on your nature walk can help scientists learn about the biodiversity that surrounds us.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, March 23 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK:
Heather Evans, Conservation Geneticist, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Did you know that you can use DNA to identify prey or predators? To determine how many fish stocked into a river system survive? To estimate populations sizes? To identify species living in an ecosystem without actually seeing the species? Join us as Heather Evans, conservation geneticist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission discusses how genetic tools can be used in wildlife management.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, March 16 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Freya McGregor, Coordinator and Occupational Therapist, Birdability
Birding is an activity that can bring so much joy and empowerment to everybody, but not every body can go birding easily. Learn how this new non-profit uses education, outreach and advocacy to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible. Birdability strives to introduce birding to people with disabilities and supports people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing, or who have other health concerns. Find out how you can become a more welcoming and inclusive birder, how to submit a site review for their Birdability Map and how you can support birders and future birders with accessibility challenges … because birding is for everybody and every body!
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, March 9 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Emily Jarvis, Director, NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville and Contentnea Creek
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville and Contentnea Creek are the newest branches in the Museum of Natural Sciences’ Regional Network family. This includes a downtown science museum in Greenville, and a 400-acre outdoor learning center in Grifton that features hiking and paddling trails through a variety of habitats, as well as an observatory and a planetarium. Started by John and Nancy Bray as "A Time for Science," the legacy now continues under the direction of Emily Jarvis. Join Emily to learn more about her career path, what inspires her, and the exciting new plans for this nonformal science and environmental education center in Eastern North Carolina.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Dr. Stephani Page will discuss the creation of the #BLACKandSTEM community and how it helped shape her career as a scientist and equity professional. She will also examine frameworks for advancing equity in STEM.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Tancred Miller, Policy and Planning Section Chief, Division of Coastal Management, NC Department of Environmental Quality
Tancred Miller, the Policy and Planning Section Chief for the NCDEQ Division of Coastal Management, leads the department’s efforts to respond to the impacts of climate change in coastal communities. Join us to learn more about North Carolina’s actions to improve climate resiliency through a community-driven process that meets the needs of local coastal communities while enhancing their resilience to coastal hazards.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Derick Lugo, Author, Adventurer, and Host of the Unlikely Stories Podcast
Join us for a visual and humorous look into Derick Lugo’s memoir, “The Unlikely Thru-Hiker,” “the story of a young Black man setting off from the big city with an extremely overweight pack and a willfully can-do attitude.” Derick Lugo, a Brooklyn-born, New York City urbanite who had never hiked, camped or pitched a tent a day in his life, tells the story of leaving the comfort of New York City to tackle 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail. What followed are lessons on preparation, humility, race relations and nature’s wild unpredictability.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
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Earl L. Ijames, Curator, North Carolina Museum of History
Farmer and historian Earl Ijames discusses the term “Tar Heels” and the legacy of the long leaf pine forests. Join us to learn more about efforts to restore this ecosystem and preserve North Carolina’s natural heritage with a real “pitch” for historic conservation.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, February 2 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH LIVE:
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Jeff Hall, Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Biologist, North Carolina, Wildlife Resources Commission
In 2009, the North Carolina chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NCPARC) developed a brochure called “Rattlesnake Sightings Wanted” and began handing them out at public events. While a few submissions trickled in over the years, during spring and summer of 2020, staff received over one hundred sightings from the public. These reports led to over seventy new rattlesnake locations for both Timber and Pigmy Rattlesnakes. This community science effort bloomed even further in 2021 with nearly 300 sightings reported! Hall will share details of this project including interesting behaviors witnessed, habitat evaluations and trail camera work. We’re all abuzz with excitement to share these rattlesnake tales (or is that tails?!) with you!
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, January 26 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
Scott Anderson, Bird Conservation Biologist, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1970, we’ve lost an estimated total of 2.9 billion birds across North America — that is one in four birds now gone! This includes common species like the White-throated Sparrow, the population of which has been reduced by 93 million. However, targeted survey and conservation efforts can help #bringbirdsback! The NC Bird Atlas is a five-year statewide community science project that will harness the power of thousands of volunteer birdwatchers to map the distribution and abundance of birds from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Outer Banks. These observations will give researchers a comprehensive picture of bird populations across North Carolina.
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff
Wednesday, January 12, 2021 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
Dr. Gary Freeze, historian and professor of history and American cultural studies, Catawba College
The Wallace Brother’s Herbarium in Statesville, North Carolina was a local landmark, an economic asset and much more. The herbarium began as a general store owned and operated by David and Isaac Wallace, brothers and German Jews who immigrated to North Carolina in the mid-1800s. The Wallaces’ enterprise in herbs and roots would grow into the largest “Botanic Depot” in the United States. Statesville Land & Record columnist O.C. Stonestreet wrote that in “its heyday, it was a minor wonder of the world.” Join noted regional historian, author, and documentarian Dr. Gary Freeze as he shares the story and legacy of this historical and botanical wonder.
Live Virtual Presentation with special guest host Jerry Reynolds, Head of Outreach with the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST
WATCH THIS TALK
