Anniversary lecture series brings prominent scientists

Jan. 16, 2024 - The weekly Rachel Carson Anniversary Lecture Series brings a variety of scholars to explore aspects of sustainability and systems integration.

A book cover of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring with her black and white photo.

Thirteen of the world’s most prominent scholars across many disciplines of sustainability will be part of a lecture series honoring the spirit of communicating critical scientific messages.

The Rachel Carson Distinguished Lecture Anniversary Series honors the 60th anniversary of the passing of Rachel Carson, a pioneer of the global environmental movement, and celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability.(CSIS).

Jack_mug_2016_Small.jpg“I can think of no better way both to celebrate our center’s anniversary and honor Rachel Carson than to make the crucial messages of eminent experts,” said CSIS director Jianguo “Jack” Liu, who holds the Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability. “Her work helped open the doors to spirited exploration and discussion of matters critical to the health and sustainability of our world. Our center carries that mission seriously.”

The hour-long Zoom lectures, most at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursdays through mid-April, (refer to the schedule for three exceptions) are free and open to all. They require registering to obtain a Zoom address.

Silent Spring, published in 1962, is widely credited for opening the world’s eyes to the negative effects of many pesticides and helped lead to the banning of DDT in the United States in 1972. The book has roots at Michigan State. MSU faculty ornithologist, converged George Wallace gave “Silent Spring” the living – and dying – imagery of flocks of terminal robins. His research showed that the unwitting birds, after feasting on DDT-filled worms on and around campus, suffered seizures and died.

“Rachel Carson was a pioneer, and her work inspired me,” said Liu, who has a first edition of Silent Spring. “As the first person to hold the Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability, I am honored to continue her legacy, especially knowing the scrutiny she faced as a result of the book.”

The Rachel Carson Distinguished Lecture Anniversary Series is presented by CSIS and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University.  Support is provided the Gunnerus Award in Sustainability Science.

Each recorded lecture can be found here, as well as a library of previous Rachel Carson Distinguished lectures.

The schedule:

day

date

time

Th

18-Jan

9:00 AM

Th

25-Jan

9:00 AM

Th

1-Feb

9:00 AM

Tu

6-Feb

9:00 AM

Th

15-Feb

9:00 AM

Th

22-Feb

9:00 AM

Th

7-Mar

9:00 AM

Th

14-Mar

9:00 AM

Tu

19-Mar

9:00 AM

Th

28-Mar

9:00 AM

Th

4-Apr

9:00 AM

Th

11-Apr

11:00 am 

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