Lowell Lecture
Penguins as Ocean Sentinels: What Penguins are Telling Us
Date & Time
Nov. 13, 2014
Location
IMAX Theater at New England Aquarium
1 Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110
Driving Directions
Speaker(s)
Dr. P. Dee Boersma, Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science, University of Washington and Director, Center for Penguins as Ocean Sentinels
Presenting Organization
Topics
Biodiversity on planet Earth is in peril. Over one half of the 18 species of penguins are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Penguins are sentinels of the southern oceans, helping humans understand how the planet is responding to global climate change. Habitat alteration caused by climate change is a new source of mortality for penguins. Natural history, long-term studies, and communication of what we learn can alter the fate of penguins, other species, and humans.
Long-term studies of penguins demonstrate that penguins face new challenges. If humans are to mitigate their impact on wildlife, we must use science to inform decisions and pay more of the true environmental cost of our actions. Only people can alter the course of our biodiversity crisis and improve the fate of penguins. Paying the true costs of environmental damage is an important tool humans can use to reduce the impact of our growing population on the planet.
Book signing and reception to follow.