Lecture 1 - Birds, Big Data, and Citizen Science: Understanding the Impacts of Global Change Featured Speaker: Allen Hurlbert, Ph.D.; Professor of Biology; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Date: Thursday, June 15th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Kim & Rich Daugherty and Kathy & Bestor Ward. As the world undergoes […]

Lecture 2 - Native Plants for the Vegetable Garden Featured Speaker: Adam Bigelow; Plant Nerd and Guide; Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions Date: Thursday, June 22nd Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Vicki & Donny Ferguson. Native plants benefit us, our gardens, and the landscapes and ecosystems we depend on. Learn about the benefits of […]

Lecture 3 - Microplastic Pollution in Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems Featured Speaker: Austin D. Gray, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences; Virginia Tech Date: Thursday, June 29th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Jennifer & Forrest McConnell and Jennie Stowers. Plastic pollution poses one of the greatest global risks to freshwater and marine ecosystems. […]

Lecture 4 - The Geology That Has Shaped the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau Featured Speaker: Bill Jacobs, Geology Enthusiast and Author of Whence These Special Places – The Geology of Cashiers, Highlands & Panthertown Valley Date: Thursday, July 6th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Anne & Dick Goodsell: The Claude Sullivan Geology Initiative The Highlands-Cashiers […]

Lecture 5 - History of National Forest Management in the Chattooga River Watershed, and the Compelling Case for a New Mission for the Forest Service Featured Speaker: Buzz Williams; Emeritus Executive Director & Program Specialist, Chattooga Conservancy Date: Thursday, July 13th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Bryding Adams & Bob Rathburn, Lynda […]

Lecture 6 - Bird Talk: An Exploration of Avian Communication Featured Speaker: Barbara Ballentine, Ph.D.; Associate Professor; Western Carolina University Date: Thursday, July 20th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Miriam & Vernon Skiles and Mary Todd & Jimmy Davis. Birds use acoustic, visual, and even olfactory signals in social contexts that are […]

Lecture 7 - Sounds Wild and Broken Featured Speaker: David George Haskell, Ph.D.; Author and William R. Kenan Jr. Professor; University of the South Date: Thursday, July 27th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Rosemary & Bill Stiefel. Sonic communication was a late-comer to the evolution of life on Earth. But once song […]

Lecture 8 - Archaeoastronomy in Southwestern North Carolina Featured Speakers: Jane M. Eastman, Ph.D.; Associate Professor; Anthropology and Sociology Department; Western Carolina University & Brett Riggs, Ph.D.; Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies; Western Carolina University Date: Thursday, August 3rd Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Suzanne & Don Duggan, Julie Farrow, Florence […]

Lecture 9 - South Carolina’s Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area Featured Speaker: Tim Lee; Interpretive Ranger/Naturalist; Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area Date: Thursday, August 10th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Martha & Michael Dupuis, Monte & Palmer Gaillard, and Melanie & Tom Mauldin. Located in an area along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the Mountain Bridge […]