December 4, 2013, Wednesday - A Sip of Science at Aster Cafe

Time: 5:30pm

Location: Aster Cafe (River Room) 125 SE Main Street

A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum in which researchers pair with musicians, artists and storytellers to put science in context through storytelling.

December Sip of Science: I Dream of Midway Island: A story of geology, ecology, and the inevitable human footprint

Located ‘midway’ between North America and Asia, Midway Island has a complex history for a 2.4 square mile island.  Formed by the Hawaiian volcanic hot spot 28 million years ago, this tiny atoll is well known for being the site for a key WWII naval battle, but it also serves as the primary nesting ground for the Laysan albatross bird.  As with many landscapes, human activity over the past century has significantly impacted the island ecosystem, from the lead-based paint chipping off buildings into the sand, tons of plastic washing onshore, acidification of the ocean impacting coral reef growth, as well concerns of sea level rise drowning the island. Indeed, Midway Island serves as a microcosm for illustrating the unanticipated impacts of human activity.  Join Barbara Heitkamp as she describes her travels as an environmental consultant to this remote locale, weaving together a snapshot and story of what Midway Island is today and what its future holds in store.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Barbara Heitkamp is a Research Fellow at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory at the University of Minnesota.  She completed her M.S. in Water Resources Science at Oregon State University in 2008 and her B.S. in Geology at Texas Christian University in 2005.  She worked three years as field geomorphologist for GeoEngineers in Portland, Oregon. She currently serves as the primary coordinator for a regional stream restoration organization known as the Partnership for River Restoration and Science in the Upper Midwest (PRRSUM).

This talk takes place during happy hour at the Aster Cafe - Food and Drink Available for Purchase.