Free ''Speaking Sustainably'' Lecture Series at the Deering Estate at Cutler

(MIAMI, January 31, 2014) – South Florida is host to some of the richest natural resources in the world. The balance of human and natural systems in our growing urban community is central to political, cultural, and academic dialogues regarding the environment.

Hosted by FIU’s School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) and the Deering Estate at Cutler, “Speaking Sustainably” is a lecture series offered free to the public to engage the community with critical environmental issues of the twenty-first century and to inspire action. Lectures are held at the Visitor Center at the Deering Estate at Cutler and are free and open to the public. 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Topic: Global Climate Change and Tropical Forests: Adapt, Migrate, or Die
Presenter: Dr. Kenneth Feeley, Assistant Professor, FIU Department of Biological Sciences

In the face of ongoing climate change, species are faced with limited options to avoid habitat loss or extinction: adapt, migrate, or die. Ken Feeley’s research focuses on tropical forests which harbor the majority of the Earth’s species and are facing especially rapid rates of climate change. Dr. Feeley will discuss why migration may be the only option for many of these tropical tree species, the inevitable realities of climate change and deforestation, and how as a society we can make better decisions to salvage and protect what is left. 

About the Deering Estate at Cutler

The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade County Park, is located at 16701 SW 72 Avenue in Miami. This 444-acre natural and archeological preserve and historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a center for education, culture and recreation. Historic house tours are offered daily at 10:30 am & 3:00 pm. Natural areas tours are offered daily at 12:30 pm (October – May). EcoAdventure Tours are also offered throughout the year for an additional fee. For more information on the Deering Estate's educational and cultural programs, please visit www.deeringestate.org. 

About the FIU School of Environment, Arts and Society

As a part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) unites socially and environmentally-oriented faculty in an effort to better understand and address the challenges that arise from the interaction between human and environmental systems. Faculty in SEAS are invested in understanding how factors from both systems affect the environment, because long-term sustainability can only be achieved if human societies understand their impact in and responsibility toward these natural systems. The academic core of SEAS consists of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Earth and Environment, and English. Through research, education, and an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas, SEAS strives to bring about positive, tangible changes on local, national and international levels.