Date: Thursday, April 24
Time: 4:00 – 8:00 pm – Doors at Four! 
Location: Purce Hall 1, The Evergreen State College 

Remote option link: http://evergreen.zoom.us/j/82046483817
Free and open to the public 

Join us for the annual Rachel Carson Forum, a cornerstone event hosted by the Master of Environmental Studies Association (MESA) at The Evergreen State College. This year, we also celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MES program with a special focus on “Stories of Adaptation: How has MES and environmental work changed over the last 40 years?” 

The Rachel Carson Forum honors the legacy of Rachel Carson, a pioneering environmental researcher, writer, and activist. This event brings together activists, scientists, writers, and speakers to engage with the community, promoting environmental awareness and discussion.  

Confirmed Speakers:

Dr. Rob Knapp, Emeritus Faculty in Physics and Sustainable Design at The Evergreen State College 

• Talk will focus on sustainable design of buildings, and how that involves more than low-impact materials and energy efficiency; it is also about sustaining the lives of the people involved—those who use, operate or maintain them.

Dr. Francisco Santiago-Avila, Science and Advocacy Director for Washington Wildlife First

• “From ‘Biodiversity’ to Respecting Wild Lives: Transforming Our Relationship to Nonhuman Nature”

Dr. Adam Romero, Professor at UW Bothell in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

• Talk is called: “What Would a Sustainable US Agriculture System Look Like?” This first part of the talk explores the potential of Trump administration actions to cause major agricultural change across the US. As such, the second part of the talk is a discussion about what we imagine sustainable agriculture to be and of our desires for the future of US agriculture.

Stay tuned for updates on additional speakers and event details. 

About MESA: The Master of Environmental Studies Association (MESA) is dedicated to promoting environmental education and advocacy as well as providing opportunities for students to engage with each other outside of class. Through events like the Rachel Carson Forum, MESA engages students and the broader community in meaningful discussions about environmental issues. 

About Rachel Carson: Rachel Carson (1907-1964) was an influential aquatic biologist whose writings, including “Silent Spring,” played a pivotal role in the environmental movement and the formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1970). She is best known for her books on marine environments, such as Under the Sea-Wind (1941), The Sea Around Us (1951), and The Edge of the Sea (1955), which made aquatic science accessible to the public. Her landmark book, Silent Spring (1962), warned of the environmental impacts of chemical pesticides like DDT and challenged the chemical industry’s misinformation. Carson’s work demonstrated the power of determination and the written word in advocating for environmental protection. 

We look forward to seeing you there!