Friday, August 6, 2010: 8:00 AM-11:30 AM
Blrm BC, David L Lawrence Convention Center
SYMP 24 - “Revolutionary Ecology: Multidisciplinary and Multimedia approaches to Cooling the Planet”
Humans have emerged from simple beginnings in evolutionary time, to become one of the foremost forces affecting ecosystem structure and function. Evidence compiled mostly over the past several decades shows how widespread this influence is with anthropogenic processes creating novel habitats, causing mass species extinctions, degrading the function of many ecosystems, and impacting climatic trajectories (Ceballos and Ehrlich 2002; Cohen 1995; Eldredge 1998 Ellis and Ramankutty 2008; Hughes et al. 1997; MEA 2005; IPCC 2007; Wilson 1993). Our relatively recent ecological understanding has also shown how fragile and dependent human systems (economic, social, and health) are upon the rest of the natural world (MEA 2006, Pearce and Moran 1994, Tol 2002). Given the overwhelming implications of this evidence, ecologists must consider the responsibility of taking their findings beyond the academic realm into disciplines and communities with mediums for communication they may have not previously considered. Translating this knowledge, and interweaving it with traditional and local ecological knowledge, into direct action through conservation initiatives, sustainability, education, and community efforts, or into doing research of how best to accomplish these goals, is what we have termed action-oriented ecology. Diverse approaches and people involved in tackling ecological issues add great strength to conservation efforts (Manolis et al. 2008). By bringing together environmental activists, community organizers, indigenous scholars, artists, educators, and scientists, we hope to foster a dialogue that will broaden, contextualize, and promote the creativity of all the participants in search of a common goal – a sustainable and “cooler” planet. Speakers briefly present their work and participate in a panel discussion with the following questions: Why is it important to do community outreach and applied ecology? How can we encourage participatory research that turns findings into action? Ending with a final discussion where participants will be given question cards to answer: How can we move towards a more action-oriented-ecology? These will be presented as a collective poster in the meeting. A summary of case studies and a list of action items will be compiled in a publication. Greater involvement of ecologists with diverse ecological knowledge holders can enhance the understanding and application of ecological concepts, ensuring that scientific rigor and community and political action are brought to bear on our current challenges. Uniting disciplines and merging mediums of communication will help us formulate new resource management strategies and political tools to tackle some of the greatest challenges ever to face our species.
Organizer:Ana Elisa Pérez-Quintero, University of Puerto Rico
Co-organizers:Charissa Jones, New College of Florida (SEEDS alumni)
Serge A. Farinas, University of Michigan (SEEDS alumni)
Malaya Lualhati, Oregon State University (SEEDS student)
Melissa Armstrong, Ecological Society of America
Elizabeth R. Uses Knife, Oglala Lakota College (SEEDS student)
Mattias Lanas, Stanford University (SEEDS student)
Marla Striped Face-Collins, University of New Hampshire (SEEDS alumni)
Moderator:Leonardo Calle, Florida Atlantic University (SEEDS student)
Endorsement:ESA Student Section, ESA Traditional Ecological Knowledge Section, Environmental Justice, ESA Education & Human Resources Committee
8:00 AMSYMP 24-1A blueprint for Florida's clean energy future – how canopy ecology and students contributed to shaping state climate change policy
Margaret Lowman, North Carolina State University
8:15 AMSYMP 24-2Lessons from rural Yucatan and urban California:  A multidisciplinary approach focused on conservation and biodiversity, and connecting the innovative ideas of youth across borders
Cynthia Wilber, Stanford University, Rodolfo Dirzo, Stanford University
8:30 AMSYMP 24-3Using citizen science to create awareness and foster research on marine dolphins in Suriname
Monique Pool, Surinamese Environmental Advisory Services N.V. (SEAS NV) and The Green Heritage Fund Suriname (GHFS).
8:45 AMSYMP 24-4Diversifying the Ecological Village: Lessons from SEEDS and the Baltimore Ecosystem Study
Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Melissa Armstrong, Ecological Society of America, Leanne M. Jablonski, University of Dayton, George A. Middendorf, Howard University, Jackie Carrera, Parks and People Foundation
9:00 AMSYMP 24-5Healthy ecosystems, healthy people: Popularizing ecology from the local to the global, the example of GAIA in Puerto Rico
Ana Elisa Pérez-Quintero, University of Puerto Rico, Colibrí Sanfiorenzo-Barnhard, University of Puerto Rico- Río Piedras
9:15 AMSYMP 24-6Linking art, ecology, and public engagement in the conservation of land: the case of the Northeastern Ecological Corridor in the island of Puerto Rico
Carmen Guerrero, Environmental Planner, Northeastern Ecological Corridor Coalition, Sara B. Ocasio, University of Puerto Rico, Diana Guzman, University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón
9:30 AM Discussion on outreach, education in ecology and community participation
9:45 AM Break
9:55 AMSYMP 24-7Reconstructing the Salish Sea: Linking historical ecology and future policy with local communities
Mimi E. Lam, University of British Columbia, Tony Pitcher, University of British Columbia, Douglas Harris, University of British Columbia, Andrew Martindale, University of British Columbia, Evgeny Pakhomov, University of British Columbia, Ian Perry, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Lawrence M. Ward, University of British Columbia
10:10 AMSYMP 24-8Linking habitats with its inhabitants and their habitats: an eco-culturally contextualized ethic in southern South America
Ricardo Rozzi, University of North Texas and University of Magallanes - Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Chile, Alexandria K. Poole, University of North Texas, Kelli P. Moses, University of North Texas, Francisca Massardo, University of Magallanes and Omora Ethnobotanical Park
10:25 AMSYMP 24-9Indiginous groups, all things interact in ecology
Daniel R. Wildcat, Haskell Indian Nations University
10:40 AM Discussion on historical ecology and the importance of TEK and LEK in action oriented ecology
10:55 AM Panel discussion

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See more of The 95th ESA Annual Meeting (August 1 -- 6, 2010)