Events

As part of the mission of FLI, workshops will help to advance, coordinate, and disseminate scientific understanding about the Finger Lakes environment and provide interdisciplinary training for the next generation of environmental researchers, educators, and policy makers.

Ongoing and Long-Term Events

Calling All Cellular Phones!
The Finger Lakes Institute encourages Finger Lakes residents to safely recycle their cellular phones and accessories. Recycling and properly disposing of electronic waste reduces the amount of persistent toxic chemicals that may compose landfill leachate, which has the potential of contaminating soil and drinking water via the leachate treatment process. Donate your cell phone to the Finger Lakes Institute and it will be recycled by Eco-Cell, a program that encourages organizations to collect all used cell phones and accessories, including batteries. Eco-Cell will pay the Finger Lakes Institute up to $12 for each working cell phone. Generated funds will directly benefit the FLI’s mission to promote environmental research and education of the Finger Lakes and surrounding environments. Acceptable drop off items include: cellular phones, batteries, accessories, PDAs, blackberries, pagers, and chargers.

November 12, 2009 – March 11, 2010, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom (campus map)
Geography of… : An Outreach Program Series on Geography and the Interpretation of Maps
Maps have been used to project scientific information for over a century. Early maps compiled by chief topographer Henry Gannett in 1890 represent New York rainfall, elevation, population, and temperature. In his 1902 publication, The Relation of Geography to the Sciences, Herbert Wilson suggested that geography is the oldest of the sciences. As in many maps of the Finger Lakes region, Wilson is cited as geographer in charge.

More recently geographic information systems (GIS) technology has enhanced how scientific information is able to be projected onto maps, thereby making tabular information spatially presented. The Finger Lakes Institute is providing this series of outreach programs focused on the study of geography and interpretation of maps to show how geospatial technologies and concepts are used in environmentally centered research projects. Presenters, Nathan Burtch and Rob Beutner will present the Geography of… series with a focus on the geography wetlands, Finger Lakes history, and land use. Visit the Finger Lakes Institute's Maps webpage to download maps of the Finger Lakes region created by Nathan Burtch.

January 21, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom
The Geography of Wetlands
Rob Beutner, Hobart and William Smith Colleges IT Services Instructional Technologist

February 11, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom
The Geography of Finger Lakes History
Nathan Burtch, Finger Lakes Institute GIS Specialist
The physical and cultural geography of places has a strong influence upon the history of that place. Geography influences history in similar ways across cultures, such as the preference for humans to settle near water bodies and food sources. But specific aspects of the physical landscape of the Finger Lakes, and of the cultures of the people that live in the region have made a unique history. Why are the Erie Canal and Thruway placed here? Why did the Women’s Rights movement gain traction here? The Underground Railroad? Religious Movements? Wineries? This talk will explain how some of these physical and cultural geographies have affected the history of the Finger Lakes region.

March 11, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom
The Geography of Land Use
Nathan Burtch, Finger Lakes Institute GIS Specialist
Land is a finite resource. As this resource is consumed, it becomes more and more important to study and assess the patterns in which humans consume land. These patterns have changed much in the past few centuries, and are continuing to change. This talk will look at land use from a geographical point of view. Traditional theories of land use geography will be explained, and newer forms will be reviewed. This talk will show how the shapes of cities have changed with the onset of new technologies, and how land is used in urban, suburban, and exurban regions. Within that context, the Finger Lakes region will also be explored in terms of the region’s land use.

January*

January 21, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom
The Geography of Wetlands
Rob Beutner, Hobart and William Smith Colleges IT Services Instructional Technologist

February*

February 3, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom
Enhancing Water Quality Through Native Plants
Stephen Harris, RPM Ecosystems Native Plant Nursery Although it is frigid cold outside and gardening is favorable pastime, now is a perfect time to think forward in preparation for Spring 2010! By planting native species strategically around our homes and on public spaces we can begin to improve water quality in our watersheds a bit at a time. Increasing and protecting tree canopy cover on public and private lands will also contribute positively to watershed health. This talk will review some basic principles and restoration practices (from plant selection and design to follow-up care) using examples around Central New York. Stephen Harris is a certified arborist and northeast territory manager for RPM Ecosystems Native Plant Nursery located in Dryden NY. Stephen holds masters and associates degrees in forestry and served as urban forester for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County for 5 years. This program is free and open to the public.

February 11, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom
The Geography of Finger Lakes History
Nathan Burtch, Finger Lakes Institute GIS Specialist
The physical and cultural geography of places has a strong influence upon the history of that place. Geography influences history in similar ways across cultures, such as the preference for humans to settle near water bodies and food sources. But specific aspects of the physical landscape of the Finger Lakes, and of the cultures of the people that live in the region have made a unique history. Why are the Erie Canal and Thruway placed here? Why did the Women’s Rights movement gain traction here? The Underground Railroad? Religious Movements? Wineries? This talk will explain how some of these physical and cultural geographies have affected the history of the Finger Lakes region.

March*

March 11, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom
The Geography of Land Use
Nathan Burtch, Finger Lakes Institute GIS Specialist
Land is a finite resource. As this resource is consumed, it becomes more and more important to study and assess the patterns in which humans consume land. These patterns have changed much in the past few centuries, and are continuing to change. This talk will look at land use from a geographical point of view. Traditional theories of land use geography will be explained, and newer forms will be reviewed. This talk will show how the shapes of cities have changed with the onset of new technologies, and how land is used in urban, suburban, and exurban regions. Within that context, the Finger Lakes region will also be explored in terms of the region’s land use.

March 13-20, Louisville, Kentucky
Alternative Spring Break Trip: Helping Clean America's Rivers: Ohio River Clean Up in Louisville, KY
Trip Coordinator: Sarah Meyer, FLI Community Outreach Coordinator
Host Organization: Living Lands and Waters
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to get dirty! Hobart and William Smith Colleges students will join Chad Pregracke and Living Lands and Waters Alternative Spring Break Program for a fun week of hard work clearing pollution from the riverbanks of the Ohio River. During the trip, students will travel by boat to clean the shores of the Ohio River and tackle exotic bush honeysuckle invading the river's islands. Learn about the students' experiences by visiting their blog.

March 24, 7:00 pm, HWS Albright Auditorium
The Polaris Project: Using Multimedia Storytelling to Educate the Public about Siberia's 'Carbon Bomb'
Chris Linder, Research Associate in the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Physical Oceanography Department and professional science and natural history photographer
The Polaris Project includes a field course and research experience for undergraduate students in the Siberian Arctic, several new arctic-focused undergraduate courses taught by project scientists at their home institutions, the opportunity for those scientists to initiate research programs in the Siberian Arctic, and a wide range of student science projects and outreach activities. The guiding scientific theme is the transport and transformations of carbon and nutrients as they move with water from terrestrial uplands to the Arctic Ocean, a central issue as scientists struggle to understand the changing Arctic.

The core of the Polaris Project is a field course studying arctic system science at the Northeast Science Station in Cherskiy, Siberia (north of the Arctic Circle on the Kolyma River). It is one of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet. But it is also potentially one of the most important. As our planet's climate warms, carbon that has been frozen away in the permafrost is now being thawed and released into the rivers, lakes, and atmosphere. Siberia's "carbon bomb" can have far-reaching impacts on our entire planet and way of life. Chris Linder joined the 2009 summer Polaris expedition to document the students, the science, and the environment using still photographs and audio/video recordings.

Chris Linder is a Research Associate in the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Physical Oceanography Department and a professional science and natural history photographer. He received a B.S. degree in Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy and a M.S. in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program. He currently divides his time at WHOI between researching the dynamics of ocean fronts and using photography to educate the public about scientific research. Since 2002, Chris has focused on communicating the stories of scientists working in the Arctic and Antarctic. His education and training as an oceanographer give him a special insight into photographing marine science. He has spent over a year of his life on expeditions to the polar regions. His most recent project, titled "Live from the Poles", connected researchers with the public during the International Polar Year (2007-2009) using daily online photo essays (polardiscovery.whoi.edu) and lectures "from the ice" to museum audiences nationwide via satellite phone. This project, funded by the National Science Foundation and the Richard King Mellon Foundation, took him from the Greenland Ice Sheet to penguin colonies on Antarctica's Ross Island. Chris's images have appeared in museums, books, calendars, and international magazines, including Geo (Germany), Nature's Best, Outdoor Photographer, and Wired. A solo exhibition of his photographs, titled "Exploring the Arctic Seafloor," opened at the Field Museum in Chicago in February 2007 and is currently touring science and natural history museums. He is currently working on a book titled Science on Ice for the University of Chicago Press, which will be published in Fall 2011. Linder is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers. This program is free and open to the public.

March 25th: 8-3 p.m., Vandervort Room in the Scandling Campus Center
Conference on Climate Change
The Finger Lakes Institute is hosting a conference at the Hobart and William Smith Colleges campus on the topic of Climate Change on March 25th, 2010. During the morning, there will be concurrent sessions offering ideas on how to incorporate the latest knowledge about climate change into science curriculum for both biology and geoscience teachers.

In addition, Chris Linder, a Research Associate at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will provide an exciting keynote address on his work as a professional science and natural history photographer connecting climate researchers with the public. After lunch there will be an assembly presentation by the Alliance for Climate Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to education on climate change, and a panel discussion on what school districts in the region are doing to reduce their carbon footprint. To learn more about the conference and register visit the Climate Change Conference website or contact Sheila Myers. This conference is co-sponsored by the Rochester Area Colleges Centers for Excellence in Math and Science.

April*

April 17th: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Finger Lakes Institute
Science on Seneca Training Day Set for spring 2010
Science on Seneca is an EPA award-winning educational outreach program of the Finger Lakes Institute and Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The next training date for teachers that are interested in participating in the SOS program is April 17, 2010 from 8 am – 3 pm. The day will begin at the Finger Lakes Institute on the Hobart and William Smith campus with a brief introduction to the program logistics. We will then head to the WILLIAM SCANDLING research vessel to explore the Seneca Lake environment using state-of-the art limnological research equipment. After lunch we head back to the FLI for a one hour overview of the educational resources available for science educators on the Science on Seneca website. Once teachers have completed the training they are able to participate in SOS for $15.00/class. To register for the April 17th training contact Barb Halfman, at bhalfman@hws.edu. Directions to the FLI are on the website link. Sheila Myers from the Finger Lakes Institute will be on-hand at the 2010 CW STANYS workshop March 4th at Nazareth College to present more information about this program.