May 21, 2012
Inaugural Conservation Remix aims to foster creative thinking about environment
Conservation Remix, a daylong event June 2, offers an eclectic mix of topics for discussion – from designing superefficient buildings that generate their own energy to controlling invasive species by eating them.
Organized by staff with Conservation Magazine and the University of Washington Department of Biology, the event is meant to appeal to a mix of students, scientists and other citizens of Puget Sound.
“We want people to come away from this event with a sense that conservation isn’t just about stopping bad things from happening, but also about starting good things. They will get a glimpse of the kind of environmental innovations that are possible when we include engineers, architects, cooks and entrepreneurs in the environmental conversation,” said Estella Leopold, UW professor emeritus of biology and an event host. “It turns out that environmental inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places.”
The event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at Seattle’s Town Hall and will feature 11 speakers talking about food, agriculture, built environments, energy, technology and business. Two are from the UW, the rest are with other U.S. and European institutions and organizations. Veteran science journalists David Malakoff with Science magazine and John Nielsen, a former environmental correspondent with National Public Radio, will guide discussions audience discussions.
“This event is not only about listening to the speakers – its also about listening to the audience,” said Dee Boersma, UW professor of biology and co-organizer of the event. For example, Earthfix, a media project of Northwest public radio and television stations, will host a digital story booth where participants can share their thoughts and stories about environmental issues.
Now is the time for this kind of regional event, Boersma said.
“The Puget Sound region and the UW are emerging hubs for environmental innovation,” she said. “We have a tremendous combination of interests and expertise here—environmental concern, technological know-how, and business entrepreneurship. This event mixes these communities up and brings smart people together to imagine a greener future.”
Winter 2012 edition
Tickets can be purchased online for $50 – $25 for students– and include a catered lunch and a one-year subscription to Conservation Magazine, a quarterly UW publication distributed in 58 countries. There will be a limited number of tickets available at the door.
Major sponsors of the event with Conservation Magazine are the Bullitt Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, UW College of Arts and Sciences and UW College of the Environment. Fifteen other UW and community organizations are partners.
“Just as TED originally brought to the web ideas worth spreading about technology, entertainment and design, we hope to launch something similar for the environment,” said UW’s Kathryn Kohm, editor of Conservation Magazine and the other co-organizer of the remix event.
For more information contact Lindsey Doermann, doermann@uw.edu, 206-221-5292.
###
For more information, news media can contact:
Boersma, 206-616-2185, boersma@uw.edu
Kohm, 206-685-4724, kkohm@uw.edu
