PHILADELPHIA, May 7, 2020

This month the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is presenting a three-part virtual discussion about COVID-19 and the environment.

For the next three Wednesdays — May 13, 20 and 27 — the public is invited to join the Academy Conversations discussions with Academy scientists and other experts on Zoom. Each discussion if free and lasts about an hour.

Here is the schedule; speakers and registration information will continually be added to the Academy’s webpage at https://bit.ly/2zgP0JW.

What are we learning about our relationship with Earth during COVID-19?

Wednesday, May 13, 3–4 p.m.

As we adjust to the new normal of social isolating, the natural environment is getting a break from the old-normal stresses we place on our planet. The science shows our air is cleaner and water is clearer. What does this mean in the long run; is it possible to restore Earth’s natural systems? Join us for a free, virtual discussion on Zoom with Academy scientists as we grapple with the environmental messages of the pandemic.

Featuring:

Roland Wall, Director, Patrick Center for Environmental Research
Marie Kurz, PhD, Geochemistry Section Lead, Patrick Center for Environmental Research; Assistant Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel
Mariangeles Arce H., PhD, Collection Manager, Ichthyology

Franco Montalto, PhD, Professor, Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Drexel

To register for this free event on Zoom, visit the Academy Conversation Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/2SKrewQ

Why is Covid-19 disproportionately impacting environmental justice communities?

Wednesday, May 20, 3–4 p.m.

For over 30 years the environmental justice movement has been fighting the disproportionate risks that pollution poses to low-income populations and communities of color. Now we know that the impacts of COVID-19 are also unequally distributed, with infection and fatality rates higher among communities with higher environmental stresses. Join us for a free, virtual discussion on Zoom with Academy experts and advocates as we examine the connections between the pandemic and environmental justice.

Featuring:

Moderator: Alexis Schulman, Dolan Fellow, the Academy’s Patrick Center for Environmental Research; Assistant Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science

For Speakers and Registration updates as they are posted, visit the Academy Conversations page at https://bit.ly/2zgP0JW

What role does science play in public policy and social action during Covid-19?

Wednesday, May 27, 3–4 p.m.

The pandemic has highlighted questions in how science is used to guide public policy and social action similar to those raised around climate change. Both COVID-19 and climate change require credible scientific understanding and interpretation; both rely on models to predict the future; both force public decision-making in the face of uncertainty; and both have become politically polarizing. Join us for a free, virtual discussion on Zoom with experts about managing the challenges of science-driven public policy.