ECo Talks: The Enduring and Elemental Importance of Natural History with Thomas L. Fleischner
Thomas Lowe Fleischner, founding Director of the Natural History Institute, will present his talk, “The Enduring and Elemental Importance of Natural History,” as part of the ECo Talks series produced by the Earth Commons.
About the Speaker:
Thomas Lowe Fleischner, a naturalist and conservation biologist, is a leading voice advocating for the importance and rejuvenation of natural history. He was the founding director of the Natural History Institute in Prescott, Arizona, and continues to serve as the Institute’s Senior Advisor & Director Emeritus. He is Faculty Emeritus at Prescott College, where he taught interdisciplinary Environmental Studies for 29 years. He is the author of numerous articles and professional papers, and author or editor of four books, including The Way of Natural History, and Nature, Love, Medicine: Essays On Wildness and Wellness. He co-edited a special issue of the academic journal, Ecopsychology, on “Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality.” Past ecological research has focused on marine mammals, marine birds, and the impact of livestock grazing on arid lands. Recently, he has led and coordinated efforts to recognize the high biodiversity values of the Mogollon Highlands Ecoregion of the American Southwest. An elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, he has served as Chair of the Natural History Section of the Ecological Society of America, on the Board of Governors of the Society for Conservation Biology, and as President of its Colorado Plateau Chapter. He co-founded the North Cascades Institute in Washington State.
About the Talk:
Natural history, “a practice of intentional, focused attentiveness and receptivity to the more-than- human world, guided by honesty and accuracy,” is the oldest continuous human endeavor. Throughout the long arc of our species’ evolution, the attentive practice of natural history was critical to human survival. It still is. In this presentation, we will explore what natural history is, and how it contributes to a brighter human future by providing the empirical basis for natural sciences, informing policy, and inspiring the values of conservation and sustainability. In the process, this “practice of falling in love with the world” promotes physical and emotional health of human individuals and communities.
Event Details: Light refreshments will be provided. Free and open to all. No RSVP required. In person and online event Zoom ID 93082466514.
About the Series: Every Friday, ECo Talks features scholars, leaders and innovators sparking conversation, sharing knowledge, and spurring change. ECo Talks are presented by the Earth Commons Fridays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm in Arrupe Hall Conference Room. Learn more about the series >>
