Kent – The Edith Chase Symposium is an educational program to acquaint people who are not specialists, with issues of importance in the Earth Sciences and Water Sciences. Each year since its inception in 2014, a special event is held honor to shed light and share some aspect of environmental issues facing the region. This year’s event will be held at 7 pm on Thursday, May 18th at the Kent State School of Architecture and Environmental Design Lecture Hall at Kent’s Main campus. The featured topic will be invasive species, and the way they can have far-reaching consequences in Ohio and across the Midwest by altering habitats and reducing biodiversity.
Lynn Vogel, Stormwater Educator at the Portage County Soil & Water Conservation District shared that ODNR Director Mary Mertz will be the keynote speaker at the Symposium. “It’s kind of a big deal when a State Department head comes to town,” Vogel noted. “Her name is on every State Park sign!”
In her address, Mertz will discuss the critical importance of controlling invasive plant and animal species for the future of Ohio’s natural areas. Her presentation will provide an overview of the challenges posed by invasive species, outline the work being done by the ODNR to manage invasive species, and discuss what can be done at a local level to make a lasting impact.
At the end of this year’s program, attendees should come away with a deeper understanding of the impact of invasive species and how they can take action to protect their natural resources.
Vogel noted that last month, the SWCD implemented a tree-planting program with four Portage County Girl Scout troops in preparation for the Edith Chase Symposium. Vogel noted that both Edith Chase and Director Mary Mertz were both involved in Girl Scouts, and that Mertz was instrumental in securing funding for the local Girl Scout tree-planting project.
The Edith Chase Symposium honors the countless contribution of its namesake, Edith Chase, a scientist who worked tirelessly to benefit the ecosystems of the City of Kent, the State of Ohio, and the Great Lakes Basin. Past subjects have included the importance of bees and other pollinators, restoration projects, and water conservation.
To register for the May 18th event, visit: https://ECS2023.eventbrite.com.
