The Friends of Dr. Edith Marion Patch will host a presentation,
“Dragonfly Larvae as Indicators of Mercury Contamination in Maine and Beyond”
presented by Dr. Sarah Nelson of the University of Maine and Ed Lindsey and
his students of Old Town High School. The program will begin at 10:00
on Saturday, October 26, at the Old Town Public Library, 46 Middle Street, Old
Town.
Dr. Nelson is an Assistant Research Professor
affiliated with the Senator George J. Mitchell Center and the School of Forest
Resources. As a research
biogeochemist and landscape ecologist, Sarah focuses on policy-relevant
watershed and wetland science projects. Sarah has developed many collaborative
outreach programs that inform and involve educators and citizens in scientific
research. An effort to increase public awareness regarding the mercury issue, a
citizen science project was expanded in 2012 to collect dragonfly larvae for
mercury analysis in national parks. Working with the NPS-Air Resources
Division, Sarah is piloting this project in 25
national parks across the U.S. This citizen science project engages students,
teachers, and visitors in national parks. Moreover, the project supports the
“Call to Action,” the NPS Centennial Initiative, by connecting people to parks
and advancing the educational mission. Ed Lindsey is a science teacher
at Old Town High School, and has spent several years working with Dr. Nelson
and the Acadia Learning Program, studying the impact of mercury
on the environment. Ed involves his students in most aspects of the research
projects including fieldwork, data collection and data analysis.
Dr.
Nelson and Mr. Lindsey will be available to answer questions during and after
their talk. Refreshments will be offered.
This free program is one of a series of monthly public
forums sponsored by the Friends of Dr. Edith Marion Patch. For more
information, please contact Tiffany Wilson at 299-7240 or tiffany.wilson@maine.edu.
