Here are some workshops and lectures that we presented in 2005:

William L. Sullivan – Hiking Oregon

January 27, Thursday, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Author William L. Sullivan’s slide show takes us on an armchair hiker’s tour of Oregon’s most scenic historic sites. Based on his outdoor guidebook, “Hiking Oregon’s History,” the presentation follows Lewis and Clark’s trail across Tillamook Head and traces Chief Joseph’s trail of tears through Hells Canyon. Expect tips on dramatic hiking trails to fire lookouts, lighthouses, and gold mines, too, mixed in with anecdotes about trailside wildflowers and geology. In short, it’s a glimpse into Oregon’s largest museum -- the great outdoors.

Frank Lake – Traditional Ecological Knowledge

March 12, Saturday, 7 p.m.

Many Native Americans regard their local environment as the hardware store, pharmacy, super market, and church. Most Native peoples have unique dependency and reliance on the environment for survival, which reinforces the maintenance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). The foundation of western ecological education is often based primarily on literature or electronic data, with limited long-term "field" work. In comparison most Native people acquire their TEK through subsistence activities, where attention to detail is vital to survival and preservation of culture. Until recently, quality detailed TEK was not available in literature or video form. Frank's presentation will highlight some of the ideas put forth in this approach to understanding ecosystems.

Watersheds 101: What, Where, and Why by Alan Pennington

Thursday, April 14th, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Straub Environmental Learning Center

Learning basic watershed concepts is key to understanding how
society impacts our streams, both large and small. We'll focus mainly on
urban creeks and rivers to see how we might reduce water pollution in our
community through both long term and short term efforts. This event is sponsored by the Pringle Creek Watershed Council and the Friends of Straub Environmental Learning Center.

Detecting hybridization in Camassia using Molecular Techniques by Josef Uyeda

Thursday, April 21st, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Straub Environmental Learning Center

Two species of camas lily, C. quamash and C. leichtlinii are native to the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The two species are readily identified and often coexist. Despite this fact, there is still some dispute over the species or subspecies status of the two forms. A recent flora from California classified C. leichtlinii as a subspecies of the highly variable C. quamash. Previous research has also shown the existence of morphologically intermediate individuals that are most likely hybrids of the two species. The purpose of my research is to clarify the taxonomic relationship between the two species using molecular techniques. My goal is to identify protein markers that can consistently distinguish the two species and use them to determine if and to what extent hybridization occurs in nature. This event is sponsored by the Willamette Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon.

Jane Lubchenco - What Oregonians should know about Global Warming

Tuesday, April 26, 7:00 p.m. at

The talk will describe what scientists know about global warming, what the
likely impacts will be in the Pacific Northwest, and what Oregonians can do
to address climate change.

Dr. Jane Lubchenco is an environmental scientist and marine biologist who
served as a co-chair of Governor Kulongoski's Advisory Group on Global
Warming. Her research includes a focus on effects of climate and other
environmental changes on human well-being. She is a member of the U.S.
National Academy of Sciences and served on the first NAS study of global
warming. She is Valley Professor of Marine Biology and Distinguished
Professor of Zoology at Oregon State University.

1st Mid-Willamette Valley Student Environmental Conference

April 30, Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at North Salem High School

The conference is the first of its kind to be held in the state of Oregon. The purpose of the conference is to allow students and/or student groups from each participating school the chance to present and showcase their work relating to science and environmental education. This conference presents a great opportunity for students to teach the community about what they have been working on and researching in the classroom. For further information, please contact Dirk Martin (503) 587-7897 or dirk.martin@oregonstate.edu .

May 24, Tuesday, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Dr. John Kitzhaber

Creating a Society to Match Our Scenery: Designing a New Natural Resource
Operating System

Dr. Kitzhaber is a former emergency physician, legislator and two term Governor of the State of Oregon (1995-2003). He is the past President of the Oregon State Senate where he authored and implemented the groundbreaking Oregon Health Plan. His legislative career, which began in 1979, was marked by active leadership in the areas of public education, community development, environmental stewardship and a wide variety of health care issues including: long-term care, resource allocation and uncompensated care.

In January 2003 Dr. Kitzhaber began serving as President of the Estes Park Institute, which conducts six annual educational conferences for community hospitals. Dr. Kitzhaber serves as the Director for the Center for Evidence Based Policy at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. He holds an endowed Chair on Health Care Policy with The Foundation for Medical Excellence, an Oregon based public, nonprofit educational foundation. In August 2004, Dr. Kitzhaber began serving as the President of the Kitzhaber Center, a natural resource center housed at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Kitzhaber is an avid fly-fisherman and whitewater rafter. He has one son, Logan, and resides in Portland, Oregon.

Sustainable Living: Redefining the American Dream (June 6, Monday, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.)

An overview of what sustainable living is – and is not, identify societal barriers, examine national trends and provide opportunities for lively, thoughtful conversation. This event will be held at the Friends of Straub Environmental Learning Center.