South Florida is host to some of the richest natural resources in the world. The balance of human and natural systems in our growing urban community is central to political, cultural, and academic dialogues regarding the environment.
“Speaking Sustainably” is a film and lecture series offered free to the public at the Deering Estate at Cutler in partnership with FIU’s School of Environment, Arts and Society. The series intends to engage the community with critical environmental issues of the 21st Century and to inspire action.
The next event, free and open to the public, is Wednesday, May 22, at 7 p.m, at the Visitor Center Auditorium. The ?topic is “Coastal Carnivores” featuring Mike Heithaus, PhD, executive director, FIU School of Environment, Arts and Society; Philip Matich, doctoral candidate, FIU Biological Sciences, and Adam Rosenblatt, doctoral candidate, FIU Biological Sciences.
On the southern tip of the Florida Everglades, the Shark River meets the Gulf of Mexico to form an estuary where a number of predators, including alligators and bull sharks, call home.
Humans have greatly reduced water flows across this famed “River of Grass.” Scientists from Florida International University have been studying predators in the estuary to understand how these animals will respond to changes in water flows, and to ensure they continue to fulfill their role in the food web.
The screening will be followed by a panel-led discussion and Q&A session. For more information visit online at www.seas.fiu.edu or call 305-919-6000.
The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami- Dade County Park, is located at 16701 SW 72 Ave. For more information on the Deering Estate’s educational and cultural programs, visit www.deeringestate.org
