MCC to host Bioneers Speaker Series on resiliency, citizen science and environmental justice

McHenry County College has announced the 2017 Great Lakes Bioneers Speaker Series featuring new perspectives on key environmental topics. The three-part series takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 7, 21 and 28, in the college's Luecht Conference Center in Building B. Experts will share their views on resiliency, citizen science, and environmental justice.

The first lecture on Feb. 7 will feature "Resiliency, Climate Change and Communities on the Edge," presented by Dale Sands. He will provide an in-depth look at the concept of resiliency and how effective planning will help communities prepare for impending climate related issues. Sands has over 40 years of consulting experience in environmental matters and currently serves as the global practice director in the private sector division of CH2M, where he provides leadership for engineering and environmental services that include industrial water, advanced facility design, infrastructure services, site planning and permitting, site remediation and revitalization, environmental health and safety, process engineering and sustainability/climate adaption services.

On Feb. 21, the "Engaging Citizens in Civic Ecology Practices" presentation will feature Tania M. Schusler, Ph.D. lecturer at the Loyola University Institute for Environmental Sustainability and coordinator of Solutions to Environmental Problems.

The series concludes on Feb. 28 with "Building the Social Justice Narrative on our Environmental Crises" presented by Shalini Gupta, founder and executive director of the Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy.

The speaker series is sponsored by the McHenry County College Sustainability Center and the Bioneers Steering Committee. Selected area organizations will be available, along with the speakers, for further discussion after the presentation.

The speaker series is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the MCC Sustainability Center at (815) 479-7765 or visit www.mchenry.edu/bioneers.