Elgin High hosts webinars with environmental experts for students, public

Elgin High School environmental science students will bring environmental experts worldwide virtually into the classroom as part of the annual National Biodiversity Teach-In beginning Friday.

The event involves a series of 36 free webinars featuring scientists discussing a variety of topics including, snow leopards, butterflies, elephants, sharks, soil biodiversity, coral reefs, water conservation and climate change. Six award-winning children's authors who write about nature, science and the planet also are part of the program.

"I am so proud of the amazing lineup the students and teachers of Elgin High School have put together," said Deb McMullen-Perryman, Elgin Area School District U-46 coordinator of K-12 science and planetarium. "Students from across U-46 and beyond will have the opportunity to interact with scientists, authors, filmmakers, environmental educators and heroes."

McMullen-Perryman and her students began the webinars at Elgin High in 2014 to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity. It stemmed from students learning about the 100th anniversary of the extinction of Martha - the last known living passenger pigeon - piquing their interest in biodiversity and desire to connect with experts in the field.

Since its inception, the Teach-In has drawn nearly 145,000 environmental science enthusiasts from 36 states and 19 other countries.

Three dozen experts are scheduled to present webinars running between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. every Friday in February. There will be time for discussion after each presentation.

Webinars are free and open to the public. Advance online registration is required on the Teach-In website where they will be broadcast, nationalbiodiversityteachin.com.

Sessions scheduled Friday are:

•8 a.m. - Koustubh Sharma, "Working with the Mountain's Ambassador: The Snow Leopards"

•9 a.m. - Jeffrey Glassberg, "The Butterfly Effect"

•10 a.m. - Lola Schaefer, children's author, "The Surprise and Beauty of Nature"

•11 a.m. - Dr. Deborah Giles, "Southern Resident Killer Whale Research Topics and Techniques"

•12 p.m. - Patricia Newman, "Elephants! How Their Conversation Sparks Conversation"

•1 p.m. - Joseph Milanovich, "Amphibians & Global Change: What Do We Have to Lose?"

•2 p.m. - Naomi Rose, "Beneath the Surface: The Impact of Captivity on the Welfare of Orcas"

•3 p.m. - Kevin Kurtz, "Biodiversity in the Ocean: From Salt Marshes to Under the Seafloor"

•4 p.m. - Tess Krasne, "Ocean Conservancy"

For a complete schedule of presenters, visit nationalbiodiversityteachin.com/2019-registration/.