2019-20 Season

Headshot of Elena Bennett.

January 14, 2020

From planetary boundaries to ecosystem services: Guiding development on a changing planet

Guest: Elena M. Bennett 

The current scale, rate, and intensity of anthropogenic change is unprecedented, and has evoked broad discussion about how these changes will affect the future of the planet. Indeed, we are unnecessarily threatening our own security by undermining natural capital and the provision of ecosystem services. In this talk, I will show how the science of ecosystem services can be used to guide natural resource management and limit anthropogenic change while providing for human well-being.

Headshot of Craig Allen.
Headshot of Andrea Basche.
Headshot of Michael Forsberg.

November 25, 2019

Nebraska: An Ecosystem in Harmony

Guests: Craig Allen, Andrea Basche & Michael Forsberg  

Moderators: John Carroll, Director School of Natural Resources & Martha Mamo, Department Head Agronomy and Horticulture

Agricultural production must increase more than 70% by 2050 to meet the global demand for food, fuel, feed and fiber. Meeting this goal will require far-reaching growth in agriculture, more efficient use of marginal lands and new methods to deal with extreme weather, soil degradation and biological invasions. Strategies for achieving these advances while preserving Nebraska’s healthy agricultural ecosystems are discussed by panelists Craig Allen, professor at the School of Natural Resources, Andrea Basche, assistant professor in department of Agronomy and Horticulture, and Michael Forsberg, co-founder of the Platte Basin Timelapse Project and professor of practice in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication. The panel is moderated by Martha Mamo, head of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and John Carroll, director of the School of Natural Resources.