Earth Day celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of our planet. The presentation by Dr. Spence will address the beauty and biodiversity of our backyards and urban landscapes. He will talk about the challenges of urban landscaping and how we can be better stewards of the earth.
Don Spence is an Assistant professor at Bethune-Cookman University where he specializes in tree biology and tree diseases caused by fungal-beetle interactions. He earned is PhD from the University of Florida in plant pathology and has published peer reviewed research and written articles for magazines relating Florida’s plant communities and trees. Dr. Spence has 21 years of combined experience as an educator in middle school, high school, adult continuing education, and at the university level. Dr. Spence is also a Board Certified Master Arborist and is a past member of the Volusia County Code Enforcement Board, a member of the Volusia County Green Ribbon Panel, and he won an elected seat on the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District in 2006.
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B-CU Community Teach-In for Earth Day
From April 17-20th, Bethune-Cookman University will be offering a Community Teach-in: a series of open community “classes” in association with Earth Day and the March for Science (April 22nd). The event offers two hour short classes on evenings of the Earth Day week, each taught by one of our faculty on a different scientific topic of significance to the area. Each will include a summary of the issue, the theoretical background, a summary of the data and its interpretation, and what it means to us. These classes will be held at locations around the community and are free to the public. The schedule is as follows:
Date and Time | Location | Topic and Presenter |
Monday, April 17th, 6-8PM | United Church of Christ, New Smyrna Beach, 203 Washington Street 32168 | Dr. Michael Reiter: What is Science? |
Tuesday, April 18th, 3-5PM | Atlantic Center for the Arts (theater), 1414 Art Center Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 | Dr. Don Spence: Healthy Urban Landscapes |
Thursday, April 20th, 6-8PM | B-CU Center for Civic Engagement, Graduate Seminar Room | Dr. Michael Reiter: What Is Global Climate Change, Really; and Why Do We Think it is Happening? |
Friday, April 21st, 6-8PM | B-CU Wendell P. Holmes, Jr. Building, School of Business, Room 328 | Jennifer Spain: Hydroponics and Urban Gardening |
You might also wish to join us as part of the Earth Day Festival NSB and March for Science on April 22nd 2 – 7:30 PM at the United Church of Christ, 203 Washington Street in New Smyrna Beach, FL. The Earth Day event will take place from 2 – 6 PM on the lawn and in the community hall of UCC, and will feature science speakers from Stetson University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Bethune Cookman University, and the Sierra Club, a community art mural, balloon animals, face painting, a fairy storytelling grove, children’s activities, food by the UCC youth and environmental booths. This event is free and open to the public. Then at 6 PM you can join us as we march to celebrate science and the scientists that do the important work and research that benefits us all as a society.
For more information or questions concerning the Teach-In, contact Dr. Reiter at reiterm@cookman.edu.
For more information or questions concerning the Earth Day Festival NSB, contact Dana at indivisiblevolusia@gmail.com.