Earth Talks
Nature and Environment Lectures
Any time of year
Wild Philly: The Extraordinary Nature of Our Backyard
America’s sixth largest city is home to an amazing abundance of surprising wildlife: the peregrine falcon, the fastest animal on earth; the coyote, a recent immigrant to Wild Philly; the beaver, once vanished and now making an astonishing comeback; and more. Meet some of the region’s featured creatures and the places you can go to see the full diversity of wildlife. The perfect companion to Mike’s book by the same name, you’ll also learn the largest threats to nature and great ways you can help heal nature.
Hotter, Wetter, Weirder:
Climate Change in Philadelphia
In recent years, our region has been hit by an epic drought, heat waves, wildfire smoke, even flooding from 1,000-year storms. Yes, climate change is already happening in the Philadelphia region as our climate gets hotter, wetter, and decidedly weirder. But what's the evidence for climate change locally? What are the trends in temperature and rainfall? And what does the data say? You’ll not only be surprised but motivated to find solutions. In this must-see lecture, Mike walks you through the science, carefully answering your questions while weaving in politics, pop culture, and even a pop quiz.
The Healing Power of Nature
Mountains of evidence back up a wonderful secret: nature heals. Literally. Trees emit chemicals that calm us. The color green relaxes us. Our eyes crave the shapes of leaves and twigs. Mike presents extraordinary studies, like one showing that patients who simply see a tree outside their hospital room get better faster-- and leave sooner. Mike’s talk will motivate you to get your daily dose of Vitamin N, nature.
Monarch Butterflies and the Miracle of Migration
Every year, monarch butterflies-- those showy, Halloween-colored beauties-- engage in one of nature’s most extraordinary feats, flying to a very few secluded mountain valleys in Mexico. After wintering there, they begin a perilous journey north, taking three, even generations to return to Pennsylvania. And in the fall, they start over again. How do they accomplish this remarkable feat? Why did this even evolve? Among the most popular butterflies, the monarch is also among the most endangered, their numbers in a steep decline in recent decades-- for surprising reasons. Mike shares the butterfly's unique story, weaving up-to-date science on the butterfly’s status with folk legend and Aztec myth. You’ll gain a new appreciation for the king of butterflies, and learn innumerable ways you can help this amazing creature.
Naughty by Nature:
Courtship in the Animal Kingdom
Birds do it, bees do it, and sentimental fleas? Don’t even ask. In a fun yet science-filled illustrated PG-13 lecture, Mike presents the extraordinarily adaptations and life stories of animals for sex and reproduction. From giraffes “necking” to male anglerfish hanging around literally forever, from gender-bending clownfish to overly endowed banana slugs, from honeybees to, of course, the infamous praying mantis, you’ll shake your head at the extraordinary antics of sex in the animal kingdom.
Microplastics: The Invisible Pollutant
A new environmental issue has quickly grabbed public attention: microplastics, found everywhere, from the bottom of the ocean to our bloodstreams. Amazingly, each of us ingests a credit card’s worth of plastics weekly-- to unknown effect-- and microplastic particles in the ocean now outnumber the stars in our galaxy by a factor of 500. What do and don’t we know about microplastics? What surprising ways do they get into the ocean-- and into us? And most importantly, what do we do about it?
Seasonal favorites
Spring Wildflowers:
The Race Is On
If “the earth laughs in flowers,” as Emerson wrote, then this lavishly illustrated lecture will leave you guffawing as we meet a visual parade of spring wildflowers: trout lily, trillium, Virginia bluebells, cohosh, Dutchman’s breeches, and more. But these flowers are locked in a life-and-death sprint with the forest around them. Mike shares this very special story, then walks you through their ecology: why skunk cabbage smells musky, how trout lily seduces ants, and what trick Jack-in-the-pulpit plays on its pollinator. This lecture will make you want to dive into the nearest forest to find these flowers yourself.
Earth Day: The History and Future of the Planet’s Biggest Day
On April 22’s Earth Day, an amazing one billion people in 190 countries will pause to commemorate the planet-- planting trees, cleaning shorelines, engaging in teach-ins and sit-ins-- making it the world’s largest nonreligious holiday. As a historian of Earth Day, Mike’s visually engaging lecture explores the rich and surprising history of the event, with a special focus on Philadelphia’s 1970 week of programming that garnered national attention. From 1970's past-event passage of a huge raft of legislation, to the birth of curbside recycling in 1990, to today’s global incarnation, Mike looks at the day’s accomplishments-- and peeks into his crystal ball to predict its future.
Last Chance Café: The Secret Life of a Goldenrod Field
Goldenrod fields-- the villains in thousands of allergy-relief commercials-- are a critically important ecosystem for millions of butterflies, bugs, and birds, the last chance for life-saving pollen and nectar before the long winter sets in. In a lively, colorful, and photo-filled presentation, Mike shares the wonderful life histories of the many species found there: monarch butterflies, bumblebees, praying mantises, crab spiders, peacock flies, assassin bugs, plus the plants themselves, asters and goldenrods, milkweeds and thistles. You’ll gain a deep appreciation for this critical ecosystem-- and be inspired to plant goldenrod in your own yard.
The Winter Solstice: Secrets of the Symbols
In December, near the winter solstice-- the darkest night of the year-- natural symbols abound. We drape evergreens, decorate trees, dangle mistletoe, light menorahs, and arrange fruits on Kwanzaa tables. But what exactly happens at the solstice? What is the strange and wonderful history of these– and other– symbols? In a lushly illustrated talk, Mike shares the science, legends, and traditions from around the world and across religions and time. At long last, you’ll finally understand the story behind mistletoe!