8th Annual St. Louis River Summit Gets its Blue Mind on
March 01, 2018
The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (Lake Superior Reserve) is holding its annual St. Louis River Summit March 13-14 at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in the Yellowjacket Union.
Thirty-eight speakers will present information about progress related to the river environment, community well-being, and scientific monitoring techniques. This year's Summit will feature Wallace "J." Nichols, an internationally known marine biologist and author.
"The theme for this year is reflecting on the blue mind and a blue economy," said Erika Washburn, Lake Superior Reserve manager. "The health of waterways like the St. Louis River and Lake Superior are connected to our personal well-being and the economic health of our communities. When we restore waterways, we are doing more than meets the eye. In addition to encouraging biodiversity, jobs, and recreation, these efforts help the minds and emotions of those who visit and live along their shores."
After welcome remarks by university officials and local dignitaries, keynote speaker Nichols will give the talk, "Blue Mind Community."
The goal of the summit is to bring together key audiences working in the region to share information about the St. Louis River and encourage coordination of activities and funding proposals. Other summit presentations include topics such as the movement of sturgeon in the estuary, progress on the proposed Water Trail, and the impact of wild rice rule revisions. A session featuring 17 posters is open to all and will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on March 13.
College students will find value in a natural resources and science careers networking event at 4 p.m. on March 14, also held in the Yellowjacket Union. This interactive session will help students visualize themselves in an environmental career by learning job-seeking skills from diverse professionals in the field.
Students will also be leading a community conversation and question-and-answer session with keynote speaker Nichols at 5:30 p.m. on March 13, an event that is also free and open to all.
In a free public evening talk, "The Search for Superior Spiders,". Katie LaPlante, a graduate student with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, will describe her research documenting the types of spiders living in the St. Louis River Estuary. This evening talk is being held as part of the popular monthly River Talk series at 6:30 p.m. on March 13 at the Yellowjacket Union.
Summit pre-registration is required for full-day participation. The cost is $30, which includes lunches and refreshments. Students are free, but need to register. The deadline is March 3. To register and see the agenda, visit LakeSuperiorReserve.org.
Sponsors include Barr Engineering, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, Earth Design Consultants, Inc., LimnoTech, Inc., Roen Salvage Company, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute, the University of Wisconsin-Superior Lake Superior Research Institute, and the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District.
The Yellowjacket Union is located at 1605 Catlin Ave. on the UW-Superior campus. For maps and directions go to uwsuper.edu/maps.
CONTACT:
Reserve Director
(715) 399-4086