Great Lakes Campus

Summer Lecture Series 2004

Environmental Stewardship in Northern Michigan
A lecture series on caring for the Earth

On the 25th Anniversary of the Institute, we are pleased to announce the 2004 Lecture Series on Environmental Stewardship in Northern Michigan.

When & Where
The Summer Lecture Series includes three lectures that have been prepared for the citizens of northern lower Michigan by Au Sable scientists and professors.  Each lecture is given on a Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM in the lodge at Au Sable Institute.

2004 Schedule
July 7- Kenneth Sytsma
July 28 - Henry Brouwer
August 11 - Ippolito, Korstad, Mahan

The Lectures

• Endangered and Threatened Species of the Great Lakes Region. Kenneth J. Sytsma
  Since the enactment of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, the interpretation, purpose, and execution of laws protecting endangered and threatened species and their habitats have been vigorously debated. This presentation will discuss the past, present, and future issues concerning endangered species from the national and international perspectives but with a Great Lakes focus.
• Global Warming: Understanding the Issues. Henry Brouwer
  The media have presented much conflicting information about the effects of global warming and the costs associated with implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. This presentation will discuss the scientific principles underlying this issue, examine some of the global impacts that it may have, and suggest things you can do.
• Lake Invaders: Exotic Species and Their Impact on Local Lakes. Dan Ippolito, John Korstad & David C. Mahan
  While the water quality of Northern Michigan lakes has generally remained good, many lakes have been invaded by a host of organisms that humans have introduced into them. Through this presentation we will review both the ways that these species have entered our lakes and their impact on the lake systems. Particular focus will be place on locally problematic species like the rusty crayfish, the spiny water flea and Eurasian milfoil.

The Speakers

Henry Brouwer is professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario where he teaches chemistry and environmental science. He is also active in science education at all levels: students, adults and in-service teachers. This is his tenth year of teaching Environmental Chemistry at the Au Sable Institute.

Dan Ippolito is Professor of Biology at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana and teaches Aquatic Biology and Fish Biology and Ecology at the Au Sable Institute. He did research work on the fisheries of Texas reservoirs in his graduate program at the University of Texas.

John Korstad is Professor of Biology at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma and teaches Limnology at Au Sable each summer. He has a long history of research on lake systems, beginning with his graduate work on the Great Lakes at the University of Michigan.

David C. Mahan is Director of the Great Lakes Program of Au Sable Institute. He previously was a professor at Western Michigan University and worked as a Land Steward for the Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. His graduate work was at Michigan State University in both lake and riverine systems.

Kenneth J. Sytsma is professor of Botany at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he teaches plant systematics, biogeography, and molecular genetics and is Chair of the Biology Major. His research is centered on both tropical and temperate plant groups, with emphases on plant-animal interactions, invasive species, and rare, threatened, and endangered species. He has taught Field Botany for ten years at the Au Sable Institute.

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