The first lecture, titled “Messy Rivers are Healthy Rivers,” will be presented by Ellen Wohl, a professor in the Department of Geosciences at Colorado State University.
“Perceptions of river health are influenced by expectations regarding the appearance of a natural river, but appearance depends on geomorphic context and river history,” says Wohl. “I examine how physical complexity – messiness – influences river health, how human activities simplify rivers and compromise river health, and how we can restore complexity and ecosystem services provided by rivers.”
Wohl is a Fellow of both the Geological Society of America and the American Geophysical Union and has received many awards, including the Gladys W. Cole Memorial Award from the Geological Society of America, the Kirk Bryan Award from the Geological Society of America, the G.K. Gilbert Award from the Association of American Geographers, and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Interdisciplinary Water Education, Research and Outreach from the CSU Water Center.
The “Interdisciplinary Explorations: The Idea of Nature” public lecture series is supported by the College of Idaho, the Idaho Humanities Council, The Nature Conservancy, the Idaho Conservation League, The Ketchum Community Library, the M.K. Nature Center and the following units at Boise State: the Department of English, the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, the College of Business, the School of Public Service, the College of Innovation and Design, the Department of Geosciences, the Environmental Studies Program, the Hemingway Literary Center, and the Frank Church Institute.
The lectures are free, open to the public and no tickets are required. Each lecture will be followed by a reception with a no-host bar and appetizers. To reserve a spot at a reception, or for more information about free parking and the series, e-mail samanthaharvey@boisestate.edu or visit scholarworks.boisestate.edu/ideaofnature.
BY: BRADY W MOORE PUBLISHED 3:40 PM / JANUARY 14, 2016