Elgin High School hosts webinars for class projects

ELGIN, IL, January 11, 2016 - Two Elgin High School teachers want to give their students, staff and community members a front-row seat to the best scientists and environmentalists in the world. Environmental Science Teachers Deb Perryman and Brigid Trimble can’t foot the bill to fly their students around the world so they have done the next best thing - organized a series of webinars featuring renowned speakers, from environmental activist and actor Ed Begley Jr. to 2013 North American Goldman Environmental Prize Recipient Kimberly Wasserman. Perryman and Trimble will co-host all of the February sessions, or what they’re billing as a “National Biodiversity Teach In.”

Elgin High School Environmental Science teacher Deb Perryman has taught classes on biodiversity, the study of species and the ecosystem, for 21 years. This year, Perryman and Trimble wanted to raise the bar after seeing their students become more passionate about global environmental issues. The story of Martha, the last known living passenger pigeon within the ecosystem, increased their student’s interest and desire to discuss biodiversity with some of the best experts in the field.

“This is the chance to be exposed to biodiversity by interacting with professionals all around the world,” said Perryman. “Students are given a purpose to empower one another and know they can make a difference in our environment.”

The Elgin High School Environmental Science students have already scheduled a couple dozen experts for webinars taking place during the school day and into the early evening on Feb. 5, 11, 12, 19 and 26. The speakers will each lead a lecture on an environmental topic and leave time for discussion.

The webinars are free and open to the public, however there is limited space and registration is required. The events will be broadcasted at www.nationalbiodiversityteachin.com.

SCHEDULE

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:center"><strong>Time (Central)</strong></td><td style="text-align:center"><strong>February 5th, 2016</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">9 a.m. - 10 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Melissa Stewart - Children’s Author</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">10 a.m. - 11 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Corey Romberg - Director of Lemur Conservation Network</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">11 a.m. - 12 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Bill Graham - Marine Biologist, Professor &amp; Author</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">12 p.m. - 1 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Charles Margulis - Center for Environmental Health</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1 p.m. - 2 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Katharine Hayhoe -&nbsp; Climate Scientist, Educator</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">2 p.m. - 3 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Ann Froschauer - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">3 p.m. - 4 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Carol Bliese - Director Teacher Programs, Population Education</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">4 p.m. - 5 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">University of Illinois – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences</td></tr></tbody></table>

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<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:center"><strong>Time (Central)</strong></td><td style="text-align:center"><strong>February 11, 2016</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">10 a.m. - 11 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Sue Fisher - Whale Conservation, Animal Welfare Institute</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">11 a.m. - 12 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Rick Wood - Documentary Filmmaker</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">12 p.m. - 1 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Naomi A. Rose, PhD., Marine Mammal Scientist, Animal Welfare Institute</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1 p.m. - 2 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Dr. Deborah Giles &amp; Elizabeth Seely - Conservation Canines Dog Trainer Orca Scat Project&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">2 p.m. - 3 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Michael Harris - Emmy Winning Documentary Filmmaker</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">3 p.m. - 4 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Carter Ries (age 12) &amp; Olivia (age 11) - One More Generation, Youth Advocating for Endangered Species</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">4 p.m. - 5 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Jacques White - Executive Director Long Live the Kings</td></tr></tbody></table>

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<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:center"><strong>Time (Central)</strong></td><td style="text-align:center"><strong>February 12, 2016 - Sponsored By EarthEcho&nbsp;</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">8 a.m. - 9 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Alan Lewitus - Supervisory Oceanographer, NOAA’s National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">9 a.m. - 10 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Lindsay Hirt - Marine Biologist, Professor and Author</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">10 a.m. - 11 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Laura Faye Tenenbaum - Earth Science Communication Team, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">11 a.m. - 12 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">David Shiffman - Ph.D Student, University of Miami-Shark Biology and Conservation</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">12 p.m. - 1 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Philippe Cousteau - Activist, Filmmaker, Philanthropist, &amp; Founder - EarthEcho Internatio</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1 p.m. - 2 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Alex Dempsey - Coral Reef Ecologist, Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">2 p.m. - 3 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">3 p.m. - 4 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Patricia Newman, Author</td></tr></tbody></table>

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<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:center"><strong>Time (Central)</strong></td><td style="text-align:center"><strong>February 19, 2016&nbsp;</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">8 a.m. - 9 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Dorie Stolley - Wildlife Biologist, Three Birds Consulting and Goldenrod Foundation</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">9 a.m. - 10 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Jennifer Hopwood - Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, the Xerces Socity for Invertebrate Conservation</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">10 a.m. - 11 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">David Krabbenhoft - Team Leader and Founder, Mercury Research Lab, U.S. Geological Survey</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">11 a.m. - 12 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Sandra Postel - Director, Global Water Policy Project, National Geographic Fellow</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">12 p.m. - 1 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Ed Begley Jr. - Environmental Activist and Actor</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1 p.m. - 2 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Peggy Doty - Environmental and Energy Stewardship, University of Illinois Extension</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">2 p.m. - 3 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Tricia Bethke - Illinois Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator, Morton Arboretum</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">3 p.m. - 4 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Dan Tefft - Founder, Clime-It Solutions</td></tr></tbody></table>

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<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:center"><strong>Time (Central)</strong></td><td style="text-align:center"><strong>February 26, 2016</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">9 a.m. - 10 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Dr. Timothy Mousseau - Professor, University of South Carolina</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">10 a.m. - 11 a.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Carl Stenoien - PhD Student, University of Minnesota-Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Monarch Lab</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">11 a.m. - 12 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Kimberly Wasserman - 2013 North American Goldman Environmental Prize Recipient</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">12 p.m. - 1 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Pam Otto - Manager of Nature Programs &amp; Interpretive Services, Hickory Knolls Discovery Center</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1 p.m. - 2 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Mike Fleming &amp; Valerie Stein - Soundview School's 8th grade science class</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">2 p.m. - 3 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">LoriAnne Barnett - Education Coordinator-USA National Phenology Network</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">3 p.m. - 4 p.m.</td><td style="text-align:center">Amanda Dworak-Rowland, Education Specialist, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, National Park Service</td></tr></tbody></table>

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