The Kentucky Geological Survey, the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program are sponsoring the “Geoscience & Environmental Justice in Appalachia” Appalachian Forum speaker series beginning Tuesday, Feb. 15. The series will feature Ann Harris, Nate Siggers and Eva Lyon.

The presentations will be in a hybrid format. If you would like to attend in person, all three of the series will be held at the UK Gatton Student Center, Room 331. The series is being held in conjunction with UK doctoral student Edward Lo's EES 480 course, which shares the same name as the series.

Ann Harris, Ph.D., is a geology and geography lecturer at Hazard Community and Technical College. Her talk, “Geoscience in the Appalachian Community: A Thompson Scholars Initiative,” will begin at 11 a.m., Feb. 15. If you would like to join virtually, register at https://uky.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bCZYdlNrT5urLW3jTeVyNg.

Nate Siggers is a coordinator at Williamson Health and Wellness Center, located in Williamson, West Virginia. His talk, “Coal, Blessing or Lack of Purpose? A Perspective from a Mingo County Community Activist,” will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 8. To join virtually, register at https://uky.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TQhbstUCTOOgvVM03lBeew.

Eva Lyon, Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology at Washington and Lee University. Her talk, “Assessing the Potential for Legacy Sediment Pollution in Dammed Streams, Rockbridge County, Virginia,” will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 19. To join virtually, register at https://uky.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e0yZr5uHR3SfKL8AHX2Tyg.

“We are delighted to co-sponsor these lectures, and believe they represent an opportunity to initiate a geoscience-focused dialog that is fundamental for more justly managing and protecting the rich Appalachian environment and the well-being of its people,” said Edward W. Woolery, professor and chair of the UK Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

“KGS is pleased to help sponsor this important and innovative lecture series. The lectures represent a step forward for the geoscience community within UK and, more broadly, the Commonwealth as we recognize that issues such as environmental justice are critically important to all of us,” said William C. Haneberg, Ph.D., the state geologist of Kentucky, director of the Kentucky Geological Survey and Research Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

More information about the speaker series is available here.