Boston Flora

Tag: Indianapolis Prize

  • Thursday, October 4, 6:00 pm – Conserving Biodiversity: A Global Priority

    Biodiversity is the sum total of life on Earth and a living legacy to future generations. Sadly, it is declining almost everywhere on the planet. Russell A. Mittermeier, Chief Conservation Officer, Global Wildlife Conservation, Chair, Primate Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and recipient of the 2018 Indianapolis Prize, is a biologist and lifelong conservationist who has traveled across 169 countries and discovered more than 20 species in his quest to save biodiversity hot spots. Focusing on nonhuman primates—our closest living relatives—Mittermeier will examine strategies for setting conservation priorities, highlight successful initiatives from around the world, and demonstrate why biodiversity is so critical to human survival.

    The Harvard Museum of Natural History Lecture will take place October 4 at 6 pm in the Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street in Cambridge.. Free and open to the public.

    Free event parking available at 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by Harvard Museum of Natural History and Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology in collaboration with the Indianapolis Prize. For more information visit www.hmnh.harvard.edu.

    Conserving Biodiversity lecture image of speaker Russell A. Mittermeier

  • Thursday, October 20, 6:00 pm – Lessons from the Dodo: Saving Species and Rebuilding Ecosystems in Mauritius

    Conservation pioneer Carl Jones, Chief Scientist, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Scientific Director, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, and recipient of the 2016 Indianapolis Prize for his efforts to save species on the brink of extinction, will discuss how his decades of work have directly revitalized multiple endangered animal populations and habitats—most famously, perhaps, the Mauritius kestrel. With only four kestrels left on Earth, Jones’ techniques not only changed the fate of those birds, but also ensured a thriving population, now nearing 400. Jones will offer insights into restoring both individual species and the ecosystems of Mauritius. He will highlight his journey to save the Rodrigues fruit bat, pink pigeon, echo parakeet, and others from disappearing forever and describe his innovative approach to rebuilding the Mauritian habitat using ecological replacements for extinct animals.

    The Thursday, October 20 lecture is presented by The Harvard Museum of Natural History in collaboration with the Indianapolis Prize, and begins at 6 pm. This program is located at the Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street. Free parking is available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Free and open to the public.

  • Thursday, October 2, 6:00 pm – Saving Lemurs from Extinction

    Primatologist and MacArthur Fellow Patricia Chapple Wright, Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University, and recipient of the 2014 Indianapolis Prize for her extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts, will discuss her work protecting the lemurs and ecosystems of Madagascar. Wright will share her experiences engaging the Malagasy government, community stakeholders, and scientists in a team effort to integrate conservation with development projects, including one collaboration that led to the establishment of Ranomafana National Park, a World Heritage Site in southern Madagascar. This Harvard Museum of Natural History event is free and open to the public.  The Thursday, October 2 lecture will begin at 6 pm in the Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford St.  Presented in collaboration with the Indianapolis Prize. Free event parking available in the 52 Oxford Street Garage.