Museum of Northern Arizona update for April 18 — MNA to present ‘An Unnatural Wonder’ on April 28

Gazing into the vastness of the Grand Canyon, one can have the false sense that we are looking at something so ancient and expansive that it must be impervious to humans. While the Grand Canyon has been a natural wonder for millions of years, in the past hundred years it has been increasingly used, managed and studied by people.

To commemorate Grand Canyon National Park’s centennial year, the Museum of Northern Arizona is hosting two free events looking at how people have changed and studied the Grand Canyon, and then giving the public a voice in the future of Grand Canyon research.

Though free, both events have limited seating and require separate reservations, available online at the links below.

Join us for a screening of the new documentary “An Unnatural Wonder” on April 28 from 2-4 pm, followed by a panel discussion. Tickets at www.tickets.azcentral.com.

A few days later, on May 1 from 6-8 pm, participate in a Future of the Colorado Plateau Forum on Grand Canyon Science: The NEXT 100 Years. This forum will start with presentations by a panel of scientists, then participants will be asked to offer their ideas and recommendations. Registration at https://grandcanyon100.eventbrite.com.

For most of the last century, scientists working in Grand Canyon thought that changes in the vegetation and wildlife would happen slowly over time. Adaptive resource management was the guiding principle in the design of most scientific studies. But it is now clear that climate change over the next 100 years will create profound ecological changes at the park. Some species are already having trouble adjusting to warmer and drier conditions, while new species such as coatimundi are appearing in Grand Canyon from points south.

Researchers and policymakers are asking themselves how to respond. What will be most important to study? What kinds of scientists will be needed? What will happen to the park’s limited water resources and how will the biota respond? Can new research, modeling, and data management technologies help scientists to study the park both more quickly and deeply while at the same time having fewer negative impacts on the park’s natural resources? Can the scientific community move quickly to take advantage of research opportunities when the nation’s politics is more supportive of science?

Presenters for Grand Canyon Science: The NEXT 100 Years include:

Jeanne Calhoun – Director of Science and Resource Management at Grand Canyon National Park
Scott Vanderkooi – Supervisory Biologist and Chief of the USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
Natalie Jones – Grand Canyon Research Technician for the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona University
Larry Stevens – Curator of Ecology at the Museum of Northern Arizona
Pete Fule – Charles O. and Mary Minor Endowed Professor in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University

Please join us for these events to learn and share in the discussion!

“An Unnatural Wonder” Film Screening and Panel Discussion

April 28, 2-4 pm

Take a closer look at the Colorado River and how humans have permanently changed it. The documentary “An Unnatural Wonder” is the result of a months-long reporting project, which included a 16-day, 226-mile journey down Colorado River to record how people have turned the mighty river into a human-managed “unnatural wonder.” Before, during and after the trip, the team interviewed scientists, government officials, river runners, Canyon guides and others.

A panel discussion will follow the 30-minute screening. Panelists include Dr. Larry Stevens, Curator of Ecology at the Museum of Northern Arizona and past president of the Grand Canyon Wildlands Council; Daniel Powskey, a Hualapai tribal member; and David Wallace, Arizona Republic senior photographer and co-director of the film. The Republic’s environment editor, Shaun McKinn, will moderate.

Tickets are free and available at www.tickets.azcentral.com

This event is co-sponsored by The Arizona Republic.

Grand Canyon Science – The NEXT 100 Years

A Future of the Colorado Plateau Forum

May 1, 6-8 pm

Climate change, drought, and new ways of doing science will make the next century of research at Grand Canyon National Park very different from the last. Come hear scientists describe what that might look like, then offer your ideas and recommendations. John Graham will moderate the discussion and the expert presenters include: Jeanne Calhoun – Director of Science and Resource Management at Grand Canyon National Park; Scott Vanderkooi – Supervisory Biologist and Chief of the USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center; Natalie Jones – Grand Canyon Research Technician for the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona University, Larry Stevens – Curator of Ecology at the Museum of Northern Arizona, and Pete Fule – Charles O. and Mary Minor Endowed Professor in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University.

Seating is limited. Reserve a seat at https://grandcanyon100.eventbrite.com.

Future of the Colorado Plateau Forums are co-sponsored by Grand Canyon Trust

Museum of Northern Arizona

3101 N. Fort Valley Rd.

Phone: 928.774.5211

The Mission of the Museum of Northern Arizona is to inspire a sense of love and responsibility for the beauty and diversity of the Colorado Plateau through collecting, studying, interpreting, and preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage.

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