There are many intersections between birding, community building, and advocacy. Author Amy Tan, who will speak at the Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities on September 24, turned to nature and birdwatching in 2016 to “find calm and resilience” in the face of racism. In 2020, birdwatching and racial justice issues converged in an incident between a birder and a dog walker in Central Park. Mya-Rose Craig, a British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, uses her “Birdgirl” blog and book to voice her environmental and diversity activism.

This Cooper Conversation will bring a discussion of these connections to the local level, exploring related efforts in Lincoln and Nebraska. The format will include a brief introductory panel, followed by small roundtable discussions with our featured guests:

• Dai Shizuka, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences developing identity-based affinity groups or “flocks” of ornithologists
• Jason “the Birdnerd” St. Sauver, Senior Education Manager, Spring Creek Prairie
• Ng’ang’a Wahu-Muchiri, Associate Professor of English and avid birder

This Cooper Conversation is open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members. Please RSVP by Sunday, September 15.
Light refreshments will be served.
Questions? Contact Rebecca Baskerville at rlbaskerville@unl.edu.