Free "Speaking Sustainably" Lecture series at The Deering Estate at Cutler

(MIAMI, April 28, 2014) – South Florida is host to some of the richest natural resources in the world. The balance of human and natural systems in our growing urban community is central to political, cultural, and academic dialogues regarding the environment.

Hosted by FIU’s School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) and the Deering Estate at Cutler, “Speaking Sustainably” is a lecture series offered free to the public to engage the community with critical environmental issues of the twenty-first century and to inspire action. Lectures are held at the Visitor Center at the Deering Estate at Cutler and are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Topic: “Striking a Balance: The Future of Coral Reef Ecosystems”
Presenter: Dr. Deron Burkepile, Assistant Professor, FIU Department of Biological Sciences

Deron Burkepile’s research focuses on how widespread changes in human systems endanger the integrity of ecosystems world-wide, particularly coral reefs. Dr. Burkepile will discuss the current status of coral reefs as well as how alterations in human communities and activities trigger a ripple effect which has the potential to alter the productivity and balance of these marine ecosystems. 

About the Deering Estate at Cutler
The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade County Park, is located at 16701 SW 72 Avenue in Miami. This 444-acre natural and archeological preserve and historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a center for education, culture and recreation. Historic house tours are offered daily at 10:30 am & 3:00 pm. Natural areas tours are offered daily at 12:30 pm (October – May). EcoAdventure Tours are also offered throughout the year for an additional fee. For more information on the Deering Estate's educational and cultural programs, please visit www.deeringestate.org.

About the FIU School of Environment, Arts and Society
As a part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) unites socially and environmentally-oriented faculty in an effort to better understand and address the challenges that arise from the interaction between human and environmental systems. Faculty in SEAS are invested in understanding how factors from both systems affect the environment, because long-term sustainability can only be achieved if human societies understand their impact in and responsibility toward these natural systems. The academic core of SEAS consists of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Earth and Environment, and English. Through research, education, and an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas, SEAS strives to bring about positive, tangible changes on local, national and international levels.