The Department of Environmental Protection and the PA Sea Grant Program will host the next Pennsylvania Lake Erie Virtual Environmental Forum on October 26 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The theme of the Forum is-- Harmful Algal Blooms & Climate Change.

The keynote speaker for this special event will be Hans Paerl, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Paerl is an aquatic ecologist who works in coastal, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems. His research addresses aquatic nutrient cycling and primary production dynamics, environmental controls, and management of harmful algal blooms.

The Paerl lab also focuses on assessing effects of human and climatic alterations of water quality and sustainability to coastal and inland waters around the globe.

Regional updates include--

-- ​​Great Lakes Updates: Tim Bruno, Chief, Office of the Great Lakes, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

-- Climate Change and Pennsylvania: Greg Czarnecki, Director of Applied Climate Science, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources

-- Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring Update: Jeanette Schnars, Executive Director, Regional Science Consortium

-- GLISA Project Update: Sara Stahlman, Extension Leader, Pennsylvania Sea Grant

Master Watershed Steward Program Introduction: Amber Stilwell, Coastal Outreach Specialist with Pennsylvania Sea Grant and Master Watershed Steward Coordinator with Penn State Extension

To register or for more information, visit the Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum webpage.

For more information on programs, initiatives, research, upcoming events and more, visit the PA Sea Grant website.  Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

[Posted: October 7, 2021]

10/11/2021