6 pm reception
6:30 pm forum

The world’s rivers, streams, and lakes are under increasing stress as a result of climate change, development, and water mismanagement, all of which threaten aquatic biodiversity and the global water supply. In this forum, scientist Charles Vörösmarty will discuss the challenges facing Northeast waterways, followed by environmental artist Mary Miss, who will discuss her many years of work linking art with sustainability to redefine how we use water resources. Environmental writer Andrew Revkin will then provide a context for understanding the global crises of water and the ways in which artists and scientists are involved in solving these problems.

Mary Miss is a New York-based artist and director of City as a Living Laboratory. Her recent project FLOW: Can You See the River? reveals how ordinary activities are connected to the history, ecology, origin, and potential of the White River water system in Indianapolis.

Charles Vörösmarty is professor of civil engineering at The City University of New York and director of the CUNY Environmental Cross-Roads Initiative. His research focuses on the development of computer models and geospatial data sets used in synthesis studies of the interactions among the water cycle, climate, biogeochemistry, and anthropogenic activities.

Andrew Revkin is a science and environmental writer who has been covering environmental sustainability for more than three decades, primarily for the New York Times. He is the author of the blog Dot Earth and is the senior fellow for environmental understanding at Pace University.