Environment
Climatologist Mark Seeley says coming winter not so bad...
-Mark Seeley, extension climatologist and professor at the U of MN, stopped by WTIP recently to chat with Ann Possis about climate, weather, and the winter ahead. You might be relieved at what he had to say. You can read his weekly Weathertalk newsletter here.
"Project: Ice" film director Bill Kleinert stops by The Roadhouse
-"Project: Ice" views the Great Lakes through the prism of ice, at the crossroads of history, science and climate change. The film's director and executive producer, Bill Kleinert, was in town for the film's Minnesota debut at North House's Arctic Film Festival. He joined Dave TerSteeg Nov. 21 to talk about why he made the film and why Great Lakes ice is so important. You can learn more about the film here.
Gary Fiedler on his 7-month Boundary Waters adventure
-Gary Fiedler of Hermantown just returned from a seven-month odyssey in the Boundary Waters and Quetico, making 13 trips over every portage and taking over 40,000 pictures. He and his wife Dawn LaPointe spoke with Dick Nov. 14 about why he went and how they worked together to make it happen. You can learn more about their photography gallery here.
Carol Johnston, expert beaver researcher, on how beavers affect our landscape
-Dr. Carol Johnston is a professor of ecology at South Dakota State University who just received a National Science Foundation grant to compile her years of research on how beavers have affected the ecosystem at Voyageurs National Park. She talked with Dave TerSteeg Oct. 17 about how and why beavers dramatically alter the places they live.
Astronomer Bob King talks meteors, the Orionids, photography, and more
-One of our favorite regular guests, Bob King of the Duluth News Tribune, chatted with Dave TerSteeg Oct. 3 about meteors and much more. A lunar eclipse is coming early Wednesday morning, Oct. 8. You can read Bob's Astrobob blog here.
LSProject: Tar Sands Expansion on the Great Lakes
-Many of us are unaware of the potential impact the current oil boom may have on our area.
Minn. & Wisc. Sea Grant programs' award-winning research protects Duluth-Superior harbor infrastructure
-Jeff Gunderson, director of Minnesota Sea Grant, spoke with Randy Eastlund Sept. 26 about work they did with Wisconsin Sea Grant to identify and mitigate corrosion to the port of Duluth-Superior's infrastructure, thereby saving millions of dollars in future repair and replacement costs. You can learn more about the work of Sea Grant here.
MN Forest Resources Council executive director Dave Zumeta & member Shawn Perich explain the council's mission & work
-Dick spoke Sept. 12 with Dave Zumeta, executive director of the MN Forest Resources Council, and Shawn Perich, member representing game species management, about the council, what it does, and how it affects our forests and businesses locally. The council is meeting Sept. 17 at North House Folk School in Grand Marais beginning at 9:30 a.m. The meeting is open to the public. You can learn more about the work of the MN Forest Resources Council here.
Amy & Dave Freeman paddling to DC to mark 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act
-National Geographic Adventurers of the Year Dave & Amy Freeman are starting their next adventure, Paddle to DC, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act and raise awareness of threats posed by proposed mining near the BWCAW. They spoke with Dick Aug. 22 about their trip, what they hope to accomplish along the way, and much more. You can follow them here. They'll be in Grand Marais for an event Sept. 2.
Expanding agriculture more selectively could produce more food, save more carbon--study from U of MN Institute on the Environment
-Dr. Justin Andrew Johnson, an economist with the Natural Capital Project at the Institute on the Environment, spoke with Dick Aug. 22. His latest study shows that by limiting agricultural expansion to certain key global regions, the growing need for food can be met, and more carbon can be preserved that with unguided expansion. Dr. Johnson explained the study and its findings and implications for agriculture and climate change. You can learn more about the Institute here.