USU's Science Unwrapped 'Leaves it to Beavers' Friday, Sept. 11
USU geomorphologist Joe Wheaton discusses his river restoration research partnering with beavers at Science Unwrapped speaker Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. in USU's Eccles Science Learning Center Auditorium. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
Prized for their pelts, North American beavers were nearly hunted to extinction by the late 19th century. Still viewed as a nuisance by many, the big-toothed rodents are emerging as partners in efforts to restore declining stream ecosystems affected by climate change.
“Beavers do a much better job of river restoration than we do, and have a much longer track record of river engineering,” says Utah State University geomorphologist Joe Wheaton. “Using beaver dams or beaver dam analogues, we can pursue a less obtrusive and much cheaper alternative restoration process that relies on working with physical processes as well as exploiting ecological processes.”
Wheaton is featured speaker for USU’s Science Unwrapped public science outreach program Friday, Sept. 11. He presents “Leave it to Beavers: Lessons from Nature’s Engineers” at 7 p.m. in the Eccles Science Learning Center Emert Auditorium, Room 130, on campus.
Wheaton is an associate professor in USU’s Department of Watershed Sciences and the USU Ecology Center. His talk, free and open to all ages, is followed by hands-on learning activities, exhibits and refreshments.
Hosted by USU’s College of Science, Wheaton’s presentation kicks off Science Unwrapped’s fall 2015 “Bridging Troubled Waters” series during the university’s “Year of Water.” Additional presentations are scheduled Oct. 9 and Nov. 6.
“We welcome our community to experience this fascinating water series,” says Nancy Huntly, Science Unwrapped chair, director of USU’s Ecology Center, professor in the Department of Biology and co-director of ARTsySTEM. “Our presentations offer something for everyone.”
For more information, call 435-797-3517, visit the Science Unwrapped website or view the ‘Science Unwrapped at USU’ Facebook page.
Related links:
- VIDEO: “Partnering with Beaver: Nature’s Hydrologists and Ecosystem Engineers”
- “River Restoration? Leave it to Beavers say USU Scientists,” Utah State Today
- USU College of Science
Contact: Nancy Huntly, 435-797-2555, nancy.huntly@usu.edu
Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu
North American beavers are emerging as key partners in river restoration efforts. USU scientist Joe Wheaton discusses efforts with 'nature's engineers’ in restoring declining stream ecosystems at Science Unwrapped Friday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m. at USU.
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