Earthwatch 24: an evening of science around the world
On Tuesday, April 13, Earthwatch will honor the work of its volunteer citizen scientists and the professional scientists they assist with a unique celebration at the Harvard Club of New York City.
Sponsored in part by Earthwatch partners HSBC and Travelocity, “Earthwatch 24” will feature Dr. Kathy Townsend (Goldring Emerging Marine Science Fellow), live web conversations with an HSBC Climate Champion in Hong Kong, a Live From the Field Teacher Fellow in Nova Scotia, brief “field reports” from NYC-area educators, teacher fellows, and volunteers, and interactive science stations. These stations will let guests find out more about how Earthwatch supports research and conservation efforts in key areas such as climate change, ocean health, cultural heritage, and ecosystems. Dr. Townsend will discuss her ongoing research into the effects of marine debris on sea turtle mortality in Australia, research that is now being supported by the 1-day Earthwatch expedition Turtles in Trouble.
Guests will also have the opportunity to bid on a wide range of auction items, and to sponsor NYC-area educators’ participation on the short duration teams of our New York City Wildlife project, studying small mammals and coyotes in the greater New York urban ecosystem.
Since its founding in 1971, Earthwatch has been a leader in the citizen science movement. Through the development of short duration teams, educator and employee fellowships, urban research settings, and through the increased use of communications technology, we’re staying in the vanguard, finding more and more ways for citizens from all walks of life to get involved in helping conduct the quality science needed to address critical environmental challenges—and to inspire others to do the same. To date, more than 90,000 individuals have become citizen scientists with Earthwatch, taking part on thousands of research and conservation efforts worldwide and contributing more than 7 million hours of field work.
“Earthwatch 24” will put these efforts center stage in a new way. As Denise Trapani, Director of Major Gifts for Earthwatch says, “The Event Committee this year has been determined to highlight and support the work being done by everyday volunteers, to put ‘citizen scientists’ at the heart of the event and let people see that when they support Earthwatch, they’re supporting these people working to make positive changes in the world.”
We hope you can join us in New York next month, and invite you to sponsor the event or make a donation in honor of Earthwatch’s citizen scientists. Please also visit the event’s Facebook page by going to www.facebook.com/earthwatch and selecting it from the “Events” menu on the left.