Author and desert ecologist Craig Childs to speak on campus Oct. 3
September 26, 2016
Written by Alyssa Langer | Photo submitted
The complex and fragile relationship between humans and the Earth will be explored when renowned author and desert ecologist Craig Childs visits the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
On Monday, Oct. 3, Childs will present his lecture "The Everending Earth or How the World is Always Ending" at 7 p.m. at Young Auditorium. The event, which is free and open to the public, is part of the College of Letters and Sciences Contemporary Issues Lecture Series.
Humans, animals, landscapes and geological time are all topics that Childs keenly understands and covers in dozens of his books, including Orion Book Award and Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award winner, "Apocalyptic Planet." His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Outside Magazine and Men's Journal.
"I couch my stories in adventure and epic landscapes. You could get through the whole talk, almost, without learning a thing, just enjoying the ride. Those who listen more deeply will learn about how the Earth functions and the risks we are taking," said Childs.
Childs plans on covering various themes in his lecture, including biological resilience, risks of dramatic climate alteration and what a person can do to effectively create change on Earth.
"The Earth also has climates that can be tipped, sometimes overthrown, not so good for us mortals. Though the planet lives on, the species here now, including us, might not. I am calling for people to be aware of how easily we can change fundamental global systems," said Childs.
Susan Johnson, coordinator of the lecture series and assistant dean of the College of Letters and Sciences, said that Childs would be discussing issues related to the environment from the perspective of a writer, rather than a scientist.
"We hope that students from all different majors will gain a better understanding of some of the current environmental challenges that we face," she said.
Childs teaches writing at the University of Anchorage Alaska and Southern New Hampshire University. When he is not in the classroom or making speaking appearances, he is living off the grid in Colorado or exploring new landscapes.