Morris Arboretum’s 2016-2017 Lecture Series Concludes with National Geographic Explorer, Dr. John Francis

Morris Arboretum’s 2016-2017 Lecture Series concludes with National Geographic explorer and educator Dr. John Francis, on Sunday, March 5 at 2pm with his talk, “Planetwalker: Dr. John Francis Approaching Sustainability.”  Dr. Francis will speak about his transformation from an environmental activist to environmental practitioner and how his and our own journeys might lead us closer to sustainability. This event will be held at Temple University’s Ambler Campus Learning Center Auditorium, 580 Meetinghouse Road, Ambler and is presented by Morris Arboretum in partnership with Temple University Ambler.

Francis, who was born in Philadelphia, began his work in 1971 when, after witnessing an oil spill in San Francisco Bay, he stopped using motorized vehicles and took a vow of silence lasting 17 years. He earned three degrees, including a doctorate in land resources, from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The founder of Planetwalk, an environmental awareness organization, Francis ended his silence on Earth Day 1990, telling the assembled crowd, “Environment is about how we treat each other.” He served as project manager for the United States Coast Guard Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and authored Planetwalker: 17-Years of Silence, 22-Years of Walking, and Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World, both published by National Geographic Books.

A reception with refreshments will follow this 2pm talk.  The cost for each lecture is $20 for non-members and $15 for Arboretum members, Temple alumni, and partner institutions.  Advanced registration and payment are required.  To register, please visit www.morrisarboretum.com, or call 215-247-5777, ext. 125.  Don’t delay.  The last three lectures sold out!

 

Lectures are supported in part by the Klein Lecture Endowment given in memory of Dr. William M. Klein who served from 1977-1990 as the Arboretum’s first full-time director, the Laura L. Barnes Lecture Endowment of The Philadelphia Foundation, given in memory of Laura Barnes by students and alumni of her school of horticulture, and the Byron Lukens Lecture Endowment, given in memory of educator and Arboretum volunteer, Byron Lukens and his wife Elizabeth.

The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is located at 100 East Northwestern Avenue in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia.  The 92-acre horticulture display garden features a spectacular collection of mature trees in a beautiful and colorful landscape. The Arboretum includes numerous picturesque spots such as a formal rose garden, historic water features, a swan pond, and the only remaining freestanding fernery in North America. A new permanent nationally award winning exhibit, Out on a Limb – a Tree Adventure Exhibit adds to Morris Arboretum’s allure by transporting visitors 50 feet up into the treetops on a canopy walk that requires no climbing.  The Morris Arboretum’s new Horticulture Center Complex has received Platinum Level LEED® Certification, the highest sustainability rating of the U.S. Green Building Council. For more information, visit www.morrisarboretum.org.

Photo Credit:  Glenn Oakley

Photo Caption:  Morris Arboretum’s 2016-2017 Lecture Series concludes with National Geographic explorer and educator Dr. John Francis, on Sunday, March 5 at 2pm with his talk, “17 Years of Silence:  Dr. John Francis Approaching Sustainability.”  Dr. Francis will speak about his transformation from an environmental activist to environmental practitioner and how his and our own journeys might lead us closer to sustainability. This event will be held at Temple University’s Ambler Campus Learning Center Auditorium, 580 Meetinghouse Road, Ambler and is presented by Morris Arboretum in partnership with Temple University Ambler. A reception with refreshments will follow this 2pm talk.  The cost for each lecture is $20 for non-members and $15 for Arboretum members, Temple alumni, and partner institutions.  Advanced registration and payment are required.  To register, please visit www.morrisarboretum.com, or call 215-247-5777, ext. 125.