‘Grassroots Stewardship’ event to highlight practical sustainability solutions

September 2, 2020

Marmian Grimes

Photo by Tore Marklund. Terry Chapin
Photo by Tore Marklund. Terry Chapin


University of Alaska Fairbanks emeritus professor and Volvo Environment Prize winner Terry Chapin will host a live online discussion about practical ways to transition nature and society toward a more sustainable future.

The free event is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, at 4 p.m. and will be streamed live on the UAF Facebook page and available via a Zoom webinar. The discussion will center on the concepts introduced in Chapin’s new book, “Grassroots Stewardship: Sustainability Within Our Reach,” which was recently published by Oxford University Press. Informed by Chapin’s five decades as an ecologist, “Grassroots Stewardship” takes on one of humanity’s most daunting challenges and brings it down to a personal level.

“The book’s pragmatic focus serves as a timely antidote to current public despair about environmental degradation, social injustice, and ineffective government leadership,” Chapin said. “We can fix these problems if we choose to do so.”

The discussion, which is available to participants worldwide, will explore the concept of stewardship and how people’s individual actions have the potential shape a more sustainable future for their community, nation and planet, without sacrificing their personal needs.

Longtime KUAC journalist Robert Hannon will moderate the discussion. Panelists include science communications researcher Kristin Timm, Igiugig Village Council President Alexanna Salmon and Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition Director Jessica Girard. Attendees will be invited to pose questions and interact with each other throughout the event on the Facebook platform.

Chapin will preview the Sept. 10 event during an interview on Hannon’s radio show, “Northern Soundings,” Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. on KUAC.

To join the discussion on Facebook, visit https://www.facebook.com/uafairbanks. To join via Zoom, visit http://bit.ly/chapin-grassroots-zoom on the day of the event.

ABOUT THE BOOK: “Grassroots Stewardship: Sustainability Within Our Reach”

CONTACT: Marmian Grimes, 907-474-7902, mlgrimes@alaska.edu