Signs of the Times – A Piece: Climate Change Biology – G180614
Examine climate change drawing on art and science in the classroom and the field. Document environmental conditions with your camera and use reflective photography to artistically express your viewpoint on climate change studies and your time in the field. For more information, see
https://augustana.net/users/hager/Stephen_B._Hager/Home.html
For 27 years, Ghost Ranch has hosted leaders in the Church, international affairs, politics and social justice organizations in annual discussion regarding moral issues facing church and society. This year we build on the theme bringing together biologists, a poet and medical anthropologist, musicians, theologians, educators and community leaders. To paraphrase an argument made in 1968 by Senegalese environmentalist Baba Dioum, we won’t save places we don’t love; we can’t love places we don’t know, and we don’t know places we haven’t learned. A symbiotic, relational ethos of watershed literacy and stewardship is crucial to the survival and flourishing of traditional societies. Watershed Discipleship is a “triple entendre” that recognizes we are in a watershed historical moment of crisis, focuses on our intrinsically bioregional locus as followers of Jesus, and urges us to become disciples of our watersheds.” ~ Ched Myers, 2016
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Wallace J Nichols, Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols, called “Keeper of the Sea” by GQ Magazine and “a visionary” by Outside Magazine is an innovative, silo-busting, entrepreneurial scientist, movement maker, renown marine biologist, voracious Earth and idea explorer, wild water advocate, bestselling author, sought-after lecturer, and fun-loving Dad.
Ministering Peace and Justice
Laurie Kraus, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, PCUSA, Sara Lisherness, Director, Compassion, Peace & Justice Ministry, PCUSA
These dynamic leaders from PCUSA will organize this week’s worship in response to the wonderful experiences that will emerge and unfold.
The Sounds of Peace and Justice
Tim Gibbs-Zehnder and Tom Zehnder
These brothers lend their hearts and music for social justice during morning worship, evening concert, and spontaneous moments throughout the week! For more information, see ztheband.com
Stephen B Hager
Stephen B. Hager, Ph.D., is a biology professor at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, where he has been teaching and doing research in biology for nearly 20 years. In his classes, he explores with students the current status of climate change and how this change is affecting the Earth’s biota. Steve relies heavily on nature photography in teaching and research for discovery of our natural world and artistic expression.
“My research program seeks to understand the causes of human-related threats to natural bird populations. The natural world is one giant dynamic system. Change through time is the rule, and I attempt to provide visual evidence of that change. The natural world is engaging. I try to make photographs that tell a story of my interactions–moments of engagement–with nature. Making photographs of the natural world is a form of discovery for me. I conduct two forms of nature photography studies, repeat and nature photography.”
For more information about Steve’s teaching and research, and to view samples from his nature photography studies, visit: https://sites.google.com/