Human Impacts across the Landscape
Dan Perlman
Conservation Biologist
Think you know Cold Spring Park? Concerned about the future of planet Earth? See them in a whole new light with biologist and photographer Dan Perlman. Dan will discuss a wide range of human impacts at both the local and global levels. On the local level, he will describe the history of the Cold Spring Park area since Newton was settled by Europeans. This part of the talk will be illustrated with maps, aerial photos, and photographs Dan has taken in the park for the past 18 months. During that period, Dan has photographed the same scene twice every month, creating a powerful teaching and learning tool he has shared with students in many of Newton’s public schools.
For the discussion of global impacts, Dan will use materials from Conserving Earth’s Biodiversity, a CD-ROM that he and Harvard biologist Professor E.O. Wilson co-developed. It is hailed by one by one scientist as “…a breakthrough in science teaching through interactive multimedia. The combination of E.O. Wilson’s on-screen narration, and Dan Perlman’s educational design and content make this production a must for science students and teachers.” Signed copies of the CD (at a $10 discount) will be available for sale at the lecture to benefit the Newton Conservators and the Newton Free Library. Dan has also graciously offered copies the CD-ROM as a holiday gift to our members. This multimedia CD is called Conserving Earth’s Biodiversity and will make a perfect gift for anyone who on your holiday list who shares your interest in the environment and open space conservation. A portion of the proceeds from each CD sold will go into our treasury to cover expenses associated with open space preservation.
About the Speaker
Dan taught conservation biology at Harvard for nine years, where he won the Phi Betta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award. He has joined the biology faculty at Brandeis University. Over the past half dozen years, Dan has also offered science programs in nearly all of the Newton Public Schools. For further info, please contact Dan Perlman at (617) 969-3047.
