University of Maryland Researcher to Discuss “Wetlands and Climate Change”
September 16, 2019
Ariana Sutton-Grier
Ariana Sutton-Grier, a visiting associate research professor at the University of Maryland, will discuss "Wetlands and Climate Change" as the Paul W. Kirk Jr. Memorial Lecture for Wetlands Ecology speaker.
Her talk is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the University Theatre.
Sutton-Grier is an ecosystem ecologist with expertise in wetland ecology and restoration, biodiversity, biogeochemistry, climate change and ecosystem services. She holds honors bachelor's degrees in environmental science and international studies from Oregon State University and a doctoral degree in ecology from Duke University. Her research interests include the relationships between nature/biodiversity and human health, coastal blue carbon, and natural and nature-based coastal resilience strategies.
She has been published in more than 40 environmental and policy journals, and one of her papers won the Ecological Society of America 2016 "Innovations in Sustainability Science" award. This year, she was selected as Sigma Xi Scientific Honors Society's Young Investigator. She is particularly focused on seeking innovative opportunities to combine science and policy to solve environmental problems and promote ecosystem conservation.
Paul Kirk, then professor emeritus of biology, died in November, 2013 at age 82. He taught at ODU from 1971 until his retirement in 1992; serving during that time as associate dean for the College of Sciences and Health Professions and as director of the biology masters degree program.
His son, Allan Kirk, is chairman of surgery at Duke University with expertise in transplant immunology that is internationally recognized. A gift from Kirk and his wife, Robin, made the lecture series and future research possible.
The lecture is part of the "ODU Presents" series of multidisciplinary speakers that support the University's research and community outreach mission. Her talk is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. For information, guests should call (757) 683-5759.
