18: They Are Really Important
We speak with Dr. Maria Dittrich of the University of Toronto about the threats facing large lakes on a global scale.
Scientists communicate findings in many different ways. When the information gathered points to a particularly dire situation, they may issue a warning to humanity. Forty-two scientists recently co-authored such a warning of rapid degradation of the world's large lakes. In the paper, they summarize threats observed across the globe, what these may mean for the systems humans and wildlife depend on, and how humans can help. In this episode of Teach Me About the Great Lakes, Stuart Carlton and Carolyn Foley speak with one of the study's co-authors, Dr. Maria Dittich, an associate professor of environmental science at the University of Toronto Scarborough. They discuss what the issues are, how humans can help, and how this paper came together.
- Follow Maria on Twitter!
- Copy of the paper "Scientists' Warning to Humanity: Rapid degradation of the world's large lakes" https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0380133020300988
- History of the World Scientists' Warnings
- Maria Dittrich Biogeochemistry Lab at the University of Toronto: https://mdbiogeochemistry.com/
- Information about ELLS-IAGLR Conferences http://iaglr.org/ells-iaglr/
- Lessons related to Great Lakes weather and climate https://www.cgll.org/?sfid=6278&_sft_great-lakes-literacy-principle=3-influence-on-weather-and-climate
- IAGLR Large Lakes of the World factsheet
- Lessons related to Great Lakes stressors being interconnected https://www.cgll.org/?sfid=6278
- Lake Ontario https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/lake-ontario#about
- Lake Constance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Constance
- To participate in beach cleanups:
- Bagels on Fire https://www.yelp.com/biz/bagels-on-fire-toronto
- The Beaches https://www.seetorontonow.com/explore-toronto/neighbourhoods/the-beaches/
- Video of a PONAR Grab Sampler on the RV Lake Guardian
Credits:
Host & Executive Producer: Stuart Carlton
Co-host: Carolyn Foley
Producers: Hope Charters, Carolyn Foley, Megan Gunn, & Irene Miles
Associate Producer: Ethan Chitty
Music by: Stuart Carlton
Host & Executive Producer: Stuart Carlton
Co-host: Carolyn Foley
Producers: Hope Charters, Carolyn Foley, Megan Gunn, & Irene Miles
Associate Producer: Ethan Chitty
Music by: Stuart Carlton
Creators and Guests
Host
Stuart Carlton
Stuart Carlton is the Assistant Director of the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program. He manages the day-to-day operation of IISG and works with the IISG Director and staff to coordinate all aspects of the program. He is also a Research Assistant Professor and head of the Coastal and Great Lakes Social Science Lab in the Department of Forestry & Natural Resources at Purdue, where he and his students research the relationship between knowledge, values, trust, and behavior in complex or controversial environmental systems.