Shell museum continues lecture series on water
To celebrate its H2O Art Exhibition on display now through April 30, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum will continue its free lecture series on water on April 22 at 5 p.m. via Zoom with award-winning environmental journalist Cynthia Barnett.
In the program “Blue Revolution: A Water Ethic for America & Florida,” she will show attendees how one of the most water-rich states in the nation could come to face water quality and scarcity woes — and how it does not have to be this way. With a shared ethic for water, Floridians come together to use less and pollute less and work with nature as they prepare for sea-rise and other tremors of a changing climate. Barnett will describe how Floridians can live well with water today, in ways that do not jeopardize fresh clean water for their children, ecosystems and businesses tomorrow.
“Water defines us as Floridians no matter where we live. Idyllic beaches surround us on three sides,” she said. “Rivers and streams flow for 10,000 miles through the peninsula. We’re blessed with nearly 8,000 lakes and a thousand more freshwater springs — the largest concentration of artesian springs in the world. Florida’s economy and idyllic lifestyle are built on a foundation of pure and plentiful water. Yet the latest generation of Floridians has not inherited waters as clean and abundant as when they were born.”
To register for the program, visit ShellMuseum.org/h2o-lecture-series.
The museum’s goal for the lecture series and art exhibit is to build momentum on addressing the importance of water quality to the ecosystem. The exhibition can be viewed during regular hours with paid admission. Most of the artwork is for sale at a price set by the artist, with a commission to be donated to the museum.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is at 3075 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel.