February 12, 2014, Wednesday - A Sip of Science at Aster Cafe

Time: 5:30pm

Location: Aster Cafe (River Room) 125 SE Main Street

February Sip of Science: The Oil Palm: Agricultural Marvel, Environmental Menace?

A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum in which researchers pair with musicians, artists and storytellers to put science in context through storytelling.

Palm oil is probably an integral part of your life. Used in products ranging from granola bars to soap, it is the most-consumed vegetable oil in the world. The high-yielding oil palm, which only grows near the equator, has been vilified as a leading driver of deforestation and carbon emissions. Until recently, little robust research has confirmed these allegations. New satellite remote sensing analyses provide documentation of oil palm’s accelerating expansion into Southeast Asia’s tropical forests and peatlands. Carlson will assess the environmental consequences of the rapidly growing oil palm industry, identify gaps in our understanding of how plantation expansion alters ecosystems, and explore potential solutions to reconcile palm oil production with conservation.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Kimberly Carlson is a Global Landscapes Initiative postdoctoral scholar at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. She earned her doctorate at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. While not exploring trade-offs between agriculture and the environment, you can find Kim on a yoga mat, running around a lake, learning to speak Portuguese, or dancing lindy hop.

This talk takes place during happy hour at the Aster Cafe - Food and Drink Available for Purchase.