MIC Lecture Series

April 10 | Respectful Visitation of Cultural Sites & Ancestral Landscapes by Semira Crank

Visit With Respect is more than a phrase. It’s always been a deeply ingrained cultural mindset that Indigenous Tribes have long practiced and continue to do so today. Join us to learn about the educational campaign, Visit With Respect, and immerse yourself in understanding the context of being an ally to the landscape.

June 26 | Juneteenth: Freedom Day by Robert Anderson

Celebrate Juneteenth! Ranger Robby will discuss the history and significance of this federal holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans—2.5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

July 10 | Site Stewardship Program by Ian Wright (State Historic Preservation Office)

To better safeguard Utah’s cultural and archaeological heritage, the state legislature has established the Utah Cultural Site Stewardship (UCSS) Program. This initiative engages dedicated volunteers to help protect historic sites across private, municipal, county, state, and federal lands. Volunteer site stewards are trained citizens committed to long-term preservation by monitoring cultural assets for human or environmental damage. They also participate in projects that safeguard both tangible and intangible heritage, such as the development of Utah’s Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail. UCSS Program Manager Ian Wright will share how this program leads public engagement and education efforts in cultural heritage protection across Utah.

July 17 | Our Time in the Parks by Rhodes Smartt

Embark on a journey of introspection within our national parks: What is time, and why does it hold significance in our lives? Join Ranger Rhodes as he explores these questions, unraveling the diverse ways we perceive time. Discover how these insights shape our appreciation of public lands, influence conservation efforts, and guide park management strategies.

July 24 | Resilient Food Webs in a Changing Environment by Moria Robinson

Plants and the insects that eat them form the foundation of food webs on Earth. Beyond their central ecological importance, these diverse interactions can provide powerful insight into effects of environmental change. Among plant-feeding insects, caterpillars – the larval form of butterflies and moths – are a particularly important group of organisms. With over 11,000 described species in the United States, they are one of the most diverse insect groups. Living up to their “very hungry caterpillar” reputation, they are also impactful herbivores, imposing pressure on their plant hosts to evolve unique defenses – such as hairs, tough leaves, and chemicals – to prevent tissue loss.

Such adaptations in plants may be particularly pronounced in resource-limited and stressful ecosystems like the desert Southwest, where the cost of regenerating lost tissue is particularly high. In this talk, I will discuss how the environment – and its ongoing change – shapes the traits of native plants and the success of native caterpillar species on them, with implications for higher levels in the food web.

Moria is a CNHA Discovery Pool recipient.

August 7 | Soundscapes by Robert Anderson

Sounds are all around us, playing a vital role in both our physiology and our experience of public lands. The National Park Service is beginning to understand the relationship between sound and the natural resources within parks. By preserving natural soundscapes, we can enhance our enjoyment of these national treasures. Join Ranger Robert Anderson to learn more about the importance of sound in our parks.

August 28 | Geology of Canyonlands by Rhodes Smartt

Have you ever wondered how Canyonlands was formed? National Park Ranger and Geologist Rhodes Smartt will take us on a journey through the geologic history of Canyonlands National Park. He will discuss the geology of the greater Colorado Plateau and the Island in the Sky district, exploring how its unique formations led to uranium mining. Join us for an evening of geologic discovery!