A Michigan State University aquatic ecologist will discuss the 2010 Enbridge oil spill at a free community event Oct. 8.
Stephen K. Hamilton, MSU professor of ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, based at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners, will present "The Kalamazoo River oil spill: Catastrophe and recovery" as part of KBS's "Dessert with Discussion" lecture series.
The July 2010 pipeline rupture near Marshall, Mich., sent millions of gallons of tar sands crude oil into the Kalamazoo River system, creating the largest inland oil spill in U.S. history.
Hamilton will provide an update on the cleanup and status of the river ecosystem and will examine the spill¹s implications for national and international energy policy.
Hamilton serves as an independent adviser to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has provided local knowledge and scientific advice to the emergency response, cleanup and remediation efforts. He is president of the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council and has been interviewed by numerous national media outlets, including NPR, National Geographic and the New York Times.
Representatives of local conservation organizations will be also on hand at the event to talk about their work in protecting the region's waters.
Event sponsors include the Four Townships Water Resources Council, the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council and the MSU W.K. Kellogg Biological Station.
Dessert with Discussion takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the KBS Academic Center Auditorium, 3700 E. Gull Lake Dr., Hickory Corners. Dessert, tea and coffee will be served free of charge. Call (269) 671-2015 for more information, or visit the KBS website.
The W.K. Kellogg Biological Station is MSU's largest off-campus education complex and one of North America's premier inland field stations. The KBS mission is focused on ecological and environmental research, education and community outreach. This year, KBS marks 50 years of aquatic ecology research.