For the Love of BUGS!  Where have all the insects gone?

The mission of the Boston Area Sustainability Group (BASG)is to break down the silos of knowledge within sustainability, to assist the perpetual education of ourselves and our peers, and to grow a robust community of subject matter experts equipped to collectively drive sustainability forward. We are an affinity group of 1600+ sustainability professionals representing a myriad of industries, academia, government, NGO, and not-for-profit entities in the Boston area. Since 2009, we have come together on a regular basis to network, to learn, and to exchange on critical topics of sustainability. Learn more at www.basg.org.

Boston Area Sustainability Group

Insects. They are all around us, in our homes, on our skin, in our soil, and buzzing around our ears.  They fly, they dance, they sing, they swim, they pollinate. Some are huge and some are too tiny to see with the naked eye. Some we love for their beauty, others for their important ecological function, and others simply annoy us. Regardless, their survival is directly linked to ours (and ours to theirs!) and, unfortunately, many are in steep decline.  
The evidence is mounting: the west-coast population of monarch butterflies has fallen by 90% over the last 20 years; the rusty-patched bumblebee, which was once found in 28 states, has declined by 87% in the same amount of time; and flying insects in German nature reserves have decreased by 75% in 27 years. We haven’t even identified all the insects on the planet, let alone their ecological function, yet many are dying with unknown consequences. And yet, you will hear anecdotes of booming insect populations or insects spreading well beyond their historical range, impacting the crops we eat and the forests we rely on.  
So, what’s going on, why does it matter, and what can we do about it? Join us at BASG's April 2nd event to find out with featured speakers: 
<IMG SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/5358667/aprilspeakers.png">
Nick Dorian, Tufts University Nick Dorian is a second-year PhD student at Tufts University in Medford, MA. He studies native cellophane bees and the impact of landscape change on their populations. Nick’s passion for science communication and outreach leads him to share what he knows about insects and native plant gardening to anyone willing to listen. When he’s not in the field chasing bees, Nick photographs birds, tends to his many gardens, and tries to bake the perfect sourdough bread. 
Richard Robinson, Northeast Organic Farming Association Richard Robinson is a member of the Board of Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts chapter. With his wife, he runs Hopestill Farm in Sherborn, a certified organic farm where they have been growing organic vegetables, small fruits, and cut-your-own Christmas trees for over 40 years. He is also a science writer, specializing in neuroscience and biomedicine.
Dr. Mario Motta, American Medical Association Dr. Mario Motta is well known as a doctor and an astronomer. He is a Cardiologist practicing in Salem Massachusetts, and has been in various roles in the Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Medical Association, including authoring the AMA policy on outdoor lighting while on the council of science. He was elected to be a trustee of the AMA this past year. In 2013, the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid in his honor. Dr. Motta will share insights on our night sky and what light is the best for bugs.
For this event BASG is proud to partner with:
<A HREF="https://www.grownativemass.org" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Grow Native</A>, inspires people to action across the Commonwealth on behalf of native plants and the diversity of life they support.
The <A HREF="http://eciton.org" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Cambridge Etimological Club</A>, founded 1874, is the third oldest entomological society in the US. It holds regular lectures on insect topics
The <A HREF="https://toxicsaction.org" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Toxics Action Center</A>, whose mission is to work side-by-side with communities, empowering you with the skills and resources needed to prevent or clean up pollution at the local level.
 
 
See you there! ~Carol, Tilly, Holly, Eric and Amy
 
 
<H5 CLASS="MsoNormal">Photo: Michael Hodge, Creative Commons (<A HREF="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyalophora_cecropia_caterpillar.jpg" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">details</A>)</H5>

CiC Venture Cafe (Kendall Square)

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