The Vanishing Worlds of Audubon: Panel Discussion

L.A. River expert and nature author Jenny Price, Debs Park Audubon Center director Marcos Trinidad, and USC Dornsife College biological and earth sciences professors Sarah Bottjer and David Bottjer will discuss the disappearance of birds around the world and what it can teach us about environmental justice here in Los Angeles—as well as address the troubled history of John James Audubon. 

This event is part of a series held in conjunction with The Vanishing Worlds of Audubon, on display in Doheny Memorial Library from March 1–May 31, 2023, illuminating the works of artists and scientists who are addressing the challenges of avian extinction, habitat destruction, and the ever-growing threat of global climate change, along with items that highlight the complex history behind the illustrious artist, naturalist, and ornithologist John James Audubon.

Bios:

Paleobiologist and geobiologist David Bottjer is a professor of earth sciences, biological sciences, and environmental studies at USC. His current research is spurred by our current biotic crisis caused by global warming and what this could mean for life on Earth in the future. He also has strong interests in the interaction between art and science, with a focus on the natural world and its depiction by scientist artists such as John James Audubon.

Sarah Bottjer is a professor of biological sciences and psychology at USC who studies vocal learning in songbirds as a model system for understanding basic mechanisms of neural development, learning and memory, and brain-behavior relationships. Her work has helped to elucidate how the brain controls and produces behaviors (such as learned vocal utterances) and how early experience affects the development of neural networks.

Jenny Price is a public writer and artist who tells stories about environment and public space, and deploys a wide variety of public arts and humanities formats to do so. She has also co-founded the L.A. Urban Rangers collective, led tours of the concrete L.A. River, designed the alternative Nature Trail in Laumeier Sculpture Park, co-launched the “What Are You Doing?! (stop saving the planet!)” video series, and co-created the Our Malibu Beaches mobile phone app.

As center director at the Audubon Center at Debs Park, Marcos Trinidad has nurtured a growing community of volunteers, youth, and community partnerships; implemented a facility and grounds improvement plan; and partnered with the National Park Service to establish a vibrant native plant nursery. He was recognized in 2017 by the North American Association for Environmental Education as the recipient of the Rosa Parks and Grace Lee Boggs Award for his leadership in environmental justice, education, and advocacy.

Related Events:

The Vanishing Worlds of Audubon: Birding Walk for USC Students
Saturday, April 1, at 10 a.m.
Audubon Center at Debs Park, 4700 Griffith Ave., Los Angeles
For more info, click HERE

The Vanishing Worlds of Audubon: River Walk and Creative Workshop
Saturday, April 15, from 1 to 6 p.m.
Various Locations
For more info, click HERE

Presented by USC Visions and Voices. Organized by Aroussiak Gabrielian (Architecture), Tyson Gaskill (USC Libraries), Patty Johnson (USC Libraries), Lisa Mann (Cinematic Arts), Nathan Masters (USC Libraries), Anne-Marie Maxwell (USC Libraries), Amy Murphy (School of Architecture), and Tim Stanton (USC Libraries).