Next K-State Larson Lecture speaker to present 'Global Environmental Change: An African Perspective'

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Sources: Elfrieda Nafziger, 785-532-5990, elfrieda@k-state.edu;
and David Hartnett, 785-532-5925, dchart@k-state.edu
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/MediaGuide/hartnettbio.html
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Friday, March 30, 2007

NEXT K-STATE LARSON LECTURE SPEAKER TO PRESENT 'GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: AN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE'

MANHATTAN -- David Hartnett will present "Global Environmental Change: An African Perspective" Wednesday, April 11, as part of Kansas State University's Vernon Larson International Luncheon-Lecture Series.

The lecture begins at 12:20 p.m. and lasts until 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 17th Street and Anderson Avenue. A luncheon starting at 11:45 a.m. will precede the lecture. Cost for the luncheon is $10. Reservations should be made by Friday, April 6, by calling the office of international programs at 785-532-5990. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Hartnett is a university distinguished professor of biology at K-State and former director of the Konza Prairie Biological Station. His lecture will provide an overview of key environmental issues and conservation challenges in Africa, discussing consequences of global environmental changes such as land-use change, climate change and loss of biodiversity on developing regions in Africa. Hartnett will illustrate some of the challenges facing Africa using examples from Botswana, such as elephant populations, ecotourism and water resources.

Hartnett has researched the ecology, biodiversity and conservation of African grasslands and savannas since 2000. A great deal of his work has been collaborative efforts with colleagues at the University of Botswana.

Hartnett has been at K-State since 1986. He earned both a bachelor's and a master's in biology from Bucknell University, and a doctorate in plant biology from the University of Illinois. Hartnett received a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award in 2002 to teach at the University of Botswana and currently serves on the Fulbright African regional research committee.

The Vernon Larson Luncheon-Lecture series was started in 1979 by Vernon C. Larson, then director of international agriculture programs at K-State. The series consists of six lectures -- three presented during the fall semester and three presented during the spring semester -- and offers the K-State community a chance to hear presentations from faculty who have recently participated in extensive overseas activity or who are involved in major international activities. The Friends of International Programs at K-State sponsors the lecture series.