Saturday, September 23, 2023 · 1 - 2:30 p.m. · Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE)
Cassandra Brooks, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
Join Professor Cassandra Brooks as she tells stories from the bottom of the world and her efforts to protect it. Brooks will share imagery and stories from research expeditions to Antarctica, including the challenges of conducting science operations in the windiest, coldest, and most extreme environment on earth; and the incredible array of superbly adapted wildlife that live in the Southern Ocean. She will also share the remarkable story of how she worked alongside a coalition of millions to protect the Ross Sea, Antarctica and how it now stands as the world’s largest marine protected area. Come to CU on the Weekend and listen about Antarctica, and how beyond its extreme beauty, it also serves as a critically important global commons which is threatened by climate change and commercial fishing. Brooks is working to safeguard this place and invites you to join her by learning more.
About the Lecturer
Cassandra Brooks is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder. As an interdisciplinary engaged scholar, she works across marine science and international environmental policy, largely focused on protecting the waters around Antarctica. Brooks is also an accomplished science communicator and was a core member of The Last Ocean, a grand-scale media project focused on protecting the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Her work helped drive the adoption of the world’s largest marine protected area in the Ross Sea, Antarctica in 2016. Since 2012, Cassandra directly participates in Antarctic policy as a Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research delegate at annual meetings of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Her current Antarctic marine conservation projects are funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, NASA and NSF, including a recent NSF CAREER award to study ecology of Antarctic toothfish in the Ross Sea. She has received a Switzer Environmental Leadership Award, Society of Women Geographers Jackie Ronne Award, Explorer’s Club 50 honor, the Association for Environmental Studies & Sciences Early Career Award as well as CU Boulder’s Excellence in Service and Leadership Award and Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award. Through her teaching, which is largely focused on environmental governance and conservation solutions, she seeks to empower the next generations of environmental leaders.