REGIONAL LAKE COMMUNITIES SYMPOSIUM – THREATS TO OUR LAKES: In continuation of the series that began in 2019, the WCSU Department of Biology, in collaboration with the Connecticut Federation of Lakes and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, will host the first of three Regional Lake Communities Symposia, “Threats to Our Lakes: Emerging Issues of Connecticut Lakes” at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17. The virtual symposium via WebEx will include a panel discussion moderated by WCSU Limnology Instructor Larry Marsicano, principal limnologist at Aquatic Ecosystem Research LLC. Featured speakers will include Vickey Kelly, manager of Environmental Monitoring at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, who will address “Road Salt: The Problem, the Solution and How to Get There,” and Robert Wyant, Highway Superintendent for Rhinebeck, New York, who will discuss “An Introduction to Available Resources and Expert Support.”

The symposium is free and the public is invited to join in via WebEx. Attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions to the panelists. Registration is required at https://westconn.tfaforms.net/217. A custom link will be sent via email to pre-registrants on the day of the event.

Upcoming Regional Lake Communities Symposia will include:

• “The Status of Current Lake Research at WCSU” at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14. WCSU Professor of Biology Dr. Theodora Pinou will moderate a discussion with panelists Andrew Selino, Maria Rodriguez Hernandez and Ian Olsen, WCSU graduate students pursuing Master of Science in Integrative Biological Diversity degrees, who will discuss their current research. This event will be in person in Room 125 of the Science Building on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury.

• “Where Have the Aquatic Plants Gone?” at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12. WCSU Limnology Instructor Larry Marsicano will moderate a discussion with guest speakers to be announced. This will be a virtual event.

For more information, send an email to Dr. Theodora Pinou at pinout@wcsu.educreate new email.