Connecting People Through Place and Storytelling
Sense of Place provides opportunities to learn about the Columbia Gorge region and its related history, people and unique landscapes.
Mt. Adams Institute is excited to announce the line-up for the popular Sense of Place Lecture Series. Now in its 11th season, the series will feature virtual lectures rather than in-person events as a way to mitigate risks associated with COVID 19. Lectures are on the second or third Wednesday of the month, October through April, at 7 p.m. Descriptions of each lecture and information about how to access the lectures are available at mtadamsinstitute.org/senseofplace.
Sense of Place
Sense of Place (SOP) features presenters with a unique knowledge of the Columbia River Gorge who consider the natural, cultural, and political history that has shaped this place. The presenters can include scientists, tribal members, authors, farmers, and many others from throughout the Pacific Northwest. The information and stories shared at these talks deepen our understanding of the Gorge and strengthens our connection to the landscape and each other.
The Mt. Adams Institute's mission is to strengthen the connection to the natural world through education, service learning, career development, and research.
“When we heard from the Sense of Place audience that they supported us hosting a virtual lecture series in spite of pandemic restrictions, we knew we had to find a way,” said Brendan Norman, Executive Director of Mt. Adams Institute. “I have no doubt the line-up, the topics, and the new additions to this season are going to make it a Sense of Place series unlike any we’ve had before.”
Words from the Host
The season welcomes the return of Sarah Fox as the host and curator. “The format of this season will be unconventional, but the line-up of speakers could not be more intriguing. The variety of topics and range of guests will provide a great opportunity to learn about and connect to the Gorge during this fall and winter,” she said.
Fox said, “The decision to move forward with season 11 came after overwhelming support from an audience survey expressing a desire for the season, even in a virtual format.”.
“A memorable sentiment from the surveys was that having Sense of Place this year would provide a needed sense of continuity for the community,” she said.
Exciting New “Firsts”
This season, Sense of Place will offer a few exciting “firsts”.
All lectures will be recorded, archived, and made available to the public
Admission to the lectures will be free, with the option to donate to support the program.
The December lecture will be made available in both Spanish and English
Sense of Place has launched the Dear Neighbor Project, which provides a way for participants to engage with one another in meaningful ways. Dear Neighbor is a letter-exchange project that will run concurrently with season 11 of Sense of Place. More information can be found at mtadamsinstitute.org/dear-neighbor
Dates and Lectures
November 18, 2020 - Klickitat County: The Cradle of Plant-Based Diets
Speaker: Seth Tibbott
December 16, 2020 - Meet Your Neighbor: A Conversation with Gladys Rivera
Speaker: Gladys Rivera
January 13, 2021 - Magical, Menacing, and Magnificent Wildlife: How to Ensure their Future in the Gorge
Speaker: Bill Weiler
February 17, 2021 - Black Pioneers on the Oregon Trail
Speaker: Zachary Stocks
March 10, 2021 - The Legacy and Promise of Land Grant Universities and Oregon State Extension in the Gorge
Speaker: Ann Harris
April 14, 2021 - Pikas Under Fire: American Pika Ecology and Behavior in a Time of Global Change
Speaker: Dr. Johanna Varner
