Chairmen
Claire Bernard
Suzanne Cochran                        
Katheryn P. Kempner
Catherine B. Sidamon-Eristoff    
Constance Spahn 

On Wednesday, April 24, 2013, the American Museum of Natural History will host the 23rd Annual Spring Environmental Lecture and Luncheon, which will focus on the resilience of island ecosystems as they face increasing environmental threats.

This year's lecture, moderated by Lynn Sherr of ABC News' "20/20," will feature prominent conservation experts addressing island resilience, including the recovery of New York City and surrounding areas after Hurricane Sandy.

Lynn Sherr, moderator, was an award-winning correspondent for ABC News’ 20/20 and currently freelances on the air, in print, and online. Throughout her career she has covered a wide range of stories, specializing in women’s issues and social change as well as investigative reports. She is currently writing the authorized biography of the late astronaut Sally Ride. Her latest book, SWIM: Why We Love the Water, will be published in paperback in June.  Her other books include her memoir, Outside the Box: My Unscripted Life of Love, Loss and Television News (2006), Tall Blondes: A Book About Giraffes (1997); and America the Beautiful: The Stirring, True Story Behind Our Nation's Favorite Song (2001). She is moderating the Spring Environmental Lecture and Luncheon for the 10th time. 

Stuart Gaffin, panelist, is a research scientist at the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University. His areas of research include projections of New York City regional climate impacts, including temperature, precipitation, extreme events, and sea level rise; the urban heat island effect and the role of urban vegetation and high albedo surfaces as mitigation strategies; and greenhouse gas emissions scenarios and their relation to air pollution and regional population changes. Prior to joining Columbia in 2001, Dr. Gaffin was a senior scientist in the Atmosphere Program at the Environmental Defense Fund in New York City. He received his Ph.D. degree in atmospheric and paleoclimate studies from the former Earth Systems Group at New York University.

Philip Kramer, panelist, is the director of The Nature Conservancy’s Caribbean Program. Based in the Florida Keys office, Dr. Kramer is responsible for developing and implementing the strategic vision and management of the Conservancy’s initiatives throughout the Caribbean. Before joining the Conservancy in 2003, Dr. Kramer spent six years as a research scientist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine
and Atmospheric Science. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology
from the University of California in San Diego and PhDs in biology
and marine geology from the University of Miami. Phil has an avid interest
in nature and history and enjoys fly-fishing, hiking, kayaking, boat building,
and sharing these hobbies with his young family. The Nature Conservancy
is the world’s largest environmental non-profit organization working in all 50
states and in more than 30 countries.

Seth W. Pinsky, panelist, was appointed president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2008.  In December 2012, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Mayor Bloomberg appointed Seth to lead the City’s Special Initiative for Rebuilding & Resiliency (SIRR). The Mayor tasked the SIRR team, consisting of more than thirty professionals, with creating a report that will address the challenges of how to rebuild local communities impacted by the storm and how to improve critical citywide systems and infrastructure in order to make New York City more resilient given the likely long-term impacts of climate change. Prior to joining NYCEDC, Seth was an associate at the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton and a financial analyst at James D. Wolfensohn Incorporated. Seth is a graduate of Columbia College and Harvard Law School.

This thought-provoking program will be followed by lunch in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, where guests can continue conversations sparked by the panel discussion and enjoy the company of good friends.
Join us in celebrating the 23rd edition of this important and informative Museum event.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Please respond no later than Thursday, April 11, to ensure that your name is included in the program.
• All sales are final.  Tickets will not be mailed in advance.
• The non-tax deductible portion of each ticket is $135 and of each table is $1,350.
• For more information, please call the Development Special Events Office at 212-769-5165 or email ELL2013@amnh.org.
• Please email all seating requests to ELL2013@amnh.org.