Rolf Peterson to speak on Wolf-Moose study for MTU Earth Week Mar. 20

This photo of the Middle Pack on Lake Desor, Isle Royale, was taken in February 2006 by John Vucetich, co-leader, with Rolf Peterson, of Isle Royale wolf-moose research. It is one of the 135 photos one can find in the Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale DVD.* (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2006 John Vucetich. Reprinted with permission.)

HOUGHTON -- Rolf Peterson, world-renowned researcher, will give the keynote speech, “The Wolves of Isle Royale After 50 Years,” for Michigan Tech University's Earth Week, sponsored by MTU's Students for Environmental Sustainability (SfES).

Peterson's talk will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 20, in Room U115 of the Minerals and Materials (M&M) Building on campus. Free copies of his book The Wolves of Isle Royale - A Broken Balance will be given to the first 75 people to arrive, and free trail mix will be available.

"Each year the Students for Environmental Sustainability hope to increase awareness of environmental-related issues on the Michigan Tech campus and in the community," said Heather Wright, SfES member. "We feel it is important to show environmental issues, whether on a local, regional, or global scale, in a fun and exciting way that encourages other individuals to get involved."

Other Earth Week events include two movies to be shown at 7 p.m. in Room U113 of the Minerals and Materials (M&M) Building on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

On Tuesday, Mar. 18, the film Seasonal Forests will be shown. One of the 11 episodes of the Planet Earth series, this film tells the story of seasonal forests and plant survival. It includes areas from Siberia to Tasmania to the Upper Peninsula and footage of elusive wildlife.

Princess Mononoke, a Japanese animated film, will be shown on Wednesday, Mar. 19. It focuses on the struggles between supernatural guardians of the forest and humans who are consuming its resources. The hero, Ashiitaka, struggles to help both the humans and the creatures of the forest find balance and harmony.

MTU's Earth Week correlates with International Earth Day (March 21, the Vernal Equinox) rather than the United States Earth Day (April 22).

*Editor's Note: For more information on the 50th Anniversary of Wolf-Moose Research on Isle Royale, visit the Web site.