A screening of Green Fire, a documentary about renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, and a discussion will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Digital Auditorium of the Hurley Convergence Center at the University of Mary Washington.
Green Fire focuses on Leopold’s most famous book, “A Sand County Almanac,” a collection of essays exploring his views of the natural world. The film examines his concept of the “land ethic,” the concept that human beings are responsible for the care of the land they inhabit. With the retelling of Leopold’s extraordinary career, Green Fire depicts how he helped shape principles of 20th century conservation and continues to inspire.
“As a land conservation organization,” said Shannon O’Neil Adams, land conservation specialist, “Northern Virginia Conservation Trust has decided to honor this legendary conservationist by sharing his message of the land ethic with our community.”
Following the screening of the film, UMW professors and a student will lead a panel discussion. Panelists will include Professor Jason Matzke from the Department of Classics, Philosophy and Religion, Professor of Biology Alan Griffith and Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Melanie Szulczewski, as well as student Kait Brogan.
“Leopold’s land ethic opens up traditional ideas of community to include the natural world and all of its parts,” said . Szulczewski. “We hope that the film and panel discussion will spur thought and conversation about the role of the land ethic in modern society.”
The event is hosted and sponsored by UMW along with the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust , the President’s Council on Sustainability, and the departments of earth and environmental sciences, biology and classics, philosophy and religion.
For more information of the event and a short trailer for the film, visit NVCT’s event page.
