Water needs to be part of the public dialogue, say organizers of an event that combines the arts with a discussion of water policy.
The Florida Studies Program will host “Water in Florida: Environmental Humanities Meet Public Policy” on Friday, March 30.
Christopher Meindl, the director of the FSP and the moderator for the night, would like to “provide an opportunity for the public to listen and interact with several prominent authors and policy oriented people regarding water resources.”
Members on the panel include author Bill Belleville; journalist and author Cynthia Barnett; professors at the University of Florida Jack E. Davis and Steven Noll; photographer John Morgan; Poet Laureate of St. Petersburg Peter Meinke; Tom Swiheart, a former administrator of the Office of Water Policy in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and painter and author Margaret Ross Tolbert.
Former Governor of Florida and Mayor of Tampa Bob Martinez will give the keynote address.
The goal is to use “environmental humanities” as a way to get the public to connect with the sensitivity of water resources in Florida.
“Democrats and Republicans can both appreciate art,” Meindl said. “These tools can be used as promoting action, whether it be at home and/or paying close attention to what elected officials do regarding water resources.”
The event will be held in Harbor Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception where the panel members will be able to further interact with the audience.
Additional information is available at usfsp.edu/floridawater, and attendees are recommended to RSVP to the event.
