Talkback sessions April 8, 26 feature CSU researchers
The School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2018. As a thank you to the CSU community, the school is offering a limited number of free tickets for the April 26 performance of Dirt: A Terra Nova Expedition, a multi-sensory exploration of survival, soil science, and environmental stewardship at Bas Bleu Theatre.
One free ticket per person is available through a web page set up by SoGES.
Written by award-winning Colorado author Laura Pritchett, Dirt: A Terra Nova Expedition will make its world premiere at Bas Bleu, 401 Pine St., Fort Collins. Performances start April 5 and run through May 6. Tickets to other performances are $13-$26.
This play chronicles the story of dirt — from creation stories to Dust Bowl, from climate change to chemicals, from singing tree-root microbes to warrior nematodes, from Lakota myth to future science — the history and the future of the six inches of material that saves us from oblivion.
Talkbacks to attend after the show
CSU soil researchers will take part in free “talkback” sessions moderated by Pritchett and held after the performances on Sunday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 26, at 8:30 p.m.
A talkback occurs following a performance, and typically involves members of the cast, designers and directors of a show. Audience members will have the chance to hear from Pritchett about how she came up with the idea for the show, and will also learn more about soil science.
April 8
“Cutting Edge Soil Science: What’s up for the future?”
A talkback with CSU soil and climate scientists, including Research Associate Mark Easter, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; Associate Professor Matthew Wallenstein, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, and Department of Soil and Crop Sciences; Professor Francesca Cotrufo, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences; and Yamina Pressler, who is pursuing a graduate degree in ecology.
April 26
“Life in Unexpected Places: Exploring the world beneath our feet”
A talkback with CSU University Distinguished Professor Diana Wall, School of Global Environmental Sustainability and Department of Biology; Andre Franco, Department of Biology; Susan Melzer, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences; Assistant Professor Pankaj Trivedi, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management.
Bas Bleu will host an additional talkback April 19 at 8:30 p.m., with a focus on Community-Supported Agriculture, or CSAs, and farmers.
Laura Pritchett is an American author whose work is rooted in the natural world. Her five novels have garnered numerous national literary awards, including PEN USA Award for Fiction, the High Plains Book Award, the Milkweed National Fiction Prize, and the WILLA Award.
