PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State University's School of the Environment will host a free, public presentation, "Environmental Justice in Rural America," by leading environmental justice activist Catherine Coleman Flowers at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 16.
In her online talk, Flowers will focus on the problem of wastewater inequality as a social justice issue and the ways water and sanitation infrastructure serves as an indicator of larger cycles of racism and poverty in our country.
It is the second and final presentation in SoE's Lane Family Lecture in Environmental Science 2021-22 series.
Throughout her 20 years of work on this issue, Flowers has gathered insights from people struggling with water sanitation problems in nearly every part of the U.S.-including the Pacific and Inland Northwest. She will speak about how, with research and ingenuity, the U.S. can make significant strides toward sanitation equity and how activists of any age can help achieve equitable and sustainable wastewater infrastructure. A question-and-answer session will follow her talk.
"This presentation will push our students, faculty and community to think more deeply and broadly about the interlocking human and technological dimensions of our environmental challenges," said SoE Director Kent Keller. "The rural focus is especially pertinent to WSU's mandate as a land-grant institution and its goal of advancing quality of life, economic development, equity and sustainability."
Interdisciplinary faculty panel to discuss related research and education
SoE will also host a seating-limited, in-person viewing opportunity for Flowers' noon presentation immediately followed by a panel discussion at 1:30 p.m., featuring WSU faculty experts who will expand on topics raised and related areas of WSU research and education.
