The Secret Life of Cities: How Nature and People Shape Each Other in Urban Environments

Today, more than 85% of Americans live in urban areas, yet scientists only began studying cities as ecosystems in a systematic way in the 1990s. Since then, research has revealed that cities are far more than collections of buildings and roads—they are living systems where human activities, natural processes, and environmental conditions interact in complex ways.
This presentation explores how insights from urban ecology are helping communities address some of their most pressing environmental challenges. Drawing on research conducted in cities across the United States, we will examine practical solutions to problems such as urban heat islands, phosphorus and salt pollution in stormwater, drinking water quality, and the ways household decisions contribute to environmental impacts. Along the way, we will see how scientific discoveries are shaping public policy and improving the health, sustainability, and livability of our cities.
Presenter: Larry Baker is a retired Research Professor at the University of Minnesota whose career combined ecology and environmental engineering to better understand how human activities and natural processes interact in ecosystems, particularly in cities and agricultural landscapes. Over more than 25 years, his research focused on water quality, nutrient cycling, and other environmental challenges, blending scientific theory with practical solutions. He has published more than 100 papers and book chapters, edited two books, and collaborated with more than 60 faculty members and students across disciplines ranging from chemistry and engineering to sociology and gender studies.
Now retired, Baker has turned his attention to writing. He is completing a novel set among the early Puebloan people during the Basketmaker era and writes newspaper columns on environmental issues, making science accessible and relevant to the public and to the voters whose choices help shape environmental policy.
Sponsor: Steve Gilbert
Presentation Fees are as follows:
Sliver Members: $7
Gold Members: $Free
Non-Members: $15
Please contact the office to register.
Call: 507-389-2011
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