The Story Collider Western Massachusetts – Extinction and Rebirth

Join The Story Collider in Easthampton, MA for a night of true, personal stories about science!

Ang Buxton and Nisse Greenberg.

Richard Little has a Masters Degree in Geology from the Univ. of Southern California in Los Angeles. His graduate work involved investigating sedimentary rocks and landscapes along the Indian Ocean coast of Iran where he climbed rare mud volcanoes. In 1969 he came to the Connecticut River Valley and discovered the rare Jurassic armored mud balls while teaching at Greenfield Community College where he is now Professor Emeritus. He actively promotes the rich geological history of the region through classes, lectures, books, and videos. He has led small group tours to amazing landscapes from Alaska to Scotland, but considers the Connecticut Valley of Massachusetts to be the best place in the world to study geology. Ask him to prove it.

Mariana Abarca is a professional insect ecologist and a big fan of caterpillars and wasps. She is an Assistant Professor at Smith College, where she teaches ecology courses and studies the effects of global change on plant-insect interactions. Her academic career started at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), where she graduated and obtained a master’s degree studying caterpillars in the tropical dry forest. She moved to Washington DC to pursue a PhD at The George Washington University, where she studied the effects of climate change on the seasonality of Eastern Tent Caterpillars. Some of her favorite activities include spending time in the woods, talking about caterpillars and their parasitoids, playing with her dog, and advocating for insect conservation.

Nick Carelock has been doing stand up since 2011. 2019 began two years of the lowest point in life that he's ever seen. Lost his dad, grandma, father in law, job and his son was hit by bus all with in a year and a half. 2022 is his triumphant return to all things great.

Host or Publisher The Story Collider