with Laura Volksi, PHD Student
Mt. Adams Institute’s Sense of Place series continues with “The Wolf Next Door: A Community Perspective on the Return of Wolves,” featuring PhD student Lara Volski. The event will be held on Wednesday, December 11. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., show runs 7-8:30 p.m. and will be livestreamed for virtual attendees.Lara Volski, a researcher in the People and Wildlife Lab at the University of Washington, studies human-wildlife interactions with a focus on wolves’ reintroduction in the western United States began her research on wolves by first talking to people. Her research involved living and working on a farm in the gorge and listening to local perspectives on wolves, investigating both ecological and cultural impacts.
Through confidential interviews, Volski has documented a broad range of community narratives about the Big Muddy Pack and broader themes of cultural, ecological and familial heritage, change, and community values in the Columbia Gorge. Her findings help paint a picture of the perceived risks and benefits of wolves, change in the Gorge, and the deeper desires of the community.
About the Speaker:
Lara Volski studies human-wildlife interactions, and is interested in the intersections between culture, identity, and ecology. As a PhD student in the People and Wildlife Lab at the University of Washington, she uses ecological and social methods to study the arrival of wolves to the western U.S. Her goal is to help ensure that the perspectives of local communities are heard and incorporated into decision-making. Lara’s previous research involved testing the use of livestock protection tools to prevent coyotes from predating sheep.
Event Details:
The Wolf Next Door: A Community Perspective on the Return of Wolves
When: Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Doors at 6:00 p.m., show from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. PDT.
(If the event is sold out, unclaimed seats will be released to the waitlist at 6:45 p.m.)
Where: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave., Hood River, OR 97031
A livestream option is also available.
Get Tickets: https://givebutter.com/thewolfnextdoor.
Advanced purchase is encouraged as events often sell out.
About Sense of Place:
Sense of Place is a program of Mt. Adams Institute, a Gorge-based nonprofit that strengthens the connection between people and the natural world through education, service, career development, and research. For more information on the series and Season 15, visit senseofplacegorge.org or follow us on Instagram @senseofplacegorge. Subscribe to the Sense of Place Newsletter for event updates and behind-the-scenes stories.
