Harwood Lecture Series
The Harwood Lecture series was established in 1992 in honor of Michael Harwood, one of the founders of the Washington Environmental Council. Originally a biennial program, lectures are now held on relevant environmental topics more frequently and are open to the public at no charge.
Upcoming lectures
Check back soon for information on our fall Harwood Lecture…
Past Lecturers
2024
Patrick Horan
A lecture on how “Sustainable Farming is vital to a Sustainable (New England) Community”
Jay Collins
A talk on “Takeaways from COP 28: What Happened and Where do We Go From Here?”
2023
Becker & Seth Low
Talk on Frederick Gunn School Green Initiatives and Sustainable Architecture
2022
Jennifer Heaton-Jones
“Talking Trash” a lecture on how to manage waste by the Executive Director of regional, governmental, solid waste and recycling authority, HRRA.
2019
Hugh Rogers
“Whose Water is it?” a lecture on CT’s water system
2015
Dr. George Garland
"The Road to Paris and Beyond" - a Lecture on Climate Change
Reverend Canon Sally Bingham
"Amplifying Pope Francis' Encyclical on Caring for Our Common Home"
Laura Rissolo
Landscape Designer - "Habitat for Pollinating Insects"
2014
Nick Mancini
Certified Master Gardener, Author, Lecturer - “Organic Gardening - Vegetables and Flowers"
2013
Dr. William H. Schlesinger
President of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies - "Global Climate Change: Causes, Impacts and Things You Can Do"
2012
Alex Prud'homme
Author, Lecturer - The Ripple Effect: The Fate of Freshwater in the Twenty-First Century
2011
Paul Tukey
Author, Filmaker, Lecturer - Global Warming and Your Garden
2010
Bill McKibben
Author, Educator & Environmentalist - Climate Change
Jim Serach
Science Teacher, Lecturer - Student Involvement in Environment
Carol Gracie
Author - Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast
Rose Hiskes
Diagnostician and Horticulturist - Asian Longhorn Beetle
2009
John Turenne
Executive Chef - Sustainable Food
2008
Peter Picone
Author, Lecturer - Native Plants for Wildlife
Mark Biedron
Founder, The Willow School - "LEED" School Construction
2007
John Maxwell
Managing Director, Parker Global Strategies
Keri Enright
Director, Smart Power - Alternative Energy: Global Issues & Local Action
2006
Donna Ellis
UConn Extension Program - Invasive Plant Control
Andrew Roraback
CT State Senator - WEC's 35th Anniversary
2005
Dr. Michael Klemens
Herpetologist - Biodiversity in CT
Robert Crelin
Author - Dark Skies : Light Pollution
2003
Richard Blumenthal
CT Attorney General - State Environmental Issues
2002
Michael Pollan
Author, Environmentalist - The Botany of Desire
2000
Dr. Warren Leon
Ex. Director, Sustainable Energy Association - The Consumers Guide to Effective Environmental Choices
1998
Russell Brenneman
President, Conn. Forest & Park Association
David Sutherland
Nature Conservancy
1997
Marcy Benstock
Ex. Director, Clean Air Campaign - What An Individual Can Do
1995
Dr. Barry Commoner
Author, Environmentalist - The State of the Environment & What We Can Do About It
1993
Jake Page
Editor, Natural History Magazine - Think Locally, Act Globally
1992
Madeleine Kunin
Governor of Vermont - A New Environmental Agenda