a Friday night venue
Hey Mark, how was the turnout? Sorry I missed it. I still work, dammit.
Hi Bob,
The audience turnout was very good, especially for a Friday night venue! We stayed until 9:30 PM in keen discussion over various aspects of climate change, cultural settlement, and groundwater dynamics. It was great fun to present to a lay audience that had little prior knowledge of how the Ice Age so profoundly configured the Pine Barrens landscape.
Ocean County deserves accolades towards their newest facility. Jakes Branch County Park is full of educational potential. Manager Jason Hoger is embarking on an ambitious Pinelands program series, which includes special guest lectures on various natural history topics. I’ve been invited back to speak and to explore their grounds. Management wishes to develop more sophisticated earth-science interpretive material for the park.
Jack McCormick (1970: 82-85) was spot on in
The Pine Barrens: A Preliminary Ecological Inventory. He indicated that the region offered “outstanding” opportunities for geological research. The botanist suggested four-decades ago that understanding the Pleistocene was key to interdisciplinary scientific studies such as open space conservation, biological research, and water supply. He suggested that the Pine Barrens were an advantageous place for researchers because of its proximity to academic and governmental institutions, its nearly pristine state, and its simple terrain. I think the general public is just as eager to celebrate this geomorphic heritage. We have McCormick to thank for inspiration.
Best wishes,
Spung-Man
