Experts on the chemistry, ecological effects, and regulation of pesticides will present a scientific perspective on pesticides at a special keynote presentation and panel discussion sponsored by UBC Okanagan’s Barber School of Arts and Sciences this Friday, Sept. 21.
“When decisions are being made about the use of pesticides in the environment, it’s important that people have all the information they need,” says Joyce Boon, Assoc. Professor of Biology at UBC Okanagan. “Our purpose isn’t to take a position on pesticides or their use, but to present information that will help people make balanced and informed decisions.”
Keith Solomon, Professor of Environmental Biology with the University of Guelph’s Department of Environmental Biology and Centre for Toxicology, will open the evening with a presentation entitled,Homeowner and Landscape Pesticides: Toxicity, Exposure and Risk.
Following Solomon’s talk, a panel of experts will make brief presentations about their scientific perspectives on pesticide use and direct questions to Solomon. Questions from the audience will be taken in writing.
Bruce Mathieson, Associate Professor of Biology at UBC Okanagan, will serve as moderator for the discussion. Other experts joining the panel are:
- Jeff Curtis, Assoc. Professor at UBC Okanagan, with expertise in biogeochemistry and limnology
- Bob Lucy, Pesticides Licence Officer with the B.C. Ministry of Environment’s Environmental Management Branch, Integrated Pest Management Section
- Yvonne Herbison, B.C. Interior Regional Pesticide Officer for Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency
- Tom Lowery, Entomologist with the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, B.C.
- Mark Rheault, insect physiologist and Assoc. Professor of Biology at UBC Okanagan
The public presentation and panel discussion begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in UBC Okanagan Science Building room SCI 333.
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