Nov. 23 presentation features Iowa Learning Farms Director Jaqueline Comito speaking about the power of imagination in establishing goals and creating real changes in water quality

Ames, Iowa – The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place Nov. 23 at noon CST will feature Jacqueline Comito, anthropologist and director of Iowa Learning Farms at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Comito is actively involved in extension and outreach activities in the areas of water, watershed-based community activities, natural resources, and environmental attitudes and behaviors. She regularly interacts with stakeholders including farmers, interested citizens, teachers, college students, youth, environmental groups and agency personnel. In this session, Comito will continue the conversation from her November 2020 and 2021 webinars that looked at spiritual and cultural means of inspiring people to make changes for the good of the planet.

Iowa Learning Farms is an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program.

In the webinar, “Can We Imagine a Healthy River in Iowa?,” Comito will discuss the science of imagination utilizing insights gathered from university students during a recent survey and round of interviews. Elevating the voices of some 2800 survey respondents and 60 who were interviewed in person, she will speak about how imagination could be integrated into environmental work and engage the audience in discussing concrete steps each can take to tap their imagination for change. Comito will also highlight the generational challenge of helping young people imagine healthy waterways when they have never experienced anything but the currently compromised ecosystems they have grown up with.

“It isn’t often in environmental circles that we are asked to engage our imaginations in terms of what we hope to see,” said Comito. “The survey and conversations with these college students made it clear that there is interest in the environment and natural surroundings, but it is important to inspire them to begin to think differently about the world around them. We should be empowering and challenging them to use their imaginations to change the world—even when it seems like real change is elusive.”

Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Webinar Access Instructions

• To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon CST Nov. 23:
• Click this URL, or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172
  • Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172

• Or, join from a dial-in phone line:

Dial: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 364 284 172

The webinar will also be recorded and archived. All archived webinars are available on the ILF website, so that they can be watched at any time.

A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) has been applied for. Those who participate in the live webinar are eligible. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar.

Upcoming Webinars in the Series:

Nov. 30: Lauren Salvato, Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA)

Dec. 7: Wendong Zhang, Cornell University

Dec. 14: Lisa Schulte Moore, Iowa State University

Dec. 21: Etienne Herrick, University of Michigan