Sandra Steingraber, February 2010

In an inspiring public lecture, author/ecologist Steingraber discussed the responsibility of journalists and media in this era of ecological crisis. She discussed the environmental causes of cancer and other diseases, punctuating her talk by reading from her powerful articles and columns. She focused on three areas in particular: endocrine disrupters in the environment; childhood obesity and increased risks of disease; and health risks that can result from natural gas drilling. Steingraber ended her public presentation by showing a trailer from the documentary based on her landmark book, Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment. In a dinner gathering with communications students, she warned that courageous journalism and personal wealth don’t usually go hand-in-hand. She discussed her love of science and poetry – and the many writers who have inspired her, including Rachel Carson who wrote Silent Spring. The Sierra Club has referred to Steingraber as “the new Rachel Carson.”

MEDIA COVERAGE

See Ithacan report.