INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. –  Lakes around the world are changing at unprecedented rates, offering some of the clearest signals of a warming planet. During the next Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) lecture, freshwater ecologist Dr. Catherine O’Reilly will explore how long-term lake monitoring, satellite observations, and global data synthesis are transforming our understanding of freshwater resilience and vulnerability.

The talk will take place on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the U.C. Davis Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village at 6 p.m.

Drawing on research from Lake Tanganyika—where her work provided the first evidence of how global warming affects fisheries and food security —Dr. O’Reilly will highlight how shifts in lake temperature, water clarity, and productivity extend far beyond individual watersheds and reflect broad climatic trends.

Participants will gain insight into how lakes function as sentinels of climate change, what current global datasets reveal about accelerating ecological change, and how communities and resource managers can use lake data to anticipate impacts on water quality, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Dr. O’Reilly will also discuss the importance of citizen science, open data networks, and international collaboration in building the next generation of freshwater science.

Engaging and evidence-driven, this talk will illuminate the critical role lakes play in tracking environmental change, as well as how we can change our management approaches and increase protection of freshwater resources for a sustainable future.

Catherine O’Reilly, Ph.D. is a globally recognized aquatic ecologist, director of the Large Lakes Observatory (LLO), and faculty member in the Earth & Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). Her research examines how freshwater ecosystems respond to environmental change. She is internationally recognized for her work on Lake Tanganyika, where she documented the impacts of climate warming on lake productivity and fisheries. Dr. O’Reilly has contributed to global lake monitoring networks, served as a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and published widely on lake ecology, climate change, and freshwater sustainability. Her work integrates field research, satellite data, and international collaboration to understand and protect freshwater systems worldwide.

In-person Event Details

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Presentation begins at 6:00 p.m.

Location: UC Davis Tahoe Science Center, 201 Country Club Drive, Incline Village

Tickets: Tickets purchased in advance are $10 through Eventbrite and free for students with a student ID. Tickets at the door are $15. Purchase tickets HERE.