Next TERC event: Sustainable oysters (with tasting!) in changing marine ecosystems

Join the UC Davis Lake Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) for a unique Science Speaks event featuring a joint lecture and sustainable oyster tasting on September 12 in Tahoe City. All proceeds benefit TERC education programs.

Learn how climate change is impacting marine ecosystems with Dr. Tessa Hill, UC Davis professor and author of the new book At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans. Dr. Hill is leading research into ocean change used to inform sustainable aquaculture practices at shellfish farms on the Northern California coast, including Hog Island Oyster Co. Finally, enjoy an oyster tasting with Dr. Gary Fleener of Hog Island Oyster Co. and experience the quality of sustainably grown oysters while learning how the company is using science to adapt and prepare for a changing climate.

Dr. Tessa Hill is the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Programs in Public Scholarship & Engagement at UC Davis and a Professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences and Bodega Marine Laboratory. She is the coauthor of the book At Every Depth, about how communities of people are coming together to protect the ocean environment. She is part of the Bodega Ocean Acidification Research (BOAR) group at Bodega Marine Laboratory, which aims to understand the impact of ocean acidification on marine species and West Coast communities. Dr. Hill leads an industry-academic partnership to understand the consequences of ocean acidification on shellfish farmers on the Northern California coast. Her work has been featured in a variety of media outlets (e.g., NPR, The New York Times, Al Jazeera America, Science Friday).

Dr. Gary Fleener supports education, research and development at Hog Island Oyster Co. He received his PhD in geography from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he examined the intersection of flood hydrology, geomorphic processes, and native cottonwood forest regeneration at the eastern edge of the Colorado Plateau. An experienced ecologist, educator, and project manager, Dr. Fleener is passionate about problem-solving at the intersection of sustainable foodways and healthy ecosystems.

Hog Island Oyster Co. began oyster farming in 1983 with the goal of raising the best quality, sustainable shellfish in a beautiful location. They started their farm with a five-acre shellfish lease in Tomales Bay, CA raising the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Today, they farm on 250 acres of intertidal lands in Tomales and Humboldt Bays, where they raise all five edible oyster varieties found in the Northern Hemisphere, plus Manila clams.

In-person event details: Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Presentation begins at 6:00 p.m. Tickets purchased in advance are $55 through Eventbrite. Tickets, if available, will be $70 at the door. Refreshments and a no-host bar will be available from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. in the Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge, 1850 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145. Each ticket comes with a tasting of 4-6 oysters and all proceeds benefit TERC education and outreach programs.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - There will be assigned seating for this special event. There are 60 available seats and the tables will be set up with groups of 2, 4, 5, and 6. If you would like to be at a table with specific people have ONE person email Sarah Harry (skharry@ucdavis.edu) with the list of people in your group, after your group has purchased all their tickets. We will do our best to accommodate everyone’s requests.

Enjoy dinner at Sunnyside either before or after the lecture where participants will be treated to 20% off their entire meal.

TERC has been excited to partner with Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge as the location for the UC Davis TERC Science Speaker lecture series. Free self-parking on-site and across the street.

For more information call 775-881-7560 ext. 7474, or visit https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/events.