Carolina Alumni Review - September/October 2010

September
October
2010

News from and about your UNC General Alumni Association

G A A today today

NOAA AND GEORGIA DEPARTMEN T OF NATURAL RESOURCES

54 April’s explosion at BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico set off a stream of images of oil-covered animals, such as this Kemp’s Ridley turtle. For months, rescuers worked to save wildlife while scientists, govern- ment officials and residents continue to grapple with the devastation. Questions persist about how to prevent such disasters from happening again, how to set up emergency response procedures in case they do and how to restore the environment and economy from this event. The GAA will host a Think Fast Forum on these issues on Sept. 15; details at right and at bit.ly/9dKlIO.

Think Fast Forum

Oil on the Water: A Public Discussion and Analysis of the Long-Term Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6: 30 – 8 p.m.

George Watts Hill Alumni Center

In the aftermath of the April explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, questions remain about this disaster — the worst oil spill in U.S. history — and about our ability to prevent such tragedies. What is our capacity to deal with oil spills of this magnitude? What is the long-term impact of this spill? Is there a way to predict the effect on the environment, the food supply and the region’s and broader U.S. economy 25 years from now?

Though the news is no longer dominated by dramatic images of gushing oil, it is a good time to discuss the causes and ongoing effects. The GAA invites the public to join a discussion with several University faculty members, who will present their findings and respond to questions from the audience. Learn more at bit.ly/9dKlIO.

UGA

Facing Up to the Gulf Oil Spill Samantha “Mandy” Joye ’ 87 says the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico should prompt much reflection. “Every single person is responsible for this oil spill, and we need to take a hard look at our lives and characteristics, for as long as there is a demand for gas, they will drill deeper and deeper,” the marine researcher says. “It’s unfathomable to me that it continues, and it might happen again.”