Dale L. Travis Lecture Series
Connecting Community to Science and Research at ESF
The Dale L. Travis Lecture Series was created to help the greater community learn about the incredible work and research happening at ESF. Featuring the College’s world-class faculty and renowned field experts, the lectures — which are free and open to the public — demonstrate how they push the boundaries of knowledge and research in their academic specialties.
Join Us for Our Next Lecture
Flight to Recovery: Protecting the Piping Plover
Dr. Jonathan Cohen
7 p.m. | Wednesday, Sept. 18
Gateway Center | SUNY ESF
Flight to Recovery: Protecting the Piping Plover
The inspiring story of remarkable efforts to save a tiny bird
The piping plover — a shorebird unique to the eastern U.S. coast — relies entirely on beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes for every aspect of its daily needs.
These same beaches where plovers raise their chicks are popular recreation spots for humans. Disturbance, increased predators, and land development contributed to the bird being categorized as threatened on the Atlantic Coast and endangered in the Great Lakes.
But decades of scientific dedication to conserving the plover are aiding in its recovery and ensuring the preservation of its significant role in our natural heritage.
Discover the inspiring conservation success story of the piping plover, learn about ongoing research efforts to safeguard its future, and witness how the species is making a remarkable recovery — right here in our backyard.
Dr. Jonathan Cohen
Professor/Graduate Director
Department of Environmental Biology
SUNY ESF
Jonathan's research centers on wildlife habitat and population management issues, with a focus on shorebirds of conservation concern. He has been leading ESF research on piping plovers since 2012, working to identify environmental factors that are most influential in attracting nesting pairs to a site and in promoting successful reproduction to aid recovery of the species. His research team has worked with land managers to develop and implement best practices, including a widely used online tool for planning nest protection from predators. ESF and its research partners have seen success at improving piping plover breeding conditions on Lake Ontario.
This tiny bird is a valuable part of our natural heritage and its future depends on the cooperation of everyone who enjoys the beach. Join us as Jonathan shares the inspiring story of remarkable efforts to save the piping plover.
The Dale L. Travis Lecture Series is made possible thanks to a gift from Dale L. Travis ’59.
About Dale L. Travis
Ten years after graduating from ESF (Wood Products Engineering ’59), Dale Travis was
transferred to New York City by U.S. Plywood. Shortly thereafter, Dale founded his
own business, Dale Travis Associates (DTA) to produce fine architectural signage.
DTA works with some of the most prominent architects and graphic designers in the
world. Its exterior and interior signs distinguish corporate buildings and museums
across the country. Recent museum projects include the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
the American Museum of Natural History, the Rose Center (Hayden Planetarium), and
the Morgan Library & Museum. DTA were privileged to carve the cornerstones for 1 World
Trade Center and 4 World Trade Center. DTA are a member of the Society of Environmental
Graphic Designers.
2023
Aidan Ackerman: The forest isn't real — Through virtual reality, we can explore landscapes — from tree-dense forests to urban treescapes — that show the effects of time and climate change.
2022
Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer: Returning the Gift — The role of a nature writer on the edge of climate catastrophe.
2018
Dr. Timothy Volk: Shrub Willow: RX for a healthier planet
Dr. John Farrell: Big Fish in the Balance: Research and Conservation in a Changing Environment
2017
Dr. Jacqueline Frair: Top Dog? The Ecological Role of the Coyote in Northeastern Forests
2016
Dr. James Gibbs: Restoring the Giant Tortoise Dynasties of Galapagos
Dr. Neil H. Ringler: Renewal of a Jewel — Onondaga Lake: Effective Collaboration Among Students, Scientists,
Agencies and Private Enterprise
Karin Limburg, John Waldman, James Prosek, David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes: The Future of Fisheries: Choices, Decisions, and the Role of the Arts
2015
George Curry, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus: FDR, ESF, NPS at the Roosevelt Estate
2014
Dr. Robin W. Kimmerer: The Honorable Harvest: Indigenous Knowledge and Conservation
Dr. Donald Stewart: Seeking and Saving the Diversity of Arapaima: Giant Air-Breathing Fishes of the
Amazon
2013
Dr. William A. Powell: Return of the King: Restoring the American Chestnut Tree
Dr. James P. Gibbs: On the Brink — Saving Russia’s Last Snow Leopards