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January 17,
2008
LIVINGSTON,
Ala.--The University of West Alabama College of
Natural Sciences and Mathematics welcomes Samford
University’s Dr. Lawrence J. Davenport, director of
the university’s Vulcan Materials Center for
Environmental Stewardship and Education, for a
public lecture Thursday, January 31 at 4 p.m. in
Bibb Graves 109. The topic, "Potential Effects of
Climate Change on Alabama's Plant Life," will
provide an interesting look at the possible effects
of global warming in the state.
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Dr. Lawrence J. Davenport |
Davenport’s expertise is in field botany, especially
aquatic and wetland plants. He is considered to be
an expert on the Cahaba lily, Hymenocallis coronaria,
and he frequently speaks to environmental and civic
groups about this plant. His research led directly
to the creation in 2002 of the Cahaba River National
Wildlife Refuge, a 3,000 acre site in Bibb County.
Since 1990, Davenport has served as the keynote
speaker for the annual Cahaba Lily Festival in West
Blocton.
The Alabama legislature has been so impressed with
Davenport's contributions to education and
environmental stewardship that it designated May 27,
2006 as Professor Lawrence J. Davenport Day in the
state.
In 2007, Davenport was honored as the Alabama
Professor of the Year by The Council for Advancement
and Support of Education and The Carnegie Foundation
for the Advancement of Teaching. He was one of 40
educators selected from a field of more than 300 of
the nation's top professors.
Davenport writes the "Nature Journal" column for the
quarterly magazine Alabama Heritage. He also serves
on the board of director of Forever Wild, the state
organization that acquires land for the state to set
aside for conservation.
Davenport’s lecture is free and open to the public.
For more information, please contact Dr. Brian
Keener at 205-652-3796. |
