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Profs & Pints: Life at Earth's Poles

Profs and Pints presents: "Life at Earth's Poles," with Chris Parsons, research affiliate at Glasgow University and former director of the environmental science program at George Mason University.

At a time of year when many children eagerly focus on the North Pole, Profs and Pints invites you to learn about both the northern and southern extremes of the earth from a marine mammal biologist who has spent time with many of their residents.

The North and South Poles and their surrounding regions are unique environments in several respects. Their cold waters are rich in nutrients that nurture life, but winter temperatures that drop down to minus 128-degrees Fahrenheit pose a serious challenge to survival. Days annually swing from 24 hours of sunlight to 24 hours of darkness.

Chris Parsons, a marine mammal biologist with more than 25 years of field experience, is deeply familiar with life as far north and south as one can venture. He has explored Antarctica (you can spot him there on Google earth), he's written a textbook on marine mammal biology and conservation, and he's a member of the scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission.

Come to warm, cozy La Pop cultural salon hear what he has learned out there in the cold. He'll discuss the specialized biology of species such as penguins, seals, and polar bears. He'll also discuss the threats posed to polar habitats by climate change, pollution, and other human activities. If you get cold just listening to him, La Pop has espresso and hot chocolate to warm you up.