Steve Hollenhorst to discuss tourism's impact on climate change June 6

Western Washington University’s Dean of Huxley College of the Environment, Steve Hollenhorst, will present “The Trouble with Tourism: Rethinking Travel in the Age of Climate Change” as part of the college’s speaker series at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 6 in the Biology Building’s room 212 on Western’s campus.

The presentation is free and open to the public, and will include a question and answer period.

As one of the world’s largest industries, tourism is also one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Hollenhorst’s presentation will focus not only on the climate impacts of the tourism industry, but also how the quest for escape and exotic destinations disconnects us from investment in our local communities.

Prior to working at Western, Hollenhorst was professor and associate dean for Outreach and Engagement in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho. At UI, he was one of the co-principle investigators for and director of its Building Sustainable Communities Initiative, director of the UI Park Studies Unit and the UI McCall Outdoor Science School. His scholarship work is in the areas of land-use policy and management, land trusts and conservation easements, and environmental leadership.

The speaker series is held by Western's Huxley College of the Environment to bring together the environmentally minded community and other interested members of the Western and Bellingham communities. Speakers address topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.

For more information, please contact the main office of Huxley College of the Environment, at (360) 650-3520.

Western’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized national leader in producing the next generation of environmental stewards. The College’s academic programs reflect a broad view of the physical, biological, social and cultural world. This innovative and interdisciplinary approach makes Huxley unique. The College has earned international recognition for the quality of its programs.