More than 30 students and faculty at Stony Brook University attended a screening of the documentary “Escape from Extinction: Rewilding” on September 24. The event was part of the Science + Cinema series, organized in collaboration with Stony Brook’s Collaborative for the Earth (C4E).
Heather Lynch, director of C4E and endowed chair for ecology and evolution at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science, commented on the approach of using film to discuss environmental issues. “Because climate change and other pressing environmental problems are often presented with statistics and facts and figures, movies and books provide a wholly alternative approach to communicating not only the science but also some of the exciting solutions,” she said.
The documentary highlights global efforts to combat mass extinction caused by habitat loss and climate change. It focuses on rewilding, a conservation method aimed at restoring biodiversity in areas affected by human activity. Species featured in the film were listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Dave Chan, from the Lichtenstein Center and organizer of Science + Cinema, said, “The film’s topic is a super important and timely one that needs to be shared. Wrapping an important subject matter such as this within the context of an engaging film is a great way to convey the message.”
Graduate anthropology student Shawna Bonilavri reflected on how films offer a different experience compared to reading: “I think being visual, there’s a different component that you wouldn’t get from reading a book, and most people don’t want to read. We already have so many assigned readings, especially in college.”
Lynch added her perspective: “Learning about these issues shouldn’t always feel like eating your broccoli. I think it’s not only possible but imperative that we find ways of making the science engaging and even fun.”
After the screening, H. Resit Akçakaya, professor of ecology and conservation biology in Stony Brook’s Department of Ecology and Evolution, discussed his work developing the Green Status of Species for IUCN—a new tool for measuring species recovery alongside their Red List status—and answered questions about his research.
Attendees raised topics including ecotourism, invasive species, climate change effects on endangered animals, and ideas about what rewilding could mean for Long Island.
“We’re always looking for films that touch on the research of our faculty, and I was excited to find a film that addressed species conservation since I think Akçakaya work is really at the front lines of this battle to save endangered species and it’s a story that I think students should really know more about,” Lynch said.
Chan concluded by saying, “My hope is that Science + Cinema will continue to bridge the arts with the sciences so that those who attend—whether they are STEM students or simply those who love film—will walk away with a new perspective on topics that matter to all of us.”