Film Prompts Discussion About What A ‘Rewilded’ Earth Might Look Like

More than 30 students and faculty from Stony Brook University gathered for a screening of the documentary film from the American Humane Society, "Escape from Extinction: Rewilding." The film was screened on September 24 as part of Science + Cinema, in collaboration with the Stony Brook's Collaborative for the Earth(C4E).

"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," said Heather Lynch, director of C4E and the endowed chair for ecology and evolution in theInstitute for Advanced Computational Science.

The film showcases how experts worldwide are fighting against a looming threat of mass extinction - an event where a large number of species disappear from Earth in a relatively short period of time - due to habitat loss and climate change. In particular, an approach known as "rewilding" is helping global communities respond to this growing threat.

Rewilding is a conservation strategy that focuses on restoring biodiversity to habitat that has been significantly impacted or reduced due to human activity. The goal is to create conditions in the habitat that allow native animal and plant species to grow and thrive once again. The species highlighted in the film were on the endangered species list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, known as the IUCN Red List.

"The film's topic is a super important and timely one that needs to be shared," said Dave Chan, of the Lichtenstein Center, who organized Science + Cinema. "Wrapping an important subject matter such as this within the context of an engaging film is a great way to convey the message."

Students in attendance seemed to enjoy the cinematic experience. "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," said Shawna Bonilavri, a graduate anthropology student. "We already have so many assigned readings, especially in college."

Lynch echoed this sentiment: "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."

Following the screening, H. Resit Akçakaya, a professor of ecology and conservation biology in the Department of Ecology and Evolution, presented his related work on creating the Green Status of Speciesfor the IUCN, a companion to the Red List and the first metric for measuring the recovery of a species and the conservation impact. He also invited questions and discussion of the film and his research.

Students and faculty alike asked questions ranging from concerns about ecotourism, invasive species, climate change impacts on endangered species, and what a rewilded Long Island might look like.

"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.

"My hope is that Science + Cinema will continue to bridge the arts with the sciences so that those who attend," Chan added, "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."

- Hadar Pepperstone