Columbia Climate Scientist to Explore Faith and Environmentalism at MCLA

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) welcomes Dr. Alexander de Sherbinin, Director and Senior Research Scientist at Columbia Climate School's Center for Integrated Earth System Information (CIESIN), as part of its Green Living Seminar Series on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 5:30 p.m.
 
Dr. de Sherbinin will present "How Religion Influences Our Relationship with the Environment," examining the complex connections between spiritual beliefs and environmental stewardship. The talk will explore how different faith traditions shape attitudes toward nature, conservation, and climate action.
 
According to a press release:
 
A geographer whose research focuses on climate-related mobility, climate vulnerability mapping, and population-environment interactions, Dr. de Sherbinin manages the NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) and leads the UN Global Centre for Climate Mobility's Global Knowledge Hub. His work integrates geospatial data to address critical questions about human dimensions of climate change. He holds a PhD in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation from the University of Twente in the Netherlands and has served as an agricultural extension agent with the U.S. Peace Corps in Mauritania, West Africa.
 
All presentations take place Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in MCLA's Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, Room 121, and will be recorded as podcasts available at mcla.edu/greenliving.
 
This event is free and open to the public.
 
MCLA's Green Living Seminar Series brings environmental experts to campus throughout the academic year to engage students and community members in conversations about sustainability, climate change, and ecological responsibility.

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Four Pets Lost in North Adams Fire

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A cat may be the cause of a fire that forced a woman to flee her home on Saturday night and lose four of her five pets.
 
The occupant of the small home at 1561 Massachusetts Ave. called 911 to report a fire on her kitchen stove at about 9:10 p.m.
 
"Looked like the fire started in the kitchen area. Best guess at this point is that it an animal turned the stove on," said Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre, repeating what the woman had reported. 
 
"Basically, the occupant was alerted to the sound of the stove igniting, the electronic ignition. She came downstairs and witnessed the cat on the stove. Unfortunately, there was a box on top of the stove, and that lit, and that got the cabinets going."
 
One cat was saved but firefighters were unable to rescue two other cats and two dogs. 
 
The chief said he hadn't completed his investigation but was going by what the resident had reported at this point. 
 
Firefighters were able to swiftly douse the blaze on arrival and were rolling up hose about an hour later. Mass Ave was closed at Ashton Avenue on the city side. 
 
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