Actress Kaiulani Lee as author Rachel Carson

Carson helped usher in environmentalism with her book, Silent Spring.

The Evergreen State College, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, will host a series of events on May 2 and 3 to celebrate the life of author Rachel Carson, whose classic book Silent Spring turns 50 this year. The school normally holds a Rachel Carson forum annually, but the college is also combining events from their annual Willi Unsoeld Seminar to make a larger, unified event.

The Rachel Carson forum will host a discussion called “The Social, Ecological, Economical, and Political Implications  of “Correct” Pesticide Use in Our Society Today” on May 2 at 6 pm in The Longhouse Education and CUltural Center, on their Olympia campus. There, policy makers, activists and scientists — including Janette Brimmer, Dr. Steven Herman, Ciscoe Morris, Dr. Marion Moses, Dr. John Perkins and  Dr. Steve Herman — will discuss how the world has changed since the publication of Carson’s landmark book, and what our prospects are for avoiding the kind of ecological disaster depicted in her work.

The Unsoeld Seminar (named after one of TESC’s founding faculty members) contributes by staging a presentation of the play about Carson, A Sense of Wonder, written and performed by Kaiulani Lee. Lee has toured across the US and internationally for more than 10 years, performing her work. The play will be performed on May 3 at the Longhouse.

 Other related events include a Rachel Carson book club event and a Carson-themed nature walk.

For additional information, contact Aaron Zimmer at zimaar02@evergreen.edu, or call (732) 241-3458.