Jeff Corwin begins in the historic city of Boston to help aid the recovery of peregrine falcons with Defenders of Wildlife staff. To learn more about the wildlife featured in the episode, visit

Jeff Corwin begins in the historic city of Boston to help aid the recovery of peregrine falcons with Defenders of Wildlife staff. To learn more about the wildlife featured in the episode, visit www.defenders.org/wildlifenation Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: For today's adventure, we're heading to my home state of Massachusetts and a place called Deer Island in the middle of Boston Harbor.  This island is the location of a state of the art  massive wastewater treatment plant that cleans over 1200 million gallons of wastewater every day. It's also home for a family of peregrine falcons, the fastest animals on earth, capable of  reaching speeds of more than 200 miles an hour.   Jeff Corwin: I'm with Jacob Malcolm. He's the director of Defenders of Wildlife's Center for Conservation Innovation. So basically, you guys are trying to figure out how you integrate technology with policy and environmental stewardship to make it work. Dr. Jacob Malcolm: Yep. It's one of the most exciting parts about my work, is the fact that we get to work on solutions. It's really overlooked often that we do have lots of opportunities to do more for wildlife. Jeff Corwin: The peregrine falcons that live here are a perfect example of this. In the wild, falcons typically build their nests on high cliffs. So to give this species a helping hand in a dense urban environment, the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife have teamed up with the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority to put a special nesting box at the top of this 130 foot tall filtration tank. For a family of peregrine falcons, this is the perfect penthouse. Jeff Corwin: I mean, that's kind of amazing, right? With a little bit of ingenuity and a little bit of environmental  stewardship, you can find that balance where creatures like the ultimate bird of prey can share a habitat that also belongs to human beings. Dr. Jacob Malcolm: The fact that we're here to band some peregrine falcons at a wastewater treatment facility with Boston right there just goes to prove it. Jeff Corwin: Jacob is a wildlife biologist, but you've never banded a peregrine falcon. Dr. Jacob Malcolm: I have not. Jeff Corwin: You ready? Dr. Jacob Malcolm: I'm ready. Jeff Corwin: All right, let's do it. Dr. Jacob Malcolm: Let's do it. Jeff Corwin:  In one of the most successful conservation stories in the history of our country, peregrine falcons were brought back from the brink of extinction, thanks to decades of hard work by dedicated people and organizations. To keep track of this species' recovery, biologists place small identification bands around the legs of every falcon chick they find. Today, we're helping wildlife biologist, Dave Paulson, and his team from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to band the falcon chicks that live at the top of this tower. Jeff Corwin: But first, we'll need to face some strong winds and some very devoted and determined parents. Dave Paulson: Now, Jeff, be real careful with this. Jeff Corwin: Be real careful. Wow. Jeff Corwin: As soon as we open the door, we see her, a mother peregrine falcon, ready to protect her nest and her offspring at any cost.  As soon as we remove the guardrails and step onto the catwalk... Dave Paulson: She's coming right in for you. Jeff Corwin: She begins to dive bomb our team with incredible speed. Dave Paulson: Coming in hot. She's coming in from below. Come on go right to the box. Jeff Corwin:  This right here is a nesting box for a peregrine falcon. Dave Paulson: She's getting close, getting close, getting close. Jeff Corwin: Above us we have two very, very devoted, I would say slightly aggressive. Dave Paulson: Yep. Jeff Corwin: Peregrine falcons. They're a bonded pair. And this female, she wants us to have nothing to do with her next generation, what for her is the most precious thing in the world. Dave Paulson: I know everyone's focused on her, but if someone wants to keep a peripheral open for or the other one. Dave Paulson: Right up there. Jeff Corwin: We got to be very careful. We're being dive bombed by these parents. And it's a long way down. Dr. Jacob Malcolm: It is. Jeff Corwin: So inside we have... Ah, look at that. We have these. Oh my gosh. Look at this. Look at that. Dr. Jacob Malcolm: It's fantastic. Gigantic eye, sharp beak, great talons. Built for speed and flight. Jeff Corwin: Just take a moment to reflect at what we're doing. We're holding a species that in this part of  the world was extinct for almost 30 years. Today we have 50 pairs successfully surviving and breeding. Dave Paulson: Correct, 50 known pairs here in Massachusetts. And the big thing here is most of these aren't  on natural cliff sites. You're talking buildings, bridges, quarries. They've really take  to the developed landscape really well. We've hit our character limit. Leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure as he explores the conservation success stories of the American crocodile and uncovers how a nuclear power station makes for an ideal crocodile nesting area. To

Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure as he explores the conservation success stories of the American crocodile and uncovers how a nuclear power station makes for an ideal crocodile nesting area. To learn more about the wildlife featured in the episode, visit www.defenders.org/wildlifenation Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: I'm in the beautiful state of Florida, seeing how conservation efforts are working to bring back the American crocodile from the brink of extinction. We are on our way to the Turkey Point nuclear power plant. It's the sixth largest power plant in the United States, and it provides power to the entire southern half of Florida. But it also plays an even more powerful role in the survival of the American crocodile. Jeff Corwin: This is Mike Lloret and he's a wildlife biologist, and he works with Florida Power & Light. And of course, this is Elizabeth from Defenders of Wildlife. And this is all about these most extraordinary creatures, American crocodiles. Elizabeth, they have quite a powerful story, don't they, in North America? Elizabeth Fleming: Yes, they do. They've really had a terrific success story through many decades of conservation effort. Jeff Corwin: And of course, Florida Power & Light and Turkey Point has been a big part of this nuclear headstart program. And I mean that in the best sense of the description, because it's almost like you guys have been able to launch the re-survival of this species, the re-wilding of this species. What made this such a success? Mike Lloret: We have 6,000 acres here. It ended up being fantastic habitat for the American crocodile. The crocodiles come here. We collect the babies. We monitor the adults and we release everybody back into the wild. Jeff Corwin: The power plant is cooled by a massive network of canals that cover 10 square miles and borders a large wildlife reserve. Conservationists have discovered that these canals make the ideal habitat for crocodile nests. Jeff Corwin: So because this is a secure facility providing energy for millions of people in Florida, it's protected. So you have security which protects the crocodiles. Jeff Corwin: American crocodiles almost were extinct due to hunting and habitat loss. At one point, unfortunately,  there were only 100 adult crocodiles left. But thanks to the Endangered Species Act  and organizations, like our sponsor Defenders of Wildlife, they have made an important comeback. There are now over 2,000 American crocodiles surviving in Southern Florida.  Jeff Corwin: Elizabeth, why is it important that we protect crocodiles? Elizabeth Fleming: Because they're part of the natural system in Florida. We have some of the greatest biological diversity in the entire country, and it's because we have so many species like this. Every single one is important. Everyone has a role in the ecosystem and with their loss, it's a loss to us. Mike Lloret: The crocodiles are one of our apex predators down here in south Florida. So we know if there're more crocodiles, that the rest of the ecosystem is doing well. Jeff Corwin: If they're protected, the birds, the fish, the turtles, the plants, all of that gets protected as well. Mike, so what do we need to accomplish today? Mike Lloret: So today we are tagging these baby hatchlings. We are collecting biometric data, which is important to understand the population health of these little guys. And then we're releasing them back into the wild. Jeff Corwin: First off, we measure the crocodile hatchlings. Jeff Corwin: Snout 12.8 centimeters.   Jeff Corwin: Then we get their weight. Jeff Corwin: 58.7 grams there. Jeff Corwin: In order to identify each crocodile in the future, we insert a small microchip called a PIT tag, just under the skin. When it is scanned, it will reveal the identification number of this particular crocodile. Mike Lloret: Now we're going to cut a unique SKU clip number into his tail. Jeff Corwin: My buddy Mike also makes a small incision in the crocodile's scales, according to a specific number pattern. This way, along with the PIT tag, they can be identified for the rest of their lives. But don't worry, it doesn't hurt. Jeff Corwin: Okay there my friends, so we have ourselves a bucket of amazing American crocodiles. And if you thought this was cool, now they're going back home. Elizabeth Fleming: Absolutely. Jeff Corwin: All right, let's do it. Jeff Corwin: We head to the wildlife sanctuary in Turkey Point to return them back to the wild. Jeff Corwin: All right, here we go. This is what it's all about. You ready, Elizabeth? Elizabeth Fleming: Yes, I am. Jeff Corwin: All right. Mike Lloret: Just going to guide them out that way. Jeff Corwin: They're so cute. Elizabeth Fleming: They really are... We've run out of characters. Leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure to the great state of Alaska as he explores a few of the incredible animals that call it home. Jeff begins on the shores of the icy Cook Inlet helping

Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure to the great state of Alaska as he explores a few of the incredible animals that call it home. Jeff begins on the shores of the icy Cook Inlet helping conservationists monitor a population of endangered beluga whales. To learn more about the wildlife featured in the episode, visit www.defenders.org/wildlifenation Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: For today's adventure, I'm traveling to America's last great frontier, the mighty state of Alaska. Alaska is a place of extremes. It is home to some of the most stunning landscapes on earth and a collection of North America's most iconic species. This morning we're exploring the massive Cook Inlet watershed located south of Anchorage. I'm joining Nicole Whittington-Evans from Defenders of Wildlife and Suzanne Steinert to help the ongoing conservation of the great white canaries of the sea. Jeff Corwin: Incredible. So we've got one beluga there and another one right here.  Nicole, when they come up, it's a flash, isn't it? Nicole Whittington-Evans: Yeah. It's just like a marshmallow surfacing on the water and then going back down. Jeff Corwin: What is bringing them here? Nicole Whittington-Evans: They're coming in to the inlet because they are following salmon. They're feeding on salmon and other fish. Jeff Corwin: The beluga whale is uniquely adapted to life in the Arctic. The absence of a dorsal fin allows them to swim under ice with ease. Their highly developed sense of hearing allows them to use echolocation to communicate with each other and navigate through the icy water that often has low visibility. Jeff Corwin: Suzanne, typically, how many belugas would we see here? Suzanne Steinert: This time of year, Jeff, we could see dozens on one tide cycle. Jeff Corwin: Nicole and Suzanne carefully count and photograph every beluga they find to monitor the health of this critically endangered population.   Jeff Corwin: In the late '80s and early '90s, Cook's Inlet was home to well over a thousand beluga whales, but today the population has plummeted by nearly 80%. What has happened to beluga whales? Nicole Whittington-Evans: In Cook Inlet, we're directly adjacent to the largest population center in Alaska. And through that, there's been a lot of habitat degradation for Cook Inlet belugas. Suzanne Steinert: There are a number of threats that are likely contributing cumulatively to preventing this population from recovering. Jeff Corwin: What is one step do you think that we could do today that would ensure their survival into tomorrow? Nicole Whittington-Evans: We really need to be thinking about how we can reduce our impacts to the climate. Suzanne Steinert: And if they're going to have any chance of survival, we've got to figure out how to better balance human and beluga needs. Jeff Corwin:  Our goal is to ensure that every generation has a chance to perch upon this rock and witness these amazing whales. Thank you guys so much. This was awesome. Nicole Whittington-Evans: Yeah, this was fantastic. There's one right there. Jeff Corwin: There is one right there.

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LEGO, who doesn't know it!? Every year, more than 90,000 tons of plastic are being produced into millions of LEGO bricks... 99% of the people we know have LEGO either in the playroom of their

LEGO, who doesn't know it!? Every year, more than 90,000 tons of plastic are being produced into millions of LEGO bricks... 99% of the people we know have LEGO either in the playroom of their children or in the attic, where it is stored for the next generation of LEGO enthusiasts. It is called the most sustainable toy because generations keep it and pass it on. Talk about CHANGE! BUT, how are you going to make sure that the world's largest tire manufacturer, which processes tons of plastic into bricks, is, next to the already durability of their toys, even more environmentally friendly by 2030! Nelleke spent the first 18 years of her life in Rotterdam. She grew up in an environment where change was commonplace: in the centre of the once heavily battered city there was still a large area of sand that slowly transformed into a residential environment that radiated ambition. She learned the meaning of the phrase 'stop talking, start working'. Nelleke went to study at the Technical University of Delft, where she was to be found during the day in the lecture halls and the laboratory, and in the evenings in the company of her fraternity friends. After her PhD dissertation, she was given the opportunity to work in the US, at a company 15 miles away from The Big Apple. There she learned how to design chemical processes and how to test them in the laboratory and on a pilot scale. She also saw the power of diversity in the big city of New York. With the arrival of the internet and high tech hype at the beginning of this century she got the opportunity to work in a high tech start-up called Avantium Technologies located in Amsterdam. In the more than 13 years with that company she learned even more about the chemical industry and how people can collaborate best on technical challenges. In those years she gave birth to two beautiful sons who, just like her, are curious about the world and people. In 2014 she was given the opportunity to work at a dream job at The LEGO Group, where she and her team are working on the materials required for today's stones and the materials that will need to be used for the stones of the future. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Q&A Discussion at Separate Link: https://youtu.be/kkqpBs0yIdw How do you know what to say when talking about the Energy Innovation Act and other carbon pricing policies? We'll review key messages,

Q&A Discussion at Separate Link: https://youtu.be/kkqpBs0yIdw How do you know what to say when talking about the Energy Innovation Act and other carbon pricing policies? We'll review key messages, discuss how to tailor your message for your audience, and the materials available to help make the case. Lesley Beatty helps to get the word out about CCL, to bring CCL’s values to life through its brand, and to support a fantastic volunteer experience. Lesley became active in CCL by way of a long career in marketing for for-profit organizations. In 2016, Lesley began volunteering with CCL, and joined the staff in 2018 as Director of Marketing. Full bio: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/?team=lesley-beatty Morgan’s work focuses on monitoring and researching relevant climate legislation, developing trainings and resources on congressional and policy-related topics, analyzing lobby meeting notes, and advocating for CCL’s policy goals. She also serves as the link between our congressional liaison volunteers and the Government Affairs team to ensure liaisons are up to date on the current political landscape within Congress. Full bio: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/?team=morgan-mccue Sara Wanous, CCL Research Coordinator

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Jill Tarter, the astrophysicist who inspired Jodie Foster's character in Carl Sagan's movie Contact, dedicated her career to the search for extraterrestrial life. She is now the Director of the

Jill Tarter, the astrophysicist who inspired Jodie Foster's character in Carl Sagan's movie Contact, dedicated her career to the search for extraterrestrial life. She is now the Director of the Center for SETI Research at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California... but it wasn't an easy path. After her scholarship was taken away, she went to the dean of the engineering college and said, "Dean Corson, this isn't fair. I've been on dean's list every semester." And he kindly said, "You know, you're right. It isn't fair. It isn't fair at all." She has no idea what he said when he called up Procter & Gamble, but he got her that scholarship back. 20 years later, when Dean Corson was the president of Cornell, he had an advisory committee and Jill Tarter was on it. She was able to go up to him all those years later and say, "See, President Corson? Thank you for believing in me. I'm on your advisory committee for this fantastic telescope and I have to thank you once again."

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How do you know what to say when talking about the Energy Innovation Act and other carbon pricing policies? Join Lesley Beatty, CCL Marketing Director, to review key messages, discuss how to tailor

How do you know what to say when talking about the Energy Innovation Act and other carbon pricing policies? Join Lesley Beatty, CCL Marketing Director, to review key messages, discuss how to tailor your message for your audience, and explore the materials available to help make the case. Lesley Beatty helps to get the word out about CCL, to bring CCL’s values to life through its brand, and to support a fantastic volunteer experience. Lesley became active in CCL by way of a long career in marketing for for-profit organizations. In 2016, Lesley began volunteering with CCL, and joined the staff in 2018 as Director of Marketing. Full bio: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/?team=lesley-beatty

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Bradford Literature Festival Digital Education Programme 2021 www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk

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