Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell will host the Crown of the Continent Symposium on Feb. 20-21.
The Crown of the Continent spans the Continental Divide from Crowsnest Pass in southwestern Alberta to Rogers Pass in Montana. It is considered one of the most intact and pristine ecosystems in the world and is home to many studies on climate change.
During the symposium, University of Montana President George Dennison will join UM professors Rick Graetz and Gerald Fetz to unveil the Crown of the Continent Initiative, a program designed to showcase the beauty of the region and the groundbreaking research carried out there.
The symposium is free and open to the public. All events will take place in Arts and Technology Building Room 138 at FVCC.
The program begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, with a presentation by Rick and Susie Graetz. Their lecture on the geography and history of the Crown will be accompanied by a slide show.
From 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, several researchers, scientists and experts will present talks about climate change in the Crown, Flathead Lake and the Flathead River system; efforts to map the Crown; the Salish and Kootenai people of the Flathead region; the Blackfeet of the Rocky Mountain Front; Crown research in Canada and more.
For more information on the symposium, call Rick Graetz at 406-439-9277.