Please join us at Town Hall Seattle on the evening of Tuesday, April 23.

The five-decades of research of a seabird colony on Cooper Island, Alaska has provided clear and unsettling evidence of the extent and rapid pace of Arctic climate change. The island’s colony of Mandt’s Black Guillemot, studied annually since 1975, decreased from over two hundred pairs in the 1980s to less than 25 pairs in 2023 as rising atmospheric temperatures decreased Arctic sea ice, the species’ preferred habitat.

Our 2024 event at Town Hall Seattle will include a synopsis of our major discoveries from the Cooper Island research and an examination of why our continued research and unique half-century data set will become even more important as the Arctic, and the planet, continue to warm. Those who attend in-person will also be able to view a short trailer for the 90-minute documentary on the Cooper Island research filmed during the 2023 field season and scheduled for release later this year.

The evening kicks off the celebration of our 50th Anniversary, officially occurring in 2025. The unprecedented duration of the Cooper Island study and its ability to inform and educate the public about global climate change demonstrates the importance of small-scale, donor-supported research detached from short-term agency funding cycles.  We will also be thanking the Iñupiat community of Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) for their support and friendship which has allowed us to maintain an annual three-month field camp on a remote Arctic island. 

We look forward to seeing old and new friends in the Seattle area who can attend in person, but are also glad the presentation will be available as a livestream on our YouTube channel.
The evening will begin with an in-person reception starting at 6 pm with light fare, beverages and conversation, followed by an in-person and virtual presentation at 7 pm. Attendance at Town Hall is free, and no registration is needed.

Contact us at info@cooperisland.org with any questions.

We hope to see you there!