The Bird and the Bean: A Coffee Connection – Feb. 7 – WLS 2021

Every day, we see a variety of certification labels on packages of coffee and other foods: fair trade, organic, non-GMO and more. One certification on the rise is the Smithsonian Institution’s Bird Friendly® designation. Using Smithsonian conservation science, the Bird Friendly gold standard does more than other eco-friendly seals to protect habitat. In this lecture, Santino Lauricella will explore some of the research used in developing this certification, the impacts it has on the planet and how important it is to vote “with your wallet.”

Santino Lauricella is a naturalist, photographer, environmental educator and passionate coffee drinker. The education coordinator for Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is passionate about sharing his knowledge of the natural world with the public. Originally from central New York state, he holds a B.S. in wildlife management from SUNY College of Environmental Science. His career—which began with wildlife research—has taken him across the United States several times. He now lives happily in Lawrenceville, NJ, with his wonderful wife Kathleen and enjoys spending his weekend mornings with a warm cup or two of fresh hand-ground, shade-grown brew.