Going to Gone: Earth's Biodiversity Loss and What We Can Do About It

About

The teeming diversity of life on our Pale Blue Dot—planet Earth—is under grave threat from the impact of our own activity, and biologists are raising the alarm about accelerating rates of decline in the plant and animal species of our world, with sobering implications for the long-term health and well-being of human communities. But if we are the main drivers of biodiversity decline, we also have the power to change the trend.

Organized by Cornell University Library, Going to Gone features illustrations from historical studies of our natural world found in the library’s collections and reflects on the looming possibility of a “Sixth Extinction” on Earth. The exhibit identifies some of the key factors behind the decline of animal species in the 21st century. It also highlights emerging research insights and conservation efforts to give us hope and conviction that preserving the biodiversity of our beautiful planet is within our grasp.

This exhibit is concurrent with related exhibits at Mann Library: Last Call: Bird Decline and the Threat of Extinction, and Keeping Common Birds Common: Birds and Habitat at Cornell Botanic Gardens and Beyond.

Join us for an opening celebration for these exhibits on Thursday, April 16, with a lecture by Cornell Lab of Ornithology researcher Jordan Boersma on "Finding Hope in the Search for Lost Birds" at 4:00 p.m. in Mann Room 160, and a reception at 5:00 p.m. in the Mann Library Gallery. All are welcome!

Other related events include:

“Birds and Blooms” monthly bird and habitat tours, starting April 17 with Cornell Botanic Gardens and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Register at cornellbotanicgardens.org.

“Keeping Our Common Birds Common” hybrid lecture April 26, 3:00 p.m., by Douglas Tallamy, professor of entomology and wildlife ecology in the University of Delaware, presented by Cornell Botanic Gardens, at Call Auditorium, Kennedy Hall by zoom (registration required).

Biodiversity Fest, Thursday, September 24:, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the Mann Library lobby. Come find out about efforts being made by departments, programs and student groups across campus to sustain the diversity of life on planet Earth!

Going to Gone is part of a series of exhibits titled From the Brink: Contributions to a Sustainable Future from across Cornell, hosted by different libraries across Cornell University Library in close partnership with other departments and groups on campus.