A renewable energy expert will kick off the annual colloquium at UW-Stevens Point. This series of guest lectures focuses on the growing linkage between energy and natural resources. The College of Natural Resources (CNR) and the Biology Department in the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) sponsor the colloquium to offer the campus and community a chance to hear regional and national speakers present important natural resource issues. Last year�s focus was on climate change.

The first colloquium on Wednesday, Sept. 26, will feature Tehri Parker, executive director for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Parker�s talk, "Your Energy Wake Up Call," focuses on the scale and scope of America�s energy challenge. Few people are aware of how energy dependent our lifestyle is, and fewer still realize that new energy sources are becoming more and more difficult to find and develop.

The colloquium series continues on Wednesday, Oct. 24, with a roundtable discussion on the UWSP campus energy strategies. Presenters include Larry Beck, former UWSP facilities director, Ross Cohen, past-president UWSP Student Government Association, and Gary Oudehaven (invited), representative for Wisconsin Public Service Corporation. Their short presentations will be followed by a facilitated comment session featuring a number of local and regional energy experts.

On Wednesday, Nov. 28, Michael Vickerman, executive director for RENEW Wisconsin, will present "Wisconsin�s Energy Policy: An Advocate�s Perspective."　 Following a brief survey of Wisconsin�s existing policies and programs, Vickerman will focus on the barriers and challenges to a sustainable energy future, and discuss the prospects for new policy initiatives.

The colloquium sessions are held in CNR Room 170 at 4 p.m. A public reception at the College of Professional Studies Caf� follows each session. Both the colloquium and the receptions are free and open to the public.

The colloquium sessions continue in the spring semester, always on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Upcoming topics include wind energy, nuclear power, and bio-based fuels. Eric Olson, instructor and land use specialist in the CNR Center for Land Use Education, and Jennie Lane, director of the CNR K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) are coordinating this year�s series.