1. Bethany Foshée named Executive Director of Nature Discovery Center
   On Jan. 28, 2019, Bethany Foshée will take the reins as Executive Director of the Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire. Foshée brings with her 20 years of experience in animal care, environmental education, volunteer and community outreach programs, and project management. Previously, she served as Edith L. Moore Sanctuary Manager for the Houston Audubon Society and Director of the Houston Audubon Docent Guild. Before her time with Houston Audubon, Foshée worked locally with YES Prep Public Schools, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Memorial Park Conservancy, and the Houston Zoo.
2. Gulf Science and Restoration Programs update three-year funding calendar
   As a way to keep stakeholders aware of new funding opportunities, the Gulf of Mexico science and restoration initiatives established following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill have worked to update a three-year funding opportunities calendar. The calendar enables stakeholders to remain informed about opportunities and assist grant applicants in planning ahead and submitting their high-quality applications to the appropriate funding opportunity. Visit restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov for additional information and a link to the calendar, including a downloadable PDF.
3. Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District Water Efficiency Network meeting
   On Jan. 24, 2019, from 1:30-3 p.m., the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District Water Efficiency Network will hold its monthly meeting, featuring a presentation by Jill Boullion, executive direction of The Bayou Land Conservancy. who will provide information about conservation easements, how they are used as a tool for permanent land protection and who uses them, and the benefits land protection provide the community. The event will be held at the LSGCD offices, 655 Conroe Park North Drive, Conroe. For more information, visit lonestargcd.org.
4. The Coastal Barrier: Galveston Bay Foundation’s Observations, Concerns and Comments
   On Jan. 24, 2019, the Galveston Bay Foundation will hold its quarterly Membership Meeting, featuring a presentation by advocacy director Scott Jones called “The Coastal Barrier: Galveston Bay Foundation’s Observations, Concerns and Comments.” The presentation will provide the latest information on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s plans to design and build an Upper Texas Coast storm surge coastal barrier (see the GBF’s position statement and key considerations). The event will be held at the United Way Community Resource Center, 50 Waugh, and is open to all. For more information, visit galvbay.org.
5. Monarch Butterfly Workshop: Train the Trainer
   On Jan. 25, 2019, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., the National Wildlife Foundation will hold a one-day course on monarch biology, ecology, and conservation. Attendees will learn the basics of monarch habitat creation and conservation and leave the course with the knowledge and confidence to engage diverse groups to take action on behalf of the monarch butterfly. The course will be held at Dennis Johnston Park in Spring. For more information and to register, visit nwf.org.
6. Houston Oiled Wildlife Response Workshop
   On Jan. 25, 2019, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., The Wildlife Center of Texas is offering an Oiled Wildlife Response Workshop at the Houston SPCA’s Carruth Education Center, 7007 Old Katy Road. The workshop will certify and train people interested in assisting The Wildlife Center of Texas Oiled Wildlife Response Team during a spill. It will cover the effects of oil on wildlife, initial intake and exam of oiled wildlife, an introduction to OSHA training, wildlife rehabilitation’s role in Incident Command System, and actual hands-on cleaning of oiled feathers in which participants will practice by washing an un-oiled white duck. All permitted wildlife rehabilitators and trainees, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state wildlife officials, industry environmental personnel, local veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, as well as interested citizens are invited to participate. RSVP via e-mail to wildliferesponse@wildlifecenteroftexas.org.
7. E-VENT 2019 Kick-Off Party and Benefit Concert
   On Jan. 25, 2019, from 6-9 p.m., at Mongoose Versus Cobra, 1011 McGowen Street, Texas Campaign for the Environment and Zero Waste Houston will hold a 2019 kick-off party in preparation for their advocacy in the 2019 Texas Legislative session. The event will feature a concert by the local group Traveler. For more information, visit the Facebook event.
8. Electronics Recycling in Missouri City
   On Jan. 26, 2019, from 8 a.m.-noon, the City of Missouri City and Missouri City Green will host an electronics recycling event at the Public Safety Department building, 3845 Cartwright Road. The event is open to all (not just Missouri City residents) and is free of charge, although donations are welcome. For more information, visit the Facebook event.
9. Keep Pearland Beautiful Arbor Day Tree Giveaway
   On Jan. 26, 2019, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Keep Pearland Beautiful will hold an Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at the Stella Roberts Recycling Center, 5800 Magnolia Street. Trees will be native or adaptive to the Pearland area. KPB is encouraging a suggested donation of $10/tree with a two-tree-per-household limit. For more information, visit keeppearlandbeautiful.org.
10. “A Night of Philosophy and Ideas” at the Moody Center 
    On Jan. 26-27, from 7 p.m.-1 p.m., the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University will will present “A Night of Philosophy and Ideas 2019,” featuring philosophical debate, performances, screenings, academic talks, dance and music based around the broadly defined theme of “ecology.” Keynote presentations will be made by Rice Professor Timothy Morton and renown multi-media artist Laurie Anderson. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit events.rice.edu.
11. “Biodiversity Loss and What You Can Do” webinar
    On Jan. 27, 2019, from 6-7 p.m., Christ the King Lutheran Church will present a webinar featuring Kerri Crawford, assistant professor at the University of Houston, Department of Biology & Biochemistry, on the importance of biodiversity as well as the latest findings on biodiversity loss, and steps the public can take to preserve it. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.
12. Call for submissions for Gulf Coast Green 2019
    The 2019 Gulf Coast Symposium and Expo, the region’s leading green building conference. will be held May 17, 2019 at Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts. Submissions are now being sought from presenters from the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, planning, interior design, government, education, the arts, contracting, energy analysis, and other building-related professions relevant to the conference theme, “CROSSROADS: Inclusive Exchange.” The deadline for submissions has been extended to Jan 28, 2019. For more information, visit aiahouston.org.
13. Registration, call for presentations open for “New Horizons in STEM” conference
    The University of Houston-Clear Lake’s College of Education will hold its greater Houston Area STEM conference, “New Horizons and Innovations in STEM” on March 2, 2019. This conference will bring together leading experts and researchers from around the region to focus on topics that impact K–12 STEM education. Participants will attend break-out sessions and tour some of the research facilities located at UH-Clear Lake, along with earning 7 CPEs for attendance. Registration is now open, and the call for presentations is open through Jan. 31, 2019. For more information, visit uhcl.edu.
14. 2019 North American Prairie Conference registration begins Feb. 1
    The 2019 North American Prairie Conference, co-presented by Katy Prairie Conservancy, the Coastal Prairie Partnership, the Nature Conservancy, and the Native Prairies Association of Texas, will be held June 2-5, 2019, at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. The conference — featuring experts in prairie conservation, restoration, education, and communications from Texas, the Southeast — and the Midwest. will spotlight how prairies can help to create healthy watersheds for people and wildlife. Registration begins Feb. 2 at northamericanprairie.org.
15. Wildlife in the City: When Two Worlds Collide
    On Feb. 2, 2019, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., the Texas Master Naturalist-Gulf Coast Chapter will present workshop for people who are interested in strategies and practices that allow a more harmonious co-existence with nature in an increasingly urbanized environment. The workshop will be held at the West University Place Community Center, 6104 Auden. The cost is $50, with lunch provided. For more information, visit txmn.org.
16. Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference
    On Feb. 4-7, 2019, the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans. The conference seeks to bridge basic and applied research in the Gulf of Mexico to highlight new discoveries and inform and update decisions and strategies, emphasizing the identification of remaining information gaps. The conference program also aims to look beyond the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to consider how various stressors contribute to ecological and social resilience in the Gulf, and inform response, restoration, and resource management strategies. For more information and to register, visit cvent.com.
17. Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards applications
    The Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards recognize innovative strategies and projects in the Houston-Galveston region that serve as models for improving water quality. This program is overseen by the Natural Resource Advisory Committee, an advisory committee to the Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors. Applications must be completed online by noon, Feb. 7, 2019. For more information, visit h-gac.com.
18. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
    Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3 p.m. each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Texas City, Galveston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.

• Meet the team of biologists who respond to Texas oil spills
• Rainwater catchment systems, aka “guzzlers”, provide water for bighorn sheep
• The Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association works to protect and promote Lake Fork’s natural resources