Parks Talk: Reading the Rivers
Event Highlights:
Date: November 11th, 2026
Location: The Shedd Institute
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Light snacks and drinks provided
- Live talk with National Geographic Explorer Dr. Dalal Hanna
- Discover how stronger connections to land and water can help shape a more sustainable future
- Connect with fellow parks, nature, and outdoor enthusiasts
About the Event:
Join Eugene Parks Foundation for an evening centered on the connections between people, water and the natural places that sustain our communities.
The evening begins at 5:30pm with appetizers, drinks and an opportunity to connect with fellow park supporters. At 6pm, Eugene Parks Foundation will share updates on current projects and what’s ahead before welcoming our featured speaker, Dr. Dalal Hanna.
A freshwater ecologist, conservation scientist and National Geographic Explorer, Dalal studies how healthy freshwater ecosystems contribute to both biodiversity and human well-being. Her work takes a broad view of conservation – looking not only at the science of protecting water and habitat, but also at the relationships people build with the landscapes around them.
In her Parks Talk, Dalal will draw from her research, field experiences and work with communities to explore what meaningful freshwater stewardship can look like and how stronger connections to land and water can help shape a more sustainable future.
Come curious, meet others who care about Eugene’s parks and natural spaces and spend an evening looking at conservation through a fresh lens.
Dr. Dalal Hanna | Headshot by Rosh Donihue
About the Speaker:
Dr. Dalal Hanna is an assistant professor of conservation science at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada), where she leads the Watershed Stewardship Research Collaborative. As a freshwater ecologist, educator and science communicator Dalal works to generate the information and momentum required for society to shift toward more sustainable and equitable living. Her focus in on how freshwaters can best be stewarded to ensure their continued contributions to people’s well-being all the while safeguarding the biodiversity they support.
She is also the co-founder and director of Riparia, a Canadian Charity that works to create better connections between young women, science and water by bringing youth on free freshwater science land-based learning programs. She earned her PhD in Natural Resource Sciences from McGill University in 2019, and has been a National Geographic Explorer since 2011.
Parks Legacy Award:
This end-of-year event will also include the presentation of the 2026 Parks Legacy Award to Joe Moll of McKenzie River Trust, honoring his longstanding contributions to conservation and the protection of the places that make our community special.