The Riviera Ridge School’s Director of Innovation to Lecture in Harvard Extension’s Sustainability Series

The Riviera Ridge School’s Director of Innovation, Melissa Wilder, is aiming to educate not only the youth in her classroom, but the world at large on natural climate solutions that aim to protect biodiversity with an upcoming lecture put on by Harvard Extension School and sponsored by the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability. 

“The world is facing twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. To stop the climate from increasing past the 1.5 degrees celsius mark, our biggest hope is saving land and re-wilding landscapes,” Wilder said.

Wilder’s lecture will be the second part of a series kicked off with Dr. Dennis Liu’s Half-Earth presentation, in which he explained the late Dr. E.O. Wilson’s findings on how saving half the Earth can help with climate recovery. On Saturday, April 8th via Zoom, Wilder will continue the conversation, sharing her knowledge of sustainability and biodiversity gleaned from her studies at Harvard Extension School, and experiences teaching and working on land conservation projects in the U.S. Virgin Islands on St. John. 

“My research analyzes how to expand the national park system on existing public lands for biodiversity and climate change,” Wilson said. 

The lecture will also feature a screening of her mini-documentary “Stay Wild,” which has won seven environmental awards, including “Best Documentary Short,” at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival and the Rocky Mountain Film Festival. 

After winning the Dean’s Prize for Outstanding Thesis at Harvard Extension in 2019, Wilson moved to St. John with a grant to help students build STEM skills. She also partnered with the National Park Service to get the students internships and involve them in citizen science. The film explores her learnings about how land conservation might offer a biodiversity and climate solution.

“By reimagining the American West and setting aside working federal lands as protected areas, our study shows that we could aid in the recent COP 15 goals of saving 30% of the Earth’s landmass by 2030,” Wilder said. “Secondly, our research concludes that the current national recreational trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trails could be expanded as wildlife corridors to help reduce species’ extinctions.”

To complement her scientific research, Wilder’s teaching experience spans over 20 years. In addition to educating young minds and bolstering STEM learning at Riviera Ridge, she is a teaching assistant for Dr. Mark Leighton at Harvard Extension School.

“Melissa Wilder is a passionate educator who practices what she preaches,” Chris Broderick, Head of School at Riviera Ridge said. “The fact that she is actively working to find solutions to combat climate change while broadening the minds of our children in the classroom each day speaks to her authenticity as an educator. I can’t wait to see her continue to shine in this upcoming lecture.”

The lecture will be on April 8th at 9:00am PST. Register at the link below:
https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kc-mvrDMpG9EevFNRVy203BZU8d9aYEz8

At Riviera Ridge, we provide student-centered, individualized learning in a joyful and nurturing community, inspiring academic excellence and valuing difference. The educational vision for each Riviera Ridge graduate is to empower individual potential, inspire purpose beyond self, and cultivate social responsibility as they prepare for high school and beyond. 

For more information, email info@rivieraridge.org or call 805-569-1811 ext. 131.