A look at the past, present and future environmental issues of St. Louis will be the focus of this year’s Whitney and Anna Harris Conservation Forum to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 at The Living World, Saint Louis Zoo.

Attendees will hear from four speakers, ranging from scholars to community activists. The forum is free and open to the public.

Andrew Hurley, professor and chair of the Department of History at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, will present “Whatever Happened to Yesterday’s Environmental Problems? Lessons from St. Louis” from 6 to 7 p.m.

Next, Shelley Welsch, mayor of University City, Mo., will present “A Living (and Growing) Legacy of Environmentalism in University City.” Welsch was one of the founders and the first executive director of the Green Center, a venue for outdoor environmental education and the arts in University City.

Following Welsch will be Catherine Werner, an environmental attorney who is the sustainability director in the St. Louis mayor’s office. She’ll present “Where Ecology Fits into the City of St. Louis’ Sustainability Plan.”

The final presentation, “Birds in Everyday Baltimore: The Baltimore Ecosystem Study Bird Monitoring Project,” will be given by Charles Nilon, professor of fisheries and wildlife, at the University of Missouri–Columbia. His research considers the impact of urbanization on wildlife habitats, populations and communities.

The evening will wrap up with a panel discussion that will end by 9 p.m.

Registration is required for the free event. Call 314-516-6203 or email hintonpa@umsl.edu to get your name on the list.

The forum is sponsored the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, University of Missouri–St. Louis, Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis Zoo and the Academy of Science-St. Louis.