A Panel Discussion with Experts About Wildlife Conservation, Family Planning, Artmaking in the Anthropocene

The topics of discussion of the panel include: family planning, development and housing, climate-change activism strategies, wildlife conservation, water shortages (specifically in Arizona), art-making in the anthropocene, captive breeding and cloning programs (of black-footed ferrets or California condors, for example), the ways to foster community amid political polarization and culture wars, and women’s reproductive rights. We see this mix of themes and issues as deeply interwoven, not only in the opera, but also in how they often manifest in their real-life impacts. We may also show short clips of media or songs from the opera itself. However, no familiarity with the opera is expected.