Old Growth Forests: Nature's Biotic Water Pump Virtual Film Screening Register

Date and Time:
Sat, Oct 24, 2026; 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM  (Eastern)

Organized By: Massachusetts Chapter

Location: Virtual

Event Organizers:
Celeste Venolia
   celeste.venolia@sierraclub.org

Join us for a virtual screening of Old Growth Forests: Nature's Biotic Water Pump! This film made by Ray Asselin of Western Massachusetts describes how important forests are and explains how forests control our climate and "pump" water across continents. The hour long film will be followed by a 30 minute panel including time for questions and answers. 

Panelists: 
Dr. Anastassia Makarieva is a Russian atmospheric physicist and senior researcher at the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute. She obtained her Ph.D. in atmospheric physics from St. Petersburg State University in 2000. Dr. Makarieva is highlighted in the film for co-developing the “biotic pump” theory alongside the late Professor Victor Gorshkov. The theory states that forests play a crucial role in driving atmospheric moisture transport, effectively influencing rainfall patterns over land. Her work emphasizes the importance of intact forests in maintaining climate stability and has challenged conventional climate models to incorporate the dynamic role of vegetation in atmospheric processes.

Dr. Susan Masino, Ph.D is the Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut. Her research and her work in the community is focused on brain health and disease, natural processes and the ecological value of forests, and science-based, common-sense strategies for local and global wellbeing.

Dr. J. William Stubblefield has pursued a lifelong interest in ecology and evolution with a PhD in Biology from Harvard University. Over the last few years, he has focused on the potential of natural solutions to the multiple planetary crises we now face, especially the potential of forests to accumulate carbon and preserve biodiversity. Bill is a long-time advocate in the Massachusetts Sierra Club Forest Protection Team.


Old Growth Forests: Nature's Biotic Water Pump's title card