Wednesday, August 16, 2023–10:57 a.m.
-Tellus Science Museum-
Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman, Executive Director and Riverkeeper at Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) will present, “Forever Chemicals in the Coosa River,” at Tellus Science Museum on Friday, August 18 at 7:00 pm. This lecture is free for Tellus Members and included with regular museum admission.
PFAs, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been discharged into our waterways from industrial sites for years. These substances are often called ‘forever chemicals’ as they are resistant to breaking down in the environment and even inside our bodies. According to research done by the American Chemical Society, more than 200 million Americans could have harmful amounts of PFAs in their drinking water. Currently, there is little federal oversight on the industrial use of PFAs. As a result, environmental groups such as CRBI have stepped in to educate the public and find solutions.
Demonbreun-Chapman will touch on the history of these “forever chemicals” in Northwest Georgia, current state and federal regulations that impact their use, and the steps that are being taken by various environmental groups to combat the issue.
“CRBI combines a holistic approach to conservation with creative problem solving to address complex environmental issues in the upper Coosa River basin,” says Demonbreun-Chapman. “I feel incredibly fortunate to hold a position that allows me to apply myself every day to the stewardship of our water resources – an issue that I care about deeply.”
This lecture is free for members and free with regular admission for non-members.
Get to Know the Speaker
Demonbreun-Chapman joined CRBI in December 2016 as Executive Director and Riverkeeper. He previously served two and a half years at Ogeechee Riverkeeper based in Savannah where he worked as the organization’s outreach coordinator. Prior to moving to Savannah, he worked for a refugee resettlement agency in Stone Mountain, served as a director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Georgia for four years, and also served for a short time on the CRBI Board of Directors. He is a 2008 graduate of Berry College where he studied Biology and English. Demonbreun-Chapman serves on the Leadership Team for the Georgia Water Coalition and for Waterkeepers Alabama. He lives in Rome with his wife Ashley, daughter Lilliana, and son Felix. In his free time, he loves to run, skateboard, and mountain bike.
Tellus Science Museum is a program of Georgia Museums, Inc., which includes Booth Western Art Museum, Savoy Automobile Museum, and Bartow History Museum. The Smithsonian Affiliate is a 120,000-square-foot science museum located in Cartersville, just north of Atlanta. For more information about Tellus Science Museum call (770) 606-5700 or visit www.tellusmuseum.org or www.facebook.com/tellusmuseum.
