The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station was founded in 1875 and is celebrating its 150 year serving Connecticut citizens through its research and public services. It was the first experiment station in the country and the last to remain independent from an academic institution. With that, the Station is light on its feet because it lacks a large bureaucracy, and so its scientists can respond very quickly to fast moving pest and disease incursions to the state. But it also has long-term research on plant health, public health, nanotechnology, wildlife ecology, forest health to name a few projects. It’s a “small but mighty institution” that discovered for example, vitamin A, Lyme disease, and West Nile Virus, as well as developing hybrid corn among many of its successes. Dr. Gale Ridge will present a talk about the history of the Experiment Station, its research, long term projects and programs which have impacted our lives.

This program is free of charge. No beach pass is required if you are attending the Fred Elser First Sunday Science. Please let them know at the gate you are attending the Bruce museum seaside center lecture. First Sunday Science programs take place at the Floren Family Environmental Center at Innis Arden Cottage, Greenwich Point Park, Old Greenwich, CT.