Stetson’s Gillespie Museum’s Science Café will host an informal discussion of the Volusia County Sustainability Action Plan Thursday, Nov. 20, 7-8:30 p.m., in the Gillespie Museum, 234 E. Michigan Ave., on the DeLand campus. This event, which is open to the public at no charge, will feature Katrina Locke, Volusia County’s Sustainability and Natural Resources Director, Environmental Management Division.

“We look forward to hosting Katrina for a conversation about this significant county initiative,” said Karen Cole, Gillespie Museum director. “It’s exactly the kind of topic want to address in our Science Café series, one important to our campus and wider community.”

In February 2014, the Volusia County Council adopted the Sustainabilty Action Plan, which identifies goals to promote a healthy economy, environment, and community. At the same time, the plan is designed to save money through water and energy conservation. As part of the county’s Green Volusia Program, the Sustainability Action Plan is designed to reduce green house gas emissions and our impacts on our natural resources. Locke will give an overview of the plan and share information on some ongoing green initiatives.

The Gillespie’s Science Café series is part of an international movement to promote scientific literacy by encouraging relaxed, open conversations among scientists and nonscientists of all ages. Guest scientists typically present their topics briefly and informally, and then encourage a question and answer period. Light refreshments, including coffee and chocolate, round out the café experience. Recent topics have included the ‘Chemistry of Candy,’ presented during Halloween week by Stetson chemistry professor Paul Sibbald, and ‘Mapping our Relationship to the Sea,’ by a visiting professor in the Geography and Environmental Science Program.

This event is co-sponsored by Stetson’s Environmental Science and Studies Program. The Gillespie Museum is located at the southeast corner of Stetson University’s DeLand campus, at the intersection of Amelia and East Michigan Avenues. For more information, as well as other museum events, see www2.stetson.edu/other/gillespie-museum/ or call 386.822.7330. Cultural credit is available to Stetson undergraduates.