photo by: Courtesy of Douglas County

Karen Willey

A four-part discussion series at the Dole Institute of Politics will examine several topics related to environmental sustainability in the state, including food, water and renewable energy.

The series, titled “Obstacles and Opportunities: Tackling Sustainability in Kansas,” will be moderated by Karen Willey, a Dole Institute fellow and Kansas Rural Center board member. Willey also chairs the Douglas County Commission.

The first discussion in the series, “Farm Bill: Food and Hunger in the Heartland,” will include Zach Helder, senior adviser of agriculture policy for Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids; and Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union. The event is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Dole Institute, 2350 Petefish Drive.

The second discussion, “Sink or Swim: The Future of Water in Kansas,” will feature state Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park, and state Rep. Kenny Titus, R-Manhattan. The event is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Dole Institute.

The third discussion in the series, “Powering the Next Generation: Renewable Energy Options and Hurdles in Kansas,” will include Allison Thomas, a staff member at the Climate + Energy Project; Gary Rexroad, a retired Microsoft executive who chairs the Lawrence and Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission; Jay Kalbas, the state geologist of Kansas and the director of the Kansas Geological Survey; and Brandon Sack, a clean energy development manager. The event is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. March 19 at the Dole Institute.

The final discussion in the series, “Where Do We Go Now?: The Politics and Policies of Climate Adaptation in Kansas,” is scheduled for 4 p.m. March 26, but details about participants were not available Thursday on the Dole Institute’s website.