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Eastern to present live documentary 'Earth2026'

Alumni production warns of the planet's state and future

by Michael Rouleau

Willimantic, CT (02/13/2026) — Eastern Connecticut State University will host a multimedia presentation exploring the state of the environment and the future of the Earth on Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. in the David G. Carter Science Building, room 104.

Set to music and narrated live, "Earth2026" is a "live documentary" created by Eastern alumnus Ken Wolslegel '87, an environmental professional and advocate who's been featuring his presentation at universities and organizations throughout the region.

"Man, one of the newest species on the planet, has reshaped every aspect of Earth's natural systems," writes Wolslegel. "Taking billions of years to form, the delicate balance of nature not only made life possible on Earth but also supports humanity's rich modern civilization. But this critical balance has become unstable. What does the future hold for nature, humanity, and even our economy, and what can we do about it?"

"Earth2026 provides a global perspective of 21st-Century climate change and man's impact on the natural environment and our own long-term survival," said Dickson Cunningham, environmental earth science professor. "It is a powerful, visually impressive, multi-media presentation that is clearly organized, science-based, current, and easy to follow for both academic and non-academic audiences.

"The visual content and narrative are upsetting at times, because the rates of climate change and biodiversity loss are indeed upsetting, yet the presentation ends with positive messages about what can be done by individuals, groups, and governments, and what is currently being done to minimize the damage to the natural environment and all life on Earth. Ken Wolslegel has created an important presentation that forces viewers to think deeply and unselfishly about the life choices we make now and the kind of planet we want our children to inherit."

The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by Eastern's Department of Environmental Earth Science and the Upsilon Theta chapter of the Sigma Gamma Epsilon National Honor Society for Earth Sciences.

For more information on "Earth2026," visit: https://www.earth21stcentury.com/

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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