Students Help Bring the Rainforest to Pittsburgh at Phipps Conservatory

Students from the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and the Mary Pappert School of Music will demonstrate the importance of the African Congo’s forests and culture through an upcoming Phipps Conservatory event.

The Tropical Forest Congo Festival, a family-focused day of fun to celebrate the region’s ecology, food and people, will be held on Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Phipps. The day’s events will include an education station highlighting the Congo forest’s ecology, which will be staffed by students from the Bayer School’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program. It will feature interactive displays that will illustrate topics such as the importance and role of the rainforest in the Earth’s water cycle, and problems brought about by rainforest destruction such as erosion and pollution.

School of Music students will staff an education station that will immerse visitors in the rhythms and music of the Congo as they play instruments that are native to this region. Visitors can also try various instruments.

Duquesne also will sponsor an appearance by the Umoja Africa Drumming Group.

Since the opening of the Congo Forest Exhibit in February, this marks the third event involving the University. According to Dr. Philip Reeder, dean of the Bayer School, the University’s participation honors the relationship that the Spiritans and Duquesne share with Africa and its people.

“The Spiritans—our University’s founders—share a special bond with the people of Africa,” Reeder said. “We wish to honor this relationship through our participation in the festival. By using our talents and knowledge, we hope to make learning about the Congo lively and interesting to the festival’s many visitors so that they can develop a deeper understanding of why it’s so important to us.”

Entrance to the festival is free with the purchase of a conservatory admission: $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, and $11 for children ages 2-18. Members and children under 2 are free.

For more information, call Phipps Conservatory at 412.622.6914.