Event
Science on Screen: Proforestation: Letting Forests Grow Old (2026)
Real Art Ways’ new season of Science on Screen® invites you to experience the creative pairing of a feature film and thought-provoking talk from a notable area scientist. This year, we will be presenting this series at the Connecticut Science Center.
Film Synopsis:
The evolution of forests has helped to optimize the fundamental conditions for life on Earth – an oxygenated atmosphere, fresh water on land, a stable, moderate climate, food, shelter, timber resources, etc. Yet, exploitation and manipulation of forests continue to increase around the globe, threatening the stability of those conditions locally and globally.
This film introduces the concept of “proforestation” – a scientific term that was developed to address a gap in the research literature. Proforestation is a practice whereby some existing forests are allowed to evolve and adapt as Nature directs, with limited human intervention, and with benefits for climate, ecology, and health. The seminal paper on proforestation was published in 2019, and it has been cited in major policy reports, including the IPCC, and by more than 100 papers in multiple scientific disciplines.
3:00 pm: Dr. Susan Masino will discuss the lifecycle of old-growth forests and how new models of conservation look to heal forest habitats.
3:30 pm: Screening of Proforestation
About Dr. Susan Masino
Dr. Masino is the Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College and holds a joint appointment in Neuroscience and Psychology. Her research focuses on promoting and restoring brain health, with a particular interest in adenosine, and on the relationship among metabolism, brain activity, and behavior. For nearly 100 years, a metabolic therapy called a “ketogenic diet” has been used to treat seizures, and recent mechanistic insights – including the role of adenosine – hold translational implications for brain health and diverse disorders. She is a founding member of the International Neurological Ketogenic Society
In addition to her lab research, Dr. Masino is interested in how public policies can improve brain health. Between 2018-2019, she was a Charles Bullard Fellow in Forest Research at Harvard and published the seminal paper on the benefits of proforestation for climate stabilization, biodiversity, and public health.
Science on Screen is an initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.
