News Release

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Through a collaboration between the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education and University Archives, Saguna Shankar, assistant professor in GSE’s Department of Information Science, is co-leading a spring 2026 public programming series connected to the exhibition Toxic Archives: Voices from Love Canal, on view in the Silverman Library on UB’s North Campus.

Hosted by University Archives, the spring event series brings together UB faculty, community organizations and national voices to examine the lasting legacy of Love Canal and its connections to contemporary environmental justice, community stewardship and collective action.

“Thinking back on this crisis, we might ask, ‘What should we hold onto from the legacy of Love Canal?’” said Shankar. “Speakers in the spring series help us to see that environmental justice is multi-generational and can involve all of us. We each have valuable skills to lend and stories linking us to the ecosystems we live within. This can propel collective action.”

“This event series brings together the past and present of environmental justice in Western New York,” said Hope Dunbar, university archivist. “We're creating opportunities for students and community members to learn from Love Canal's history while engaging with the people doing this work today.”

Dunbar and Shankar will also be presenting on the exhibition and their related work at UB’s Humanities Institute Annual Conference in March 2026, and at other venues, including the annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists.

The upcoming spring 2026 event lineup is available on the University Libraries website. All events are free and open to the public. Registration is required for each event through the exhibition website.

Beyond Love Canal: Stewardship, Restoration, and Caring for Waterways in Niagara Falls (Hybrid)

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | 2–3 p.m.

Silverman Library, 3rd floor, 310 Capen Hall
University at Buffalo, North Campus

This presentation explores how Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper works in partnership with the City of Niagara Falls to steward waterways in a community shaped by a complex environmental past. While Love Canal remains an important chapter in the city’s history, Niagara Falls continues to move forward through long-term restoration and community-centered care for its natural resources.

Using current work in Hyde Park, along Gill Creek and across City parks, BNW will share how restoration design, water quality monitoring, public communication and youth engagement support public health, safe access and renewed relationships with land and water. The presentation highlights the importance of sustained presence, collaboration and trust-building in caring for places that hold both environmental memory and opportunity for renewal.

Fighting for a Toxic-Free World: A Conversation with Professor John Fiege and Mike Schade of Toxic-Free Future

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Screening Room

Join UB media study professor John Fiege as he interviews Mike Schade of Toxic-Free Future live on stage for the Chrysalis podcast. The conversation will explore decades of advocacy to reduce plastics and eliminate toxic chemicals, including PFAS, and consider the role students can play in working toward a healthier future. Presented in partnership with the Humanities Institute Spring Conference, “These Toxic Times,” this event is part of the University Archives exhibition and programming series on Love Canal.

Equity, Environment, and Community Resilience in Western New York (Hybrid)

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 1–2 p.m.
Silverman Library, 3rd floor, 310 Capen Hall

Join Monica Miles, assistant professor in UB’s Department of Engineering Education and co-founder of Mother Earth Literacies, for a compelling discussion of contemporary environmental challenges in Western New York through the lens of environmental justice, community engagement and equitable access to healthy environments. A GSE alum, Miles will explore how local communities can build resilience and foster meaningful change. Presented as part of the University Archives exhibition series, this program extends the conversation beyond Love Canal to contemporary environmental issues.

Evening Keynote: A Conversation with Keith O’Brien and Luella Kenny (Hybrid)

Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Silverman Library, 3rd floor, North Lounge Exhibit Area

Journalist and author Keith O’Brien, author of Paradise Falls: The True Story of an Environmental Catastrophe, will speak with former Love Canal resident and activist Luella Kenny for a powerful conversation on lived experience, historical memory and environmental justice. Moderated by John Fiege, the discussion will connect Love Canal’s history to present-day movements for accountability and community advocacy. This conversation will be recorded live for the Chrysalis podcast.

Community Science and Environmental Justice in Western New York (Hybrid)

Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 1–2 p.m.
Silverman Library, 3rd floor, 310 Capen Hall

Lourdes Vera, associate professor of sociology and environment & sustainability at UB, will discuss community-driven approaches to environmental challenges in the region. Her work bridges sociology, environmental monitoring and data justice, highlighting how residents and citizen scientists can collaboratively identify and address air and soil contamination and other environmental health concerns. Presented as part of the University Archives exhibition series, this program extends the conversation beyond Love Canal to contemporary environmental issues.