‘River Reborn’ premieres

opening sommer

NAU’s Stefan Sommer welcomed the crowd at the world premiere of A River Reborn: The Restoration of Fossil Creekat the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix on Jan. 14.

“This film is a great showcase of how our students and scientists work hand-in-hand to make a positive difference in the environment,” said NAU President John Haeger, who also spoke at the premiere.

Sommer, director of education at NAU’s Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research, also is executive producer of the documentary that examines the ecological effects of a 100-year-old dam and hydroelectric facility on Fossil Creek, and chronicles the impact NAU research had on the 15-year process that led to the hydroelectric decommissioning

The film aired on KAET (Channel 8) on Jan. 17 and will be shown again at midnight Jan. 20, at 5 p.m. Jan. 21 and at midnight and 3:30 a.m. Jan 22. In March it will be distributed nationally throughout the National Public Broadcasting System and the National Educational Telecommunications Association.

The documentary also is available on DVD. For information, visit www.RiverReborn.org or contact Sommer at (928) 523-4463.