Discover the wild heart of Florida in The Florida Story, a thought-provoking speaker series hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and University of Florida professor Jack Davis and featuring award-winning environmental authors and historians. Each month from January 2026 through March 2006, explore the state’s ecology, natural history, and conservation challenges through powerful storytelling and inspiring conversation. All event proceeds support conservation.

The Florida Story:
Water, Wildlife & Wilderness

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Your ticket includes the presentation, hors d’oeuvres, wine, and an exclusive author meet & greet. Dinner reservations will also be available at the Black Prong Whiskey Bar & Grill. Come learn, connect, and be inspired by the ecology all around us.

Event Dates and Speakers | All Introduced & Moderated by Jack Davis

Cynthia Barnett

January 18

Author of Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.
Cynthia Barnett is an award-winning environmental journalist and author known for her engaging books about water, climate, and the natural world. A Florida native and senior lecturer at the University of Florida, her writing blends science, history, and storytelling to help readers better understand our changing planet.

Proceeds from this talk will be donated to the UF Environmental Journalism Fund.

Janisse Ray

February 15

Author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood
Janisse Ray is an American author, naturalist, and environmental activist celebrated for her lyrical explorations of land, culture, and the human place within nature. She grew up in rural Georgia and holds a B.A. from Florida State University and an M.F.A. from the University of Montana. Ray blends ecology, memoir, and Southern history in her beloved classic about growing up rooted in the rural landscape.

Proceeds from this talk will be donated to Conservation Florida.

Jack Davis

March 15

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea presents The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird
Jack E. Davis is a Pulitzer Prize–winning environmental historian, author, and professor at the University of Florida, where he holds the Rothman Family Chair in the Humanities. Davis writes with both scholarly rigor and narrative power, exploring how natural landscapes, water systems, and human culture interact over time—making him a leading voice in environmental history and sustainability studies. In The Bald Eagle, Davis shares the extraordinary story of America’s iconic raptor and its comeback from the brink.

Proceeds from this talk will be donated to the Florida Audubon Society.