“Environmental Cleanups—When Is It Clean Enough?” was the thought-provoking title of February 12’s Society of Skeptics lecture, presented by licensed professional geologist and Blair parent Betsy Schamberger P’22. She joined the Blair community in the Chiang Center for Innovation and Collaboration to discuss the timely topic and engage in Q & A with the audience. 

Mrs. Schamberger earned her undergraduate degree in geology from Princeton University and master’s degrees in hydrogeology and geochemistry from Montana Tech. Her college studies focused on low-temperature geochemistry with an emphasis in mining, but after moving from Montana to Pennsylvania 22 years ago, she started working in the environmental industry. In 2006, she founded her own firm, Moonstone Environmental, LLC, which specializes in environmental due diligence and brownfields redevelopment. 

With over 20 years’ experience in the environmental industry, Mrs. Schamberger has a broad perspective on how environmental regulations function and what makes them effective (or not). The Lehigh Valley Business Journal recognized her as one of the Lehigh Valley’s Women of Influence in 2016.

The History of Skeptics

The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.

The program was an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon.’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please click here.