Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)

Elizabeth Kolbert speaks during Morning Meeting

October 5, 2016: Elizabeth Kolbert speaks to students during Morning Meeting. Kolbert is an American journalist and author and professor at Williams College. She is best known for her 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and as an observer and commentator on environmentalism for The New Yorker magazine. She is also the author of the recent book Sixth Extinction. (photo by Robert Falcetti/Taft)