October 30 at 7:00 pm | Miller Hall
World Forestry Center and Science Friday teamed up for an evening exploring the world of lichen with award-winning science journalist Ira Flatow. Ira joined guest scientists Hannah Prather (Reed College), Jesse Miller (Washington Natural Heritage Program), and Jes Burns (OPB) for an armchair discussion about this complex lifeform built from the symbiotic relationship of fungus and alga. We really took a lichen to the evening.
See some photo highlights:
Meet The Experts:
- Hannah Prather is an NSF postdoctoral researcher and visiting assistant professor of biology at Reed College, where she teaches about the intricate relationship among lichens, bryophytes, host trees, and the surrounding ecosystem, particularly in urban and polar environments. She loves to share her diverse field-based experiences with her students and hopes to foster a sense of excitement and awe for the often overlooked yet fascinating world of lichens and bryophytes.
- Jesse Miller is the lead botanist for the Washington Natural Heritage Program, where he provides scientific guidance for rare plant conservation efforts statewide. Since his time as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California-Davis, he has studied the effects of fire severity and altered fire regimes on plant and lichen communities.
- Jes Burns is a science reporter in OPB’s Science & Environment unit. She is the lead brain behind the show “All Science, No Fiction”, which uses whimsy, curiosity and fun to place a spotlight on scientists in the Pacific Northwest.
This event was presented by Science Friday and World Forestry Center, in partnership with OPB and Hoyt Arboretum.