Lunchtime Discovery Series

Andy Wood, Director, Coastal Plain Conservation Group

Having all but single-handedly prevented extinction of two North Carolina endemic freshwater snails, biologist and conservation educator Andy Wood proves that one person can make a difference for the environment. Join Andy for a trek into the swampy lower Cape Fear River Basin where freshwater plants and wildlife are in a race to shift ahead of saltwater intrusion due to river dredging. Magnificent rescue is a story about unintended consequences, protecting biodiversity and perseverance – starring a sentinel species, umbrella species and flagstaff species, all coiled in one shell.   

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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John Gerwin, Research Curator, Ornithology, NC Museum of Natural Sciences

There are ~130 species of sparrows in the world. And depending on your definition of “sparrow,” about 25 can be seen in North Carolina. As a group, they instill a sense of “dread” when it comes to identifying them. But for others, they are a fun challenge. There has been some research into a few of the NC species, but only a few. Many migrate through the state in the fall. Some species are common and adaptable and can be found in both urban and rural habitats. Others have very specific habitat preferences. John will go over some natural history and identification aspects of this group of seemingly drab birds – but as you’ll see, they do not all look alike. 
 
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Lisa J. Gatens, Collection Manager, Mammalogy, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Join Lisa Gatens to learn about marine mammal conservation efforts, including the establishment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Endangered Species Act. We will explore why such measures are necessary, and, using our beloved North Atlantic right whale specimen on exhibit as an example, we will look at what it takes to obtain a specimen and get it ready to exhibit. 

Wednesday, November 13 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Mike Cove, Research Curator of Mammalogy, NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Dr. Mike Cove, Research Curator of Mammalogy, will take us on a behind the scenes tour of the museum’s Mammalogy Collection from two stories underground. We will see some of the iconic research specimens from the collection's 30,000 specimens. We will learn about some adaptations and traits that make mammals unique and showcase the diversity of our own family tree.

Wednesday, November 6, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Derick Lugo, Author, Adventurer, and Host of the Unlikely Stories Podcast

Join Derick Lugo, author of the memoir, “The Unlikely Thru-Hiker,” for his story of “a young Black man setting off from the big city with an extremely overweight pack and a willfully can-do attitude.” Derick, a Brooklyn-born, New York City urbanite who had never hiked, camped, or pitched a tent a day in his life, tells the story of leaving the comfort of New York City to tackle 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Derick will share how his first adventure transformed his perspective on the outdoors, inspiring him to pursue many more journeys, including his recent thru-hikes of the Continental Divide Trail and the Long Trail in Vermont.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Dr. Colleen Doherty, Associate Professor, NC State University Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
Edmaritz Hernandez-Pagan, PhD Candidate, NC State University Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry

The growing importance of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) is driven by their role in modern technology. REEs are used widely in various industries, especially in technologies crucial for sustainability and in devices for decarbonizing the economy, including magnet and battery technologies. Using plants, we study the role of REEs in biology and use this knowledge to develop carbon-friendly methods for recovering REEs from waste sources like Acid Mine Drainage and Fly Ash. Our approach focuses on plants capable of thriving in polluted environments and efficiently accumulating REES.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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David Huff, M.Ed., is the principal founder and chair of the George Masa Foundation, which empowers youth with innovative tools for environmental conservation and climate advocacy. An award-winning photographer residing in Asheville, North Carolina, he uses his photography to capture the beauty of the natural world.

George Masa, a Japanese immigrant and photographer in the early 20th century, played a crucial role in advocating for the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. His stunning photographs of the region’s landscapes captured the beauty of the Smokies, inspiring widespread support for conservation efforts. In addition to his work for the park, Masa was instrumental in mapping the Appalachian Trail’s route through the southern Appalachians, ensuring its preservation for future generations. David will share some of Masa’s iconic photographs and delve into his remarkable story, highlighting his enduring legacy in environmental advocacy and the protection of the natural world. David will share his perspectives on the lasting effects of the storm on the people and landscapes of Western North Carolina in the context of Masa's legacy and the work of the George Masa Foundation. 

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Amanda Bratcher, Horticulture Agent, NC Cooperative Extension- Lee County Center

There is a lot of misinformation about pesticides and how pesticides impact pollinators and the environment. Join horticulture agent Amanda Bratcher to learn some best practices and strategies for using pesticides while still protecting pollinators. What are pesticides?  How do you read a pesticide label and practice pesticide safety? Amanda will share how to be an educated consumer when it comes to buying pesticides and hiring companies to apply pesticides. 
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
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Dr. Sean Waugh, Research Meteorologist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Severe Storms Laboratory

Join Sean Waugh, meteorologist with the NOAA National Severe Storms Lab in Norman, Oklahoma, to find out how NOAA scientists worked hard behind the scenes with the film producers of the new Twisters movie to make the science as accurate and realistic (in some parts!) as possible. Find out more about the real-life tornado science versus what you see in “Twisters” and get an inside look at the latest NOAA tornado science, including a virtual backstage tour of NOAA’s role as consultants to the movie’s producers, and more!
The Lunchtime Discovery Series is a partnership between the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, hosted by Chris Smith, NCMNS Coordinator of Current Science Programs.
September 25, 2024
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Dr. Francine McCarthy, Geology Professor and Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences at Brock University, Ontario, Canada

Dr. Francine McCarthy, a geology professor and Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, has spent her career researching geological evidence of planetary change. Her recent research at Crawford Lake in Ontario has produced evidence through the lake’s layered sediment that human impact has changed the Earth, leading us into a new geological period or epoch: the Anthropocene. McCarthy notes that by strict convention we are still living in the Holocene – but is this societally relevant and does it accurately describe our planet today? 
This episode of the BBC Radio show Uncharted with Hannah Fry has just been released and provides some great background for this talk: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00230wc

The Lunchtime Discovery Series is a partnership between the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, hosted by Chris Smith, NCMNS Coordinator of Current Science Programs.
September 18, 2024
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Dr. Andrew Read, Stephen A. Toth Professor of Marine Biology, Chair, Marine Science & Conservation Division, Director, Duke Marine Lab

Dr. Read is leading research funded by the US Navy on the goose-beaked whale, the mammal that holds world records for dive depth and duration off Cape Hatteras. His team of researchers is trying to understand how these elusive and enigmatic whales respond to the Navy’s midfrequency active sonar signals used to detect submarines. Join us to learn more about the goose-beaked whale and how researchers are solving this mystery.
September 11, 2024
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Vanessa Woods, Research Scientist, Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University Horticultural Sciences, North Carolina State University

What does it take to raise a great dog? This was the question that we hoped to answer when we enrolled one hundred and one puppies in the Duke Puppy Kindergarten. Applying the same games that psychologists use when exploring the development of young children, we uncover what happens in a puppy’s mind during their final stage of rapid brain development. Along the way, learn about when puppies finally start to retain memories for longer than just a few seconds, or when they finally develop some self-control. Raising dozens of puppies on a college campus means you get pretty good at answering big questions, such as: When do puppies sleep through the night? How do you stop them from eating poop? How can we help our puppies grow up to be the best dogs they can possibly be?
September 4, 2024
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Lauren Willhite, North Carolina State University

Stream restoration is the process of improving ecosystem health through the reconstruction of the floodplain and stream itself. Planting species and ensuring riparian vegetation is healthy is an important aspect of restoration. Rocky Branch is an older, restored urban stream completed on North Carolina State’s campus that provides a unique opportunity to examine long-term plant communities post-restoration. Join Lauren Willhite in looking at her vegetation assessment data to see what native and invasive species are present and what we should do moving forward to better conserve plants on restoration sites!

May 29, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Naturalist and media personality David Mizejewski will share how to create a beautiful garden space that fits into the local ecosystem and supports birds, butterflies, bees and a whole host of other wonderful wildlife neighbors. David will cover why native plants are critical, the four essential components of habitat, and the best sustainable gardening practices based on the latest conservation science. He’ll also share how you can achieve the National Wildlife Federation’s “Certified Wildlife Habitat” recognition for your garden space. David’s book, “Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife,” is available to purchase online. 
May 22, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Lisa Colvin, Co-Founder and Director of Community Relations
Charles Gbenyon, Co-Founder and Social Media Account Manager and Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs 
Ali Steele, Co-Founder and Director of Outdoor Programs, Inventory Manager and Creative Consultant

Join us to learn how three friends became the founders of the Black outdoor adventure company Issa Vibe Adventures, taking the Charlotte area outdoor community and western North Carolina by storm. These friends kick-started Issa Vibe Adventures with the goal of exposing the Black demographic to nature, but it has become so much more. They now take pride in giving back to their community by making sandwiches for the less fortunate and by teaching, training, engaging Black people to step outside of the norm, get active and try something they’ve never done before. Join us to see how this group is changing the face of the outdoors.

May 15, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Dr. Jeffrey McKinnon, Professor, Department of Biology, East Carolina University

Most lakes are less than 15,000 years old and short-lived, but there is a much smaller number of ancient lakes, tectonic in origin and often millions of years old, that are scattered across every continent but Antarctica. Examples include Baikal, Tanganyika, Victoria, Titicaca, and Biwa. Often these lakes are filled with a diversity of fish, crustaceans, snails and other creatures found nowhere else in the world. Join Jeffrey McKinnon to learn more about the remarkable living diversity of these aquatic bodies and the surprising, often controversial, findings about the formation and persistence of the species living in them.

May 8, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Dr. Matt Bertone, Director and Diagnostic Entomologist, NCSU Plant Disease and Insect Clinic
Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University

This year, North Carolina will experience one of nature's greatest events: the emergence of millions of periodical cicadas! This phenomenon can only be seen in the Eastern US, and Brood XIX has been patiently waiting underground for 13 years to finally emerge. This session will include information about cicadas in general, what makes a cicada "periodical" and how cicadas affect us and the environment, all while hopefully spreading appreciation for these abundant, and LOUD, insects.
May 1, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Vanessa Woods, Research Scientist; Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University; Horticultural Sciences, North Carolina State University

It has been 40 years since the late E.O. Wilson proposed the term biophilia, the “emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms.” Recently, the way we think about biophilia has changed. Rather than an attraction to the natural world that is present at the same intensity in everyone, we now think of biophilia more as a temperament trait. While some people flourish in the natural world, others prefer to spend their time indoors, away from bugs and unpleasant weather. Find out where you measure in BQ (Biophilia Quotient), and find out how we can join conservationists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists in finding a way for people to live with nature and amidst nature, while slowing the disappearance of the plants and wildlife that bring us all joy.

April 24, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Hannah Ball-Damberg, Farm Educator, Durham Public Schools Hub Farm
Chef Peter Broadsky, Head, Culinary Arts, Northern High School

The Durham Public Schools (DPS) Hub Farm is DPS’s 30-acre outdoor learning center that engages students, staff, families and the broader DPS community in field trips, internships, summer camp, workshops and more. Join Hannah Ball-Damberg, Farm Educator and Chef Peter Brodsky, Head of the Culinary Arts program at Northern High School in Durham, as they discuss the intersections of outdoor education and career training for high school students.

April 17 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Bryan England, Preserve Manager, Annie Louise Wilkerson MD Nature Preserve Park, City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department

Historical accounts depict a time when central North Carolina was a land of “vast prairies, with pea-vine grass,” back “when everybody thought this pea-vine country was a sort of new Garden of Eden.” But a short time later they wrote that the wild peavine had “utterly disappeared” from the Carolina Piedmont. What was this paradise plant? Could the historic wild peavine landscape reappear at Wilkerson Nature Preserve and other places in North Carolina? Join us for a talk about ecological history and to see how it is never too late to give peas a chance.

April 10 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Laura Wood, Environmental Connections Integration Specialist, Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary School

Lincoln Heights Elementary School is one of two magnet schools in North Carolina to offer the Environmental Connections program, where all subjects are taught through an environmental lens. Join Laura Wood to learn about the origin of the school’s theme, its implementation and the many ways students are connecting with the environment. She will share practices and strategies you can replicate, and tips and tricks to take students beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom to be immersed in nature. Come and learn how to connect with the environment all year long!

April 3, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Dr. Terri A. Long, Professor of Plant Biology and Platform Director for Education and Workforce Development for the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, North Carolina State University

Agriculture/agribusiness is the number one driver of North Carolina’s economy. But did you know that in 2023, for the first time in history, the US imported more agricultural goods than we exported? Did you also know that today, agriculture requires expertise in everything from horticulture to engineering, mathematics, AI and beyond? Join Dr. Terri Long to learn about how scientists and staff at NCSU are working to chart new territory in translational plant science and outreach to bring new solutions to the growing challenges facing NC agriculture and agriculture workforce development.

March 27, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Kathryn Aalto, New York Times Bestselling Author, Historian, Designer, Teacher and Speaker

Kathryn Aalto’s book, “Writing Wild,” celebrates the lives and work of women who found inspiration in nature and used the power of their pens not only to promote environmental awareness, but to change the very way we perceive nature. Kathryn will highlight the role women have played in shaping our lives and preserving the environment. Part travelogue, literary biography and cultural history, both the book and talk delve into the ways women were limited by opportunities and societal expectations, and the way nature writing has evolved over time, from early nature diaries to contemporary environmental literature.

March 20, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Join us for a special discussion with five women working in science and the environment. Secretary Elizabeth Biser, the first woman to lead the Department of Environmental Quality, will moderate a conversation with these pioneering women about their exciting work and their challenges working in STEM careers. Panelists from DEQ include Air Quality Regional Supervisor Dawn Reddix, Conservation Biologist Vicky Thayer and Organics Recycling Specialist Christine Wittmeier. They will be joined by Dr. Rachel Smith, Head of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab and Emma Blackford, Head of the Museum's Prairie Ridge Ecostation.

March 13, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Join award-winning film director Erin Derham as she talks about her documentary feature film that shares the surprising and unique world of taxidermy. “Stuffed” is shown through the eyes and hands of passionate, renowned artists across the world and allows the audience to dip into and explore this diverse subculture, where sculptors must also be scientists. Erin successfully depicts taxidermy as a genre of art, formed by a collection of people who have a fanaticism for nature, matched only by their desire to protect it. They love animals and see life where others only see death. In an unexpected twist, “Stuffed” reveals the importance of preserving nature, using taxidermy as its unlikely vehicle, and the taxidermist as its wild driver.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Erin Derham is an international award-winning director and historian, specializing in storytelling with an edge, shining a light on all things misunderstood. Her production company, History Boutique Films, has released multiple features and series, culminating in over 400 hours of interviews conducted worldwide. Her first documentary, “Buskin’ Blues,” a film about street music, attended over a dozen festivals. “Stuffed,” a global documentary about the art of taxidermy, was nominated for best film at SXSW 2019. Erin also completed three seasons (12 episodes) as showrunner of “Point of View: A Designer Profile,” a documentary series about the artistry behind interior design. Currently, Erin is directing a documentary with legendary producer Mike Medavoy, and Appian Way, about the humanity behind artificial intelligence. She is also in production for “Healthy Lies,” a documentary on the fraudulent nature of the wellness industry. 

March 6, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Joan L. Collins, Director of Outreach and Education, Pea Island Preservation Society"

The Pea Island Lifesaving Station on North Carolina’s Outer Banks is historically significant and distinctive, as it was the only lifesaving station in the United States to be manned by an all Black crew. Under the direction of Keeper Richard Etheridge, the crew was hired from local Black men in the community and they were trained to be dedicated and dependable watermen in the service of lifesaving. The men of Pea Island never received any awards for rescues no matter how many lives they saved. It wasn’t until 1996, 100 years after the heroic rescue of the crew of the E.S. Newman in 1896, that the US Coast Guard finally paid honor to the crew of the Pea Island Station. Joan Collins, a Freedmen Colony and Pea Island descendant, joins us to share how the Pea Island Preservation Society is telling this story and preserving this very important history.

February 28, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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We honor the legacy of those stewards of the land that came before us and have faith in those stewards of the land that will come after us. The North Carolina-based Black Family Land Trust is one of the nation’s only conservation land trusts dedicated to the preservation and protection of African-American and other historically underserved landowner assets. The BFLT utilizes the core principles of land conservation and land-based community economic development to achieve their goals. They measurably improve the quality of life for landowners by providing families with the tools necessary to make informed, proactive decisions regarding their land and its use. The BFLT works primarily in the Southeastern United States, and their programs are intergenerational in their design. Join us as host Chris Smith interviews BFLT Executive Director Ebonie Alexander and takes your questions live!  
February 21, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Adrienne Nirdé, Director, NC African American Heritage Commission, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Did you know that over 300 businesses in North Carolina were listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book? “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” published between 1936 and 1966, was both a travel guide and a tool of resistance designed to confront the realities of racial discrimination in the United States and beyond. The book listed 327 North Carolina businesses—from restaurants and hotels, to tourist homes, nightclubs and beauty salons—in the three decades that it was published. The Green Book exhibit highlights a complex statewide network of business owners and Green Book sites that allowed African American communities to thrive, and that created “oasis spaces” for a variety of African American travelers.  Join us to learn more about this history and how your community can become involved.

February 14, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Kamal Bell: Owner, Sankofa Farms

Kamal Bell founded Sankofa Farms in Efland, North Carolina to help people affected by “food deserts” and to create a sustainable food source for minorities in both rural and urban areas located in Durham and Orange Counties. The farm is also home to the Sankofa Farms Agricultural Academy, a year-round intensive STEM-based program that seeks to educate students on the existing problems within agriculture. Join Kamal as he discusses his journey into farming and his farm’s transition to climate-smart agriculture.

February 7 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Dr. David Coyle, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University

Spiders! Beetles! Sawflies! These critters are all around us, yet a few species — the invasive ones — are cause for great concern due to their ecological and economic impacts. We’ll talk about how we get invasive pests, some of the most notorious ones in the Southeast, and what we can do about them.

The Lunchtime Discovery Series is a partnership between the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, hosted by Chris Smith, NCMNS Coordinator of Current Science Programs.

January 31 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Clarisa Arguello, Outreach Librarian, SLNC
Victoria Haas, Digital Projects Librarian, SLNC
Taylor Thompson, Reference Services Assistant, SLNC

Join us on a lunchtime escapade into the intriguing realms of the State Library of North Carolina’s Government and Heritage Library, where history meets science, with a touch of mystery. Explore databases that hold the keys to North Carolina’s unique natural wonders, and State Documents that tell the history of the Old North State from the coast to the mountains and in between. The library’s collection includes a treasure trove of surprises, ranging from charming gardening brochures to Army survival guides. In this webinar, learn how the resources at the SLNC Government and Heritage Library can help you make the most of the natural world around you.

The Lunchtime Discovery Series is a partnership between the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, hosted by Chris Smith, NCMNS Coordinator of Current Science Programs.

January 24 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Edde Burgess, Photographer

I am a lifelong native of Raleigh, the husband of a wonderful wife, and dad to two amazing kids. After my family, my passion is photography. I love exploring my creative side and trying to capture moments that speak to me. I’ve always veered toward the arts. I spent years as a painter and sculptor, and that allows me to come at my photography from the artistic side. I still have my first camera: the Pentax K1000—a classic. The equipment might have changed over the years, but my passion has only grown.
Photography has led me to virtually every state in America and many foreign countries. If I have a credo, it’s the Allman Brothers’ song, “Ramblin’ Man.” I’m always on the go, searching for the next great shot. When I travel to shoot Ironman triathlons around the U.S., I look for interesting locations nearby where I can capture wildlife on film. 

The Lunchtime Discovery Series is a partnership between the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, hosted by Chris Smith, NCMNS Coordinator of Current Science Programs.
January 17, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Dr. Julie Horvath, Head, Genomics and Microbiology Research Lab, NCMNS; Research Associate Professor, NC Central University
Dr. Marianne Barrier, Lab Manager, Genomics and Microbiology Research Lab, NCMNS

Why is monkey blood relevant to you? Monkey Health Explorer is a citizen science project on Zooniverse.org that engages the public in identifying white blood cells in rhesus macaque monkeys that live on Cayo Santiago, a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico. Drs. Horvath and Barrier will teach you what different parts of a blood sample look like so that you can participate in this project. And, similarly to what happens when you have blood drawn at the doctor’s office, you will identify cells in a sample of blood. Counting the different types of blood cells is critical to helping us understand which monkeys are healthy or sick in the population we’re studying.

We compare the health data to behavioral data to help understand how the health of monkeys affects how they behave. This will provide us information useful to understanding similar processes in humans. In addition to discussing initial findings about the health of our monkeys, we’ll discuss what has worked well in engaging the public in this Zooniverse project and some of the trends in data collection.

January 10, 2024 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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