Welcome to the tremendous, amazing, Big Asheville Science Salon!
August 6th: Accounting Appalachia
Inventorying Biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains with forest biologist Glenn Taylor.
Medieval scholars pondered “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” Though that has yet to be resolved, if we assume a typical pinhead of 1.5-millimeter diameter, we can say the answer is exactly zero racoons. Or more than one million average-sized bacteria. Science!
A more vital question, though, is how many species (dancing or otherwise) are in a particular area? Despite how much we think we know about our planet, research models suggest only about 15% of species have been identified. With the current decline in biodiversity, that means we are losing organisms we don’t even know exist! And that is very, very not cool.
More than 25 years ago, researchers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park initiated an All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), with the goal of documenting every species there. Counting organisms (and not just the big, sexy ones) provides much more than a catalogue – it offers insight to an ecosystem’s functioning, assessment of its biodiversity, and valuable data for research and conservation. To date, the Smokies ATBI, managed by Discover Life in America in coordination with the National Park Service, has added more than 11,000 species records for the park, including more than 1,000 species that are new to science! Estimates suggest as many as 50,000 more are yet to be discovered – so get your boots on and start looking!
At the August salon, stand and be counted (or sit and be cryptic – it’s totally your call) with forest biologist Glenn Taylor. Raised in Staten Island, New York’s forgotten borough, Glenn was a motorcycle mechanic until the hum of pistons surrendered to the call of the wild. Trading his wrenches for a degree at Penn State, he spent five years as an entomology and plant pathology technician before joining the National Park Service as a forest biologist. Starting at Shenandoah National Park, Glenn migrated down the Blue Ridge to the Great Smoky Mountains where he spent the next decades focusing on forest pest management. He also bakes.
Our mission: Cultivate curiosity and build community by sharing the coolest, grooviest, and fascinating-ist scientific discoveries. And have a beer (or wine or soda).
How it do: Each month, a bona fide expert takes us on a thrill ride of science awesomeness (i.e., talk about their research and probably show pretty pictures). Afterwards, a lively Q&A segues into general mingling and chatting about why science is so cool.
When: First Wednesday of each month.
Doors: 6:00pm; Presentation: 7:00pm; Socializing: 8:00pm
Where: The Mule (at Devil’s Foot Beverage) 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
No cover charge – just bring your brain!
Doors open at 5:00. Have a drink with old friends, meet new ones, and get ready for some serious science in a seriously un-serious setting.
Presentation starts at 7:00 PM. Stick around after for a lively Q&A, discussion, and general mingling.