Welcome to the tremendous, amazing, Big Asheville Science Salon!
November:
Ecology on the Rocks: lichens and other life in the vertical world with cliff ecologist Dr. Laura Boggess.
Cool word of the day: lithophilic.
Combining the Greek lithos and philos, this term for “stone loving” is remarkably useful (e.g., Scrabble, first dates, last dates), particularly for describing organisms that live on the surface of rocks. Now, I get that rocks, with their limited soil and famously un-pillowy disposition, might not seem like choice habitat. And, yes, the vertical faces of cliffs, sunbaked and wind whipped as they are, can appear especially uninviting.
Cliff surfaces, however, can contain incredibly dynamic ecosystems. Here, clinging to craggy ledges and overhangs, lichens, mosses, and cliff-adapted plants are living large (well … mostly small), having evolved extraordinary mechanisms for surviving in thin soils and harsh microclimates. These towering, vertical landscapes function as refuges for rare species and also as model systems for understanding disturbance, diversity, and resilience in a changing world.
The November salon will be a literal cliffhanger! Join lichenologist and cliff ecologist Dr. Laura Boggess to explore the elusive ecosystems that cling to rock faces. Dr. Boggess’ work focuses on lichen and other often overlooked organisms that dwell on stoney precipices that most rational beings would try to avoid. Laura is a professor at Mars Hill University, where her research integrates ecosystem science and conservation to unlock the mysteries of ecologically essential symbionts and what they can teach us about resilience, adaptation, and life on the rocks.
Doors at 5:00 PM. 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. Then, stick around for Q&A, discussion, and general mingling.
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.