Growing Moss: Using Prisons to Promote Environmentalism

  • 9 years ago
Growing Moss: Using Prisons to Promote Environmentalism
California Academy of Sciences - California Academy of Sciences
Exploring the "Last Biotic Frontier": Emerging Trends from Three Decades of Canopy Research in Tropical and Temperate Rainforests

Until 30 years ago, the rainforest canopies –- the upper treetops -- has been almost entirely unexplored. With the advent of canopy access techniques such as construction cranes and hot-air balloons, scientists have been able to document the highly diverse communities of plants, animals, and fungi that dwell 100 meters above the forest floor. Dr. Nadkarni has been a pioneer in exploring this "third dimension" of forests on four continents, supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society.Her lecture documents the development of the field of canopy studies, and her own ecological work to understand this "last biotic frontier." She has also been a strong agent to communicate canopy research to the public, particularly to non-traditional segments of the public such as faith-based communities, urban youth, and incarcerated men and women.