East Bay Science Cafe Sept 3

Essig Museum Jepson and UC Herbaria Museum of Vertebrate Zoology UC Paleontology Museum Hearst Museum UC Botanical Gardens Human Evolution Research Center

Hosted monthly by the UC Berkeley Natural History Museums

East Bay Science Cafe is held the first Wednesday of every month in Cafe Valparaiso on Solano Avenue in Albany from 7 to 9pm. 1403 Solano Ave., Albany, California 94706 This cafe is an informal forum for discussing interesting and relevant scientific issues. The goal is to encourage public engagement with science by inviting members of the scientific community to present topics for a casual evening of conversation. Cafes may vary in length and format depending upon the speaker and the topic. Audience questions are encouraged both during and after! Check out East Bay Science Cafe on our Facebook page.

This Month’s Cafe

  Wednesday, September 3, 2014 7:00-9:00pm Rikke Reese Næsborg presents “The Fascinating World of Lichens”
Icmadophila ericetorum

Icmadophila ericetorum

Description of the talk: Rikke Reese Næsborg, Research Associate, University Herbarium at UC Berkeley Lichens are found in almost every habitat on all kinds of surfaces around the world, but since they are often small and somewhat inconspicuous they are frequently overlooked. That is a pity, because lichens are quite extraordinary organisms. Not only does a lichen consist of a symbiotic association between a fungus and an algae but also lichens play significant roles in the ecosystem, from colonization and stabilization to contribution to the nitrogen cycle. Lichens have been used for centuries by humans as dyes, medicines, and food, and more recently a range of new uses have been employed such as monitoring air pollution. This talk will explore the fascinating and amazing world of lichens. Dr. Næsborg’s Bio:
Rikke Reese Næsborg in the field

Rikke Reese Næsborg in the field

Reese Næsborg has a Ph.D. in lichenology from Uppsala University, Sweden, where she studied phylogenetic relationships within a crustose lichen genus as well as ecological and conservational implications. She has also taught courses involving both cryptogams and vascular plants. Rikke now resides in California and studies the canopies of giant redwoods. Upcoming Talks:
  • September 3rd, 2014 — Dr. Rikke Reese Naesborg, Research Associate, University Herbaria.
  • October 1st, 2014 — Dr. Peggy Hellweg, Operations Manager of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory.
  • November 5th, 2014 — Dr. Whendee Silver, expert in ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, Professor in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley.
  • December 3rd, 2014 — Katherine Wilkin, graduate student in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management. Presenting on California’s fire history and future with climate change.