Mycorrhizal Fungi: Nature’s Great Connector

Name: Mycorrhizal Fungi: Nature’s Great Connector
Start: 2024-11-18T19:00:00-05:00
Location: People's Church

Schedule

Mon Nov 18 2024 at 07:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

People's Church | Kalamazoo, MI

MICHIGAN BOTANICAL SOCIETY
SOUTHWESTERN CHAPTER PROGRAM
Mycorrhizal Fungi: Nature’s Great Connector
Dr. Ellen Holste
Research & Community Engagement Manager
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Monday November 18, 2024 @ 7:00 PM
Peoples Church, 1758 10th St. N, Kalamazoo MI 49009, Room 19
(Socializing begins at 6:30)
Learn about the fascinating world of fungi. Take a journey into the “wood wide web” and the hidden world of mycorrhizal fungi within and below our forests and fields. Discover how these fungi connect plants together in complex underground networks exchanging food, nutrients, and messages to survive and thrive. And just like humans, uncover how some fungi and plants will cooperate with each other while others may choose to cheat or even hack the network.
Ellen Holste is the Research Community Engagement Manager at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, Michigan. Her duties include managing the Institute’s field station, which provides environmental research grants, natural resource fellowships, and creative arts fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students. She also is expanding the Institute’s community science offerings to actively involve the general public in gathering data to better understand and steward the land. Ellen is certified as an interpretive guide and interpretive trainer through the National Association for Interpretation. She also holds a Master of Science in Forestry and dual PhD in Forestry and Ecology from Michigan State University. Her enthusiasm for fungi began in graduate school from a desire to improve tropical restoration efforts. Ellen considers herself a “fun-gal” and enjoys creating meaningful and memorable learning experiences any chance she can get!
All indoor programs are at the People’s Church, 1758 N 10th St, Kalamazoo, 49009. Socializing begins at 6:30 pm and the programs begin at 7:00 pm. Non-members are always welcome to join us for programs and field trips. Masks are recommended but not required in the church.