Special Presentation: Adventures in Ecological Gardening with Dr. Neeti Bathala

Name: Special Presentation: Adventures in Ecological Gardening with Dr. Neeti Bathala
Start: 2025-10-08T15:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-10-08T16:00:00-04:00
Location: 100 Old Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, North Carolina 27517

Schedule

Wed Oct 08 2025 at 03:00 pm to 04:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

100 Old Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, North Carolina 27517 | Chapel Hill, NC

With Neeti Bathala, Ph.D., Academic | Author | Fulbright Specialist Scholar
Wednesday, October 8
3-4 p.m.
Hybrid: In-person and on Zoom
Free!
Register: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0005-0014-b122c6349a2547899c8d554edd24fc17
Cultivate your garden from an ecological perspective! Neeti will guide you through creating a wildlife-friendly habitat that enhances biodiversity in your garden. Learn how to approach gardening from an ecosystem level, with discussions on your garden’s biome, planting zone, and the natural layering of ecosystems. The program will also cover essentials such as assessing food sources and seasonality, water needs, cover, nesting options, and the space required to create a garden that supports both you and your wildlife neighbors.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Bathala is an accomplished academic and educator in the Philadelphia region, specializing in Ecology and Environmental Science. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, Neeti teaches for both undergraduate and adult audiences.
While at Duke, Neeti studied conservation biology and conducted research in Costa Rica in collaboration with the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). She also spent a summer at the Duke University Marine Lab. Her research on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems has given her a broader and more comprehensive understanding of global conservation. In 2024, she received a three-year Fulbright Specialist fellowship to serve as an international consultant in Environmental Science. Her work will focus on how community partnerships contribute to marine conservation in small island nations.
Neeti is dedicated to making scientific exploration relatable and engaging for everyone. She currently serves as a Program Expert with the Smithsonian Institution travel programs, working in Alaska, Costa Rica, and Belize. An award-winning children’s book author, she also lectures widely to community groups and is deeply committed to projects encouraging STEM, particularly for women in the sciences.
Dr. Bathala remains actively involved with Duke University, currently serving on the Board of Advisors for the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. She previously served on the Board of the Duke Alumni Association, Philadelphia Chapter, as the Nicholas School of the Environment representative. In addition, she teaches at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke University, where she continues to inspire and educate environmental enthusiasts and conservationists.