Events

Talk Title and Description - Gardening for Biological Conservation and Connected Communities

Speaker - Mary Jamieson

Scientists have documented six mass extinctions events over geological time. In this current period, unlike previous times, human activity is a key driver of species loss. Now more than ever, collaborative community efforts in conservation, restoration, and sustainability are needed to protect biological diversity. This session, led by Dr. Mary Jamieson, will discuss ways we can
help support biodiversity through simple activities such as gardening. A message that is gaining traction worldwide: we can conserve wildlife in our own backyards—on campus and in our local communities. Flower and food gardens provide habitat for pollinators as well as other critically important fauna and flora. Ecological communities are connected through complex, everchanging food web dynamics. Similarly, human communities are connected through intra
and interspecies interactions that can work to support one another. This presentation will highlight community projects aimed at advancing the science and conservation of at risk species, especially plants and pollinators. Join in on a discussion about best practices for creating and maintaining habitat for biodiversity conservation.

Bio - Dr. Mary Jamieson is an Associate Professor in Biological Sciences at Oakland University. Through research, education, and community engagement, her work aims to promote and protect biological diversity, ecological restoration, and sustainable agriculture. Research and education projects in her lab involve diverse collaborations with students and community partners. These projects focus on understanding the causes and consequences of anthropogenic environmental change for plants and insects. She is an active member of the Pollinator Partnership’s North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Taskforce. Her work has been supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, National Science Foundation, and Oakland Township and County Parks.

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