Biophilia: To Tell the Story of a Forest

IMPORTANT NOTE: This week’s biophilia meeting will be in the Center for Sustainable Landscapes classroom. You can access this location by turning into the Phipps employee parking lot by the Christopher Columbus statue on Schenley Drive Extension.

All speakers this month will be joining us virtually, but we are still gathering in person as a community if you would like to join us!

Join us Thurs., March 6 at 6 p.m. for this month's Biophilia meeting where virtual speakers will address the question: How do you inspire imagination, inspire wonder, and truly transport someone to a whole new place through a story? In this session, a group of tropical forest researchers asked themselves as they began tackling the immense vision of creating a children’s book that would invite readers to go on an imaginary journey thousands of miles across the world to different tropical forests and jungles. Driven by the urgency of conservation and a deep love of the lands, these researchers partnered with artists and elementary school teachers to craft stories that were relevant and accessible to an audience certainly different from their familiar university settings.

Not able to join us in person? We will also be streaming the event via Zoom! Register here.

Meetings are free to attend; however, advance registration is required via email. Although this speaking event can be viewed at home, participants are invited to join others in-person to view the virtual presentation at Phipps’ Center for Sustainable Landscapes classroom. Click the button below to reserve your spot today.

Register

Meet the Speakers: 

Dr. Laura Toro-González 
Dr. Laura Toro-González is a tropical ecologist working at the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Laura is interested in understanding how degraded tropical forests can be recovered in a cost-effective way. She uses experimental field, lab-based and synthesis methods to better understand the abiotic and biotic barriers to restoring biodiversity in the tropics. Laura collaborates with restoration practitioners, land managers, policymakers, non-profits, research centers and universities. With her research, Laura hopes to build the bridge between basic and applied science in the context of tropical conservation and restoration.

Dr. Ariadna Mondragón-Restrepo
Dr. Ariadna Mondragón-Restrepo is a biologist and restoration ecologist from Cali, Colombia, with a passion for understanding and restoring tropical ecosystems. Her academic journey began at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, where she earned a degree in biology then went on to pursue a master’s in tropical ecology through the Erasmus Mundus Tropimundo program, gaining hands-on experience across diverse ecosystems. Ariadna completed her doctoral degree in plant and microbial ecology at the University of Minnesota under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Powers, where her doctoral research focused on tropical dry forests and advanced our understanding of their ecological restoration. Ariadna's work has taken her to Madagascar, where she contributed to ecological restoration projects in some of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. Now based in Colombia and she actively leads and supports ecological restoration programs.

Viviana Londoño-Lemos, M.Sc.
Viviana Londoño-Lemos is a Ph.D. candidate in the Plant and Microbial Biology Program at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on understanding the natural regeneration processes of tropical ecosystems to develop more effective restoration strategies. She specifically studies the seed and seedling ecology of tropical species, working in the tropical dry forests of Costa Rica and Colombia. Beyond research, Viviana is passionate about science communication and is actively involved in outreach activities that aim to translate plant science into accessible information for general audiences. As a plant ecologist, she seeks to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical applications to benefit ecosystems and communities.

Information for virtual attendees: The Zoom meeting will begin promptly at 6 p.m. (EST), 3 p.m. (PST). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.