Our speaker Stewart Skeate PhD., says that the month of September is a great time for both plants and birds and to observe nature. He will explore what plants and birds are doing in his discussion of plant flowering, bird migration and bird mating in the Southern Appalachians. From showy fields of asters and goldenrods to migrating warblers and hawks, this is a special time.
Continuing our series of hikes led by recognized local experts, our September outdoor program will be led by Gary Kauffman, USDA Forest Service Botanist/Plant Ecologist. Some of you may remember Gary from his 2019 presentation and hikes featuring the serpentine barrens near Franklin. Those of us participating were treated to a spectacular assortment of unique and unusual wildflowers. For 2021 Gary will take two groups to the Big Ivy on September 28 and October 15 with a focus on old-growth forest ecology.
Tim DeLisle will look at all the roles plants have and will serve in space exploration. From providing food, oxygen, and removing contaminants from the air to providing needed compounds and building materials, and even providing humans with purpose and well-being.
Welcome Aboard!
Our presenter is Timothy DeLisle and is PARI’s Director of Software Engineering. He has been part of the leadership for PARI’s camp programs for eight years and sees the outreach, education, and experiences PARI offers as the true primary role of his job. He has served as an Astrophysics instructor for the Duke University’s summer camps. He has tutored Computer Science at Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has been writing curriculum for STEM education since 1999. His focus in software development is creating vibrant, dynamic, intuitive user interfaces for complex instruments, and data visualization that helps to highlight the story a researcher seeks to tell with their data.
Our Mission
The Blue Ridge Naturalist Network is an outgrowth of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Program through the N C Arboretum. Our interest is in the natural world and environmental issues, with a foundation based in science.