Podcast Summary
Early experiences and travel shape careers: Early experiences and travel can broaden horizons and lead to unexpected and fulfilling career paths. Paying close attention to seemingly insignificant details can lead to groundbreaking discoveries.
Early experiences and travel can significantly influence one's career path. Tanisha Williams, a plant ecologist and botanist at Bucknell University, grew up surrounded by plants thanks to her great grandmother. However, she had no idea that botany was a possible career choice until she studied abroad in the Amazon rainforest during her sophomore year of college. This experience opened her mind to the wonders of botany and ecology, leading her to pursue a career in this field. Tanisha's research on a mysterious plant in the Australian outback, with prickly leaves and purple flowers, led to the discovery of a new species of Australian bush tomato. This discovery highlights the importance of paying close attention to seemingly insignificant details, which can lead to groundbreaking discoveries. Additionally, Tanisha's passion for plants inspired her to create Black Botanist Week, an online campaign to promote and create a safe space for black people who love plants. Overall, Tanisha's story shows that early experiences and travel can broaden one's horizons and lead to unexpected and fulfilling career paths.
Discovering a New Bush Tomato Species in Australia: A team of scientists discovered a new bush tomato species, Selenium scullarium, in Australia's Northern Territory in 2019. Despite its bitter and sour taste, the discovery was a significant achievement for the team and highlights the importance of ongoing research and international collaborations.
During a field expedition in Australia's Northern Territory in 2019, a team of scientists discovered a new bush tomato species, later named Selenium scullarium. Biologist Chris Martin, who has been studying the selenium genus for over 20 years, noticed the plant's unique stems. Although the species is not particularly tasty, with a bitter and sour taste, the team was thrilled to have discovered and named a new-to-science plant. Tanisha and her colleagues' research on the new species was published in December 2022 in the journal PhytoKeys. The discovery was a collaborative effort between students, postdocs, professors, and Australian scientists, and marked a significant achievement for the team. This experience showcases the importance of ongoing research and exploration in the natural world, as well as the value of interdisciplinary and international collaborations.
Discovering New Plant Species: Exploration, Collaboration, and Care: A new plant species was discovered in the Australian outback, brought to Bucknell University, and carefully cultivated to be identified using comparison techniques and integrative pest management.
The discovery and identification of new plant species involves a combination of exploration, collaboration, and meticulous care in greenhouse settings. The team, led by biologist Chris Martin, made collections of a unique plant in the Australian outback, bringing its seeds back to Bucknell University for cultivation. Postdoctoral fellow Tanisha played a crucial role in this process, caring for the seeds during the pandemic and eventually growing the plants. To identify a new species, researchers compare measurements of various plant features against known species and look for distinct differences. The team uses integrative pest management techniques to maintain a healthy greenhouse environment for the plants. This discovery process highlights the importance of ongoing exploration and the role of institutions like Bucknell University in advancing scientific knowledge.
Discovering a new plant species with prickled male stems: Researchers discovered a new plant species, Selenenium scalerium, with unique prickled male stems, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, accessibility, and respect for indigenous communities in scientific research.
The discovery and classification of a new plant species, named Selenenium scalerium, was based on its unique feature of having prickled male stems. This differentiates it from other similar species. The researchers gave it the common name "garunawan bush tomato" as a nod to its location and inclusivity. They emphasized the importance of making science and botany accessible to everyone, regardless of academic background or nationality. The team is committed to this goal, as demonstrated by their work during Black Botanist Week, which expanded the definition of botany and botanists. The researchers are also mindful of involving the local Aboriginal community in their work and giving credit to their knowledge of the land. Overall, this discovery and naming process highlights the importance of inclusivity, accessibility, and respect for indigenous communities in scientific research.
Expertise comes from daily interactions and observations: Botanist Tanisha Williams encourages exploration and learning about plants, emphasizing that expertise comes from experience and dedication. Listeners are encouraged to embrace curiosity and delve deeper into their areas of interest.
Learning from this episode of Shortwave from NPR is that no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, our daily interactions and observations can make us experts in our own right. Botanist and plant ecologist, Tanisha Williams, emphasizes the importance of observing and understanding the plants around us, whether at home or in a greenhouse. She encourages those with a passion for plants to explore and learn, emphasizing that expertise comes from experience and dedication. This episode, produced by Brett Hanson and edited by Rebecca Ramirez, among others, encourages listeners to embrace their curiosity and delve deeper into their areas of interest. Additionally, the episode features sponsor messages from BlackRock's podcast, The Bid, and Capella University, highlighting the importance of investing and education, respectively.
