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The C. E. Bessey Herbarium at the University of Nebraska State Museum preserves hundreds of thousands of plant, lichen, fungal, and other botanical specimens, some collected more than a century ago. These collections provide a record of Nebraska’s biodiversity through time and can help researchers study topics ranging from species distributions and invasive species to environmental change and conservation.In this presentation, Todd Widhelm will introduce the Bessey Herbarium, its history, and why natural history collections remain important today. He will also discuss ongoing efforts to photograph, database, and georeference specimens so that they can be accessed and used by researchers and the public around the world. The talk will also highlight ways volunteers and citizen scientists can help make these historical collections more useful for modern conservation and research.
Speaker Bio:
Todd Widhelm, Ph.D., is Curator of the C. E. Bessey Herbarium at the University of Nebraska State Museum. A Nebraska native, he earned his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago while conducting his research at the Field Museum. Before returning to Nebraska, he served as Collections Manager of Mycology and Lichenology at the Field Museum in Chicago. His research focuses on lichens, particularly their evolution, taxonomy, and biogeography. At the Bessey Herbarium, he oversees the museum’s botanical collections and works to expand their use in research, conservation, education, and public outreach.
Register for the webinar here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Iyp1MQUMROyUxKh3T5NqAw
Register for the in-person event here:
https://secure.ngpvan.com/Rr-v9UvVlkWah2fz-HG9kg2
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Event venue
Library Lincoln City Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 S 14th St, Lincoln, NE 68508-1801, United States
Tickets
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