Wind down from the workday by learning something new over drinks! Join Overton Park Conservancy at the Golf Clubhouse for a happy hour with guest speakers who will share unique perspectives from their corners of the scientific world. All are welcome; no previous scientific knowledge required
Science Café is scheduled for 5:30 pm the first Tuesday of each month, February – May 2025. Registration will open two weeks prior to each program.
Spring 2025 Schedule
February 4 | Daniel Grose + Panel | Memphis Botanic Garden | Native Plant Ecology and Horticulture
March 4 | Dr. James Guldin | Southern Research Station, US Forest Service (Retired) | Ecology and Management of Forests
April 1 | Dr. Jennifer Mandel | University of Memphis | Genetic Diversity of Plants in Natural and Agricultural Systems
May 6 | Dr. Michel Ohmer | University of Mississippi | Amphibian Disease, Global Change Biology, and Conservation
Upcoming
Is disease turning up the heat for amphibians? Amphibian declines and resilience in a time of global change
Did you know that both disease and climate change are major threats to amphibians? While some of these charismatic animals are managing to cope with diseases, shifting environmental conditions can lead to new outbreaks that put them at risk. In this talk, we’ll explore how scientists study the relationship between these challenges.
The Ohmer lab combines hands-on experiments, field surveys, and computer models to understand how amphibians respond to both disease and climate change. By examining how temperature affects their health and behavior, we can uncover the secrets behind their resilience. Join us at Science Café to learn how this knowledge can help us protect amphibians and ensure their survival in a changing world.
Dr. Michel Ohmer is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Mississippi. As an ecophysiologist and disease ecologist, she studies how global changes, like climate change, affect the way diseases spread among different species. She focuses on understanding why some animals are more likely to get sick than others and uses this knowledge to predict how these diseases might impact entire populations. Michel’s research explores these questions using amphibians and a widespread fungal pathogen. By examining the health of these animals and how environmental changes influence their interactions with pathogens, Dr. Ohmer aims to uncover important insights about the relationship between hosts and diseases.
Register here (opens two weeks in advance)
Registration for the May Science Café opens April 22nd.
Questions? Send us an email
Please review our cancellation policy here.
Overton Park Conservancy is the nonprofit organization that has been caring for Memphis’s central green space since 2012. With the generous support of our community, we work each day to make the park a beautiful and welcoming place for all Memphians, as well as a valuable source of urban habitat for wildlife.
The Conservancy must raise roughly 85% of our budget each year from people like you who care about the many things Overton Park has to offer. A gift of any amount helps us maintain and improve the park.