Brandywine Conservancy to host pollinator lecture on May 2 in conjunction with Longwood Gardens' Community Read event
Chadds Ford, PA, April 18, 2018 — Is your backyard pollinator-friendly? Find out how you can support pollinating insects in your own yard and community during the Brandywine Conservancy’s “A Passion for Pollinators” event on May 2. Led by Drs. Faith Kuehn and Thalia Pappas, this interactive lecture is held in conjunction with Longwood Gardens’ annual Community Read event—a program designed to encourage reading for pleasure and start a conversation—celebrating women in horticulture and the book, Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren.
As scientists, Drs. Kuehn and Pappas have developed expertise in the relationship between pollinating insects and the plants that both feed and depend on them. During this lecture, they will share their passion for pollinators and discuss how you can create a supportive habitat no matter the size of your outdoor space. From their work with Delaware’s Pollinator Protection Plan, Drs. Kuehn and Pappas have developed widespread knowledge of diverse projects designed for pollinator health. Whether you are a homeowner, farmer or active community member, this interactive program will help you learn about specific project ideas that can get you started on planting native flowers, shrubs and trees that will beautify your property and support pollinators.
“Community Read Event: A Passion for Pollinators” will be held on Wednesday, May 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the Brandywine River Museum of Art’s lecture room at 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317. Admission is $5 for non-members and free for Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art members and Conservancy easement landowners; light refreshments will be provided. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.brandywine.org/conservancy/events.
About the speakers:
Dr. Thalia Pappas, Ph.D. is a consultant for the Delaware Department of Agriculture, working with Faith Kuehn and Chris Wade to help achieve the goals for Delaware’s Pollinator Protection Plan. She has also worked for DuPont Agricultural Products—in research and discovery roles (environmental fate of pesticides, and rice global herbicide discovery program leader)—followed by an assignment as a global regulatory manager. In her last assignment, she worked in the Industrial BioSciences business as a regulatory manager developing and executing compliance strategies for bio-based chemicals and polymers. Pappas received a Ph.D. from Purdue University in Plant Physiology, a M.S. in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas, and a B.S. in Plant Science from the University of Delaware.
Dr. Faith B. Kuehn, Ph.D. has served as Environmental Program Administrator for the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Plant Industries since October 2001. Specific program responsibilities include nursery, apiary, noxious weeds and invasive species. In 2010, Kuehn began “Planting Hope Urban Farm,” a project to develop community and therapeutic gardens at the Delaware Health and Social Services' Holloway Campus—home to the Delaware Psychiatric Center. In 2015, she received a grant from the USDA to develop and implement Delaware’s Pollinator Protection Plan. In 2017, together with a Delaware farm family, Kuehn received a SARE grant to establish pollinator buffers on a poultry farm. Kuehn received a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Arizona in 1984, and an M.B.A from the University of Delaware in 1994. Before coming to the Delaware Department of Agriculture, she worked as Museum Director for the Insectarium in Philadelphia; and in Research, Development, Marketing, and Technical Support positions within E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.’s Crop Protection Division. Kuehn also represents the state of Delaware on the National Plant Board.
About the Brandywine Conservancy:
The Brandywine Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities. The Conservancy uses a multi-faceted approach to conservation. Staff work with private landowners who wish to see their lands protected forever, and provide innovative community planning services to municipalities and other governmental agencies. The Conservancy currently holds 483 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of more than 64,500 acres of land. The Conservancy is a program of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
About the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art:
The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art preserves and promotes the natural and cultural connections between the area’s beautiful landscape, historic sites, and important artists. The Conservancy protects the lands throughout the Brandywine Valley, developing new conservation approaches and assuring access to majestic open spaces and dependable water supplies for generations to come. The Museum of Art presents and collects historic and contemporary works of American art, engaging and exciting visitors of all ages through an array of exhibitions and programs. The Brandywine unites the inspiring experiences of art and nature, enhancing the quality of life in its community and among its diverse audiences.
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