Wednesday, February 24, 2021 — 7:30 pm
Speaker: Josie Iselin
Marine algae are the supreme eco-engineers of life: they oxygenate the waters, create habitat for countless other organisms, and form the base of a food chain that keeps our planet unique in the universe as we know it. Josie Iselin believes we can learn not only about the seaweeds, but also from them: their resilience, their resourcefulness, their poetry and magic.
Josie will describe her path as an artist into the science of seaweed and share a few important seaweed stories from her newest book, The Curious World of Seaweed, highlighting why and how these foundational organisms succeed in their ocean niche. These stories also highlight pioneering, yet relatively unknown, women scientists who were crucial in bringing the world of seaweed to better understanding. Throughout the presentation, projections of Josie’s spectacular and colorful imagery of seaweeds—collected from her constant wanderings along our California coastline and beaches—will help explain the science and impart the wonder of this ocean universe.
Josie Iselin is the author of numerous books combining the art and science of our oceans. Her newest book is The Curious World of Seaweed (Heyday, 2019) which has been shortlisted for both The Northern California Book Awards and The Alice Award honoring illustrated books. She holds a BA in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard and an MFA from San Francisco State University. Her writing and art focused on seaweed, kelp, and sea otter put her on the forefront of ocean activism, collaborating with scientists working to preserve the kelp forests of our Pacific Coast. Through art, design, and research Iselin celebrates the marine flora and brings thoughtfulness and stewardship to this realm of our oceans. Josie Iselin’s website showcases her art, books, and more.
Our CNPS East Bay speaker programs will be presented as online meetings until it is once again safe to gather in person. If you have questions, contact programs@ebcnps.org.
