Using Citizen Science to Help Insect Pollinators

Kristian Demary will speak about her research and advocacy regarding the protection of Monarch butterflies, in particular the removal of black swallowwort and pale swallowwort in favor of pollinator friendly plants.  More broadly, she will discuss “Citizen Science” and the collecting and mapping of data (using the nature app iNaturalist) to learn about neighborhood flora and fauna.

Kristian Demary is an environmental scientist and community builder.  She received her PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Tufts University, where she studied sexual selection in Photinus greeni fireflies.  Her post-doctoral research explores factors that improve honeybee colony survival and honey DNA.  She has been on the faculty of Mass. College of Art and Design for twelve years, teaching courses in environmental science and sustainability.  These areas of study are now being put to use in a Citizen Science project called the “Pollinator Protection and Pod Patrol,” which is mapping black and pale swallowwort.

Please contact PublicRelations@SomervilleGardenClub.org for a link to the zoom meeting if you are not on our mailing list.