Description
The 2024 Jean Andrews public talk in plant biology will be held in the Wildflower Center auditorium from 1:45 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Colin Khoury, senior director of science and conservation at the San Diego Botanic Garden, and is titled: “If We Are What We Eat, Then Where Are We From?”
The talk will be preceded from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. by an all-ages science-themed fair in the Great Hall, celebrating discovery and the natural world. Enjoy tables from UT Entomological Collections, the Plant Resources Center and many others.
About the Talk
“You are what you eat” is often used as an admonishment when we have neglected to eat healthfully. But from a historical perspective, the assertion can open a wide range of questions about how we define ourselves and hold to our cultural affiliations, and to whom we should be thankful for our nourishment. This presentation will describe the journey Colin Khoury has taken to better understand where our food comes from and how that history connects people, crops and livestock, and food cultures across the world. It will delve into the increasing homogeneity of human diets over recent decades, and discuss the benefits and challenges of the globalization of food. Finally, we will discuss the state of conservation of agricultural diversity, and explore ways to rekindle interest in foods on the brink of disappearing.
About the Speaker
Colin Khoury is the Senior Director of Science and Conservation at the San Diego Botanic Garden, a 37-acre garden in Encinitas, California, working to conserve plants and educate people about the wonders of plant life. Colin holds a Ph.D. from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and a Master of Science from the University of Birmingham, UK, and has held posts at academic, nonprofit, industry, government, and international organizations in the US, Europe, and South America. His primary interests include conservation science, crop diversity, food security, plant genetic resources, and crop wild relatives.