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Lessons from Lotusland – Oaks and Climate Change with Victoria L. Sork
April 2 @ 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Free Online Talk Series
Location
Tickets
Free with Registration
LESSONS FROM Lotusland
Join us for Lessons from Lotusland, our ongoing series of virtual lectures. Get an inside glimpse into the Garden, the collections, its operations and its creators. Be sure to have your conversation questions ready for the Q&A.
CAN CALIFORNIA OAKS SURVIVE WARMER CLIMATES?
Oaks are critically important species sustaining the biodiversity of many ecosystems of California. They evolved over 50 MYA and successfully responded to climate fluctuations. However, temperatures are increasing more rapidly they they can evolve and creating local climates that are stressing current oak populations. This talk will discuss ongoing research of a signature California tree, valley oak, documenting the current health of oak populations and presenting management strategies to produce healthier populations for the future.
Victoria L. Sork
Professor Victoria Sork is a plant biologist, evolutionary geneticist, and conservation scientist who studies how long-lived trees will survive rapid climate warming, with a special focus on the evolutionary success of oaks. Author of ~150 publications, her research has investigated all aspects of natural processes shaping the survival of natural tree populations in temperate and tropical habits. She is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for Advancement of Sciences, and the California Academy of Sciences. Since 2001, Victoria has been a professor, chair, and then Dean, and now has the pleasure to be the Director of the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden and Herbarium.
As Director of the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, Prof. Sork has both focused on the mission as a living museum for teaching and research and as an opportunity for community outreach through public programs and K-12 educational experiences. Under her leadership, the La Kretz Garden Pavilion was constructed, which serves as an event and classroom space, the K-12 Outreach activities have been enhanced, a partnership with local Tongva community members has been developed, and an active and engaged Board of Visitors has been established. The Garden is now involved in numerous projects to enhance the Garden as a teaching laboratory and to improve the Garden as a beautiful green space for our community. Sork received her B.S. from the University of California, Irvine and her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Throughout her career, Victoria has been dedicated to advancing conservation science, promoting inclusive excellence in education and research, and advocating for student and faculty diversity. She acknowledges and respects the relationship of Native Peoples with the ecosystems and plants of California.
Victoria L. Sork
Director, UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden
Distinguished Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Distinguished Professor, Institute of Environment and Sustainability
Former Dean, Life Sciences, UCLA College
University of California Los Angeles
