Photo: Collared Nightjar, Elizabeth Lyons
Original program date: May 17, 2022
This mother-daughter scientist team will immerse the audience in the fascinating biodiversity of Madagascar. In 2018 they were able to explore many regions of Madagascar, from its spiny forests in the southwest, to the high plateaus in the country’s center, to the lush mountainous forests of the northeast. Based on their first-hand experience with Madagascar as a biodiversity hotspot, they will focus on its famous lemurs, a group of primates found only in Madagascar, and its suite of endemic birds. They will discuss some of the recently extinct animals, the human impacts that continue to challenge the island nation, and conservation efforts being undertaken to protect Madagascar’s unique biological richness. They will also reflect on their scientific career paths in hopes of helping young women and girls pursue their own passions in environmentalism and science.