Science at Sugarlands: Butterflies
2021-05-21 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Butterflies of Cades Cove

Warren Bielenberg

Learn about the variety and natural history of the many butterfly species living in Cades Cove from Warren Bielenberg, who has surveyed them for years.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Science at Sugarlands: Arthropods
2021-06-18 13:00 - 15:00
Litter Arthropods of High Appalachia

Mike Caterino, Clemson University Arthropod Collection

There are tons of tiny creatures dwelling in the soil and leaf litter in high elevation spruce-fir forests of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These insects, millipedes, pseudoscorpions, and other arthropods are poorly studied but serve an important role in these mountain ecosystems. Learn about these tiny, fascinating creatures and the new discoveries being made every day!

Here are some examples of High Appalachian arthropods in Flickr and iNaturalist. Caterino Lab page.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Photo credit: Mike Caterino via Flickr

Science at Sugarlands: Birds
2021-07-16 13:00 - 15:00
Birds of the Smokies

Keith Watson, local bird expert

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Science at Sugarlands: Water Bears
2021-08-20 13:00 - 15:00
Water bears of the Smokies

Paul Bartels, Warren Wilson College

Water bears, also called tardigrades or moss piglets, are microscopic creatures that live on moss and in aquatic environments. These tiny creatures have captured the imagination of the world because they are practically indestructible. Learn about water bears from Dr. Paul Bartels, who has studies them in the Smokies for years and even named several new water bear species.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Photo credit: Kevin FitzPatrick

Science at Sugarlands: Elk
2021-09-17 13:00 - 15:00
Elk of the Smokies

Joseph Yarkovich, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Elk are native to the eastern US but were lost in the region due to overhunting. They were reintroduced into the park in 2002 and since then, their numbers have continued to climb. Learn about these incredible animals from Joseph Yarkovich, who studies them in the Smokies.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Photo credit: Garrett Hargiss

Science at Sugarlands: Herbarium
2021-10-15 13:00 - 15:00
The Smokies Herbarium

Janie Bitner, volunteer in the Natural History Collection at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The park’s herbarium houses thousands of plant specimens and other flora from around the park, from common trees to rare and endangered plants. Janie has been volunteering in the herbarium for decades now and she’ll tell you all about it! Here is a preview.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Science at Sugarlands: Beetles
2022-05-20 13:00 - 15:00
Beetles of the Smokies

Victoria Bayless, Curator, Louisiana State Arthropod Museum

Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains over 2,600 known beetle species. Victoria Bayless had a hand in discovering many of them through her work with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). Learn about the incredible diversity of beetles in the Smokies and why they’re so important and awesome!

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

Science at Sugarlands: Safe Passage
2022-06-17 13:00 - 15:00
Safe Passage: helping wildlife cross the I-40 Pigeon River Gorge

Jeff Hunter, National Parks Conservation Association

Safe Passage is a coalition of folks working to create safe crossings for wildlife to cross Interstate 40 and other roadways in the Smokies area. It’s also the subject of a book from Great Smoky Mountains Association, called ‘A Search for Safe Passage‘. Learn about this project, how it started, and how it’s going from Jeff Hunter, project manager at NPCA and Safe Passage Facilitator.

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

// A Search for Safe Passage book cover image borrowed from smokiessafepassage.org

Science at Sugarlands: Nematodes
2022-08-19 13:00 - 15:00
The fascinating world of nematodes

Tom Powers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Largely unseen, nematodes–also called round worms–are tiny creatures and they’re everywhere! Some help recycle nutrients in the soil and water, some are predators, and others are parasites of animals, plants and other living things. Together, they serve many important roles in keeping our ecosystem functioning. Tom Powers will talk about his work studying these cryptic, fascinating creatures in the Smokies.

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

// Cover photo: A nematode under the microscope. Photo by DLiA

Science at Sugarlands: Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
2022-09-16 13:00 - 15:00
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage: 72 years of public education in the Smokies

Joey Shaw, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual event that draws in thousands of nature enthusiasts (“pilgrims”) to the area to attend expert-guided nature walks, hikes, and informational sessions celebrating the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Joey Shaw, who tirelessly organizes the event every year, will talk about the past, present and future of the 72-year-old pilgrimage.

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

// Cover photo: trout lily and spring beauty by Will Kuhn

Science at Sugarlands: Monarchs
2022-10-21 13:00 - 15:00
Tremont’s monarch monitoring program in Cades Cove

Erin Canter, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

Erin Canter, manager of science literacy and research at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, will talk about Tremont’s community science program to tag and monitor monarch butterflies as they develop and migrate through the Smokies.

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

// Cover photo: monarch butterfly on Queen Anne’s lace by Will Kuhn
