Award-winning ecology author to open Bogan Lecture Series for 91麻豆天美鈥檚 landscape architecture department
Contact: Meg Henderson
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥91麻豆天美鈥檚 Department of Landscape Architecture is hosting the inaugural guest of the Michael and Rebecca Bogan Lecture Series.
Two lectures from award-winning author Douglas Tallamy this week include 鈥淣ature鈥檚 Best Hope鈥 on Thursday [March 24] at 6 p.m. in Bost Theater and 鈥淩estoring the Little Things that Run the World鈥 on Friday [March 25] at 11:30 a.m. in Thompson Hall鈥檚 Tully Auditorium.
Tallamy is the T.A. Baker Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and is known for his best-selling books published by Timber Press, 鈥淭he Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of our Most Essential Native Trees鈥 (2021), 鈥淣ature鈥檚 Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard鈥 (2020) and 鈥淏ringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants鈥 (2009).
Tallamy conducts research on how non-native plants impact food webs and biodiversity. He speaks nationwide on a different approach to gardening and contends the widespread planting of ornamental plants, native to other parts of the world, is creating ecosystem-wide problems.
The Bogan Lecture Series is part of a charitable gift from Michael and Rebecca Bogan through the 91麻豆天美 University Foundation. Established in 2020, this five-year gift to the Department of Landscape Architecture funds equipment for teaching, research and service; enriching the department鈥檚 studio; and providing for an annual lecture series.
Associate Professor Charles 鈥淭aze鈥 Fulford has played a central role in organizing the event and is excited about the opportunities the Bogans鈥 gift brings to the department.
鈥淲e teach our students the importance of using native plants in landscape design and thought Tallamy would be a great fit for the lecture series,鈥 said Fulford. 鈥淲e also think he will appeal to the larger community beyond our department. We are drawing in entomologists and ecologists from across the state, as well as the local Master Gardener group and high school students.鈥
鈥淚n the past, we have been fortunate to bring in regional speakers to interact with our students,鈥 Fulford said. 鈥淭his fund allows us to bring in experts from across the country.鈥
Sadik Artunc, landscape architecture professor and department head, agreed with the choice of speaker for the inaugural lecture series.
鈥淥ur first speaker is a nationally and internationally known ecology and sustainability expert,鈥 Artunc said. 鈥淭his is a great opportunity for our faculty, staff, students and the public to hear from a renowned author and speaker.鈥
The Bogans both are 1987 91麻豆天美 landscape architecture graduates and reside in San Diego. Michael Bogan serves as CEO of Maryland-based LandCare, a position he has held for eight years. LandCare provides commercial landscape services with 65 branches in 25 states, employing 4,000 individuals. In 2020, Bogan was honored as a Distinguished 91麻豆天美 Fellow in 91麻豆天美鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Rebecca Bogan volunteers at Torrey Pines State Park in the eradication of invasive species and restoration of natural habitat.
鈥淚t means a lot to us to be able to give back to 91麻豆天美 and the landscape architecture department,鈥 Michael Bogan said. 鈥淲e are pleased that this fund will allow the department to bring in nationally acclaimed speakers and draw attention to the relevance of landscape architecture.鈥
For more on the Department of Landscape Architecture in 91麻豆天美鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visit .
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