Roots of Resilience!

Join us for an eye-opening look at how climate change is transforming northeastern forests!

For decades, Northeastern forests have quietly absorbed carbon from the atmosphere, regrowing after agriculture and logging declined. But today, rising temperatures are pushing some tree species northward while familiar residents like northern red oak struggle under warming conditions. Combined with invasive pests and increasingly extreme weather, these shifts threaten to transform our forests and reduce their ability to store carbon.

What does this mean for the landscapes we love, and what can we do about it?

Join Dr. Angelica Patterson for this free program as she shares her journey into forest and climate research, reveals how different tree species are responding to our warming world, and highlights inspiring examples of how land managers and communities are cultivating more resilient forests for the future.

About the presenter:

Dr. Angie Patterson is an environmental educator, a plant ecophysiologist and a science communicator. She is known as “The Shotgun Scientist” for her research into how trees respond to climate change. More specifically, she has examined how temperature affects the physiology (photosynthesis and respiration) of trees in northeastern US forests to understand which species may tolerate a warming climate and how that may impact the carbon dynamics that cycle through temperate forests. Angie received her bachelor’s degree in natural resources from Cornell University and her master’s, master of philosophy and doctorate degrees from Columbia University in plant ecophysiology. Angie is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the environmental sciences and has spoken at several U.S. universities, environmental organizations, and K–12 institutions. Her research and science communication efforts have been profiled in publications such as The Guardian, The Forestry Source, and the National Environmental Education Foundation.

For more information about her and her work, visit her on X @ColorfulSciGirl or at www.theshotgunscientist.com.

(Photos courtesy of Angelica Patterson)