Ecosystem Health topic slated for science series

Dr. Jane Lucas will talk about “Ecosystem Health in the Age of Antibiotics” Monday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. in The Center at Colfax Library. Dr. Lucas is a post-doctoral associate at The University of Idaho researching the factors that influence the invertebrate and microbial communities within the leaf litter and soil in agricultural and tropical ecosystems.

The discovery of antibiotic compounds is one of the most prolific scientific advances in history. Yet growing use of antibiotics is leading to unprecedented introductions of these compounds into our environment, the effects of which are under studied. Dr. Lucas explores how naturally occurring and anthropogenically introduced antibiotics shape soil ecosystems and the functions they perform and how they influence antibiotic resistance in the environment.

Her team collaborates with a variety of individuals, including professors, scientists and farmers, to help create sustainable practices that maintain our soil and public health.

This presentation is a part of the “Science on the Palouse” series set for the second Monday of each month sponsored by Whitman Conservation District, The presentations are geared toward adults, but youth 10 and older are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact the Colfax Library or Brian Bell at Whitman Conservation District, brianwhitmancd@gmail.com.