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Subjects encompass fungi, climate change and health, the Common Loon, wild rice revitalization, and algal blooms in the Great Lakes.

PELLSTON, Michigan—The University of Michigan Biological Station invites the public to its historic research and teaching campus for the 2025 Summer Lecture Series.

This enduring tradition at the field research facility along Douglas Lake showcases notable scientists from across the nation, who provide insights into the natural world and stimulate conversation.

Topics span the captivating realm of fungi, the effects of climate change on health, how various milkweed species influence monarch butterfly flight, insights on the Common Loon, the restoration of manoomin (wild rice), and the role of nitrogen in promoting harmful algal blooms within the Great Lakes.

The complimentary public lectures are scheduled for Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. in Gates Lecture Hall at the field research facility, situated at 9133 Biological Road in Pellston, approximately 20 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge.

“We are thrilled to present another extraordinary roster of engaging speakers at our field station,” remarked Aimée Classen, director of the U-M Biological Station and a faculty member in the U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “These summer evenings offer a fantastic opportunity to hear firsthand from leading experts in the U.S. addressing critical environmental challenges and understanding how science impacts us all.”

Presenters include:

• June 4: What Can We Discover About Reproduction from Studying Fungi?
  Timothy James instructs the Field Mycology course at the U-M Biological Station and works as a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at U-M, curator of fungi at the University Herbarium, and holds the Lewis E. Wehmeyer and Elaine Prince Wehmeyer Chair in Fungal Taxonomy. James will delve into the astonishing diversity of fungal reproduction, examining peculiar spore morphology and unusual sexual strategies, such as mating type and mate switching. He will also explore patterns of evolutionary alteration and discuss unanswered inquiries in evolutionary biology regarding reproduction and its prevalence among all eukaryotes.
• June 11: Pettingill Lecture in Natural History: Manoomin—The Good Berry
  Frank Zomer serves as the inland fisheries biologist for the Bay Mills Indian Community and directs the manoomin, or wild rice, restoration initiative for the tribe. Zomer will address the significance of manoomin to the Anishinaabe community, the historical context of manoomin in Michigan, factors leading to its decline across the state, and the current state of affairs.
• June 25: Climate Change and Human Health
  Larry Junck, a neurologist investigating how climate change compromises brain health, will discuss the repercussions of fossil fuel-derived air pollution on human health, climate change-related infections, additional health impacts, and actions we can take as citizens and scientists.
• July 2: Hann Lecture in Ornithology: Little Looney: Lessons Gleaned as a Loon Biologist
  Jay Mager, a professor of biological sciences at Ohio Northern University, will provide a summary of the Common Loon’s life history, share insights into prior research on behavioral mechanisms for loons selecting and defending breeding territories, and discuss ongoing conservation efforts by scientists and volunteers to safeguard loon populations, including recent investigations into loon behavior during the nonbreeding season.
• July 9: Pettingill Lecture in Natural History: Mutualism: What Are Our Insights, and What Are the Next Steps?
  Judith Bronstein, University Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, also holds a joint position in the Department of Entomology. An alumna of the U-M Biological Station, Bronstein will discuss her recent studies on pollination, highlighting cooperation among different species.
• July 23: Bennett Lecture in Mycology and Plant Biology: Cascades in Corn Cover Crops and Milkweeds that Support Migrating Monarchs: Chemical Ecology at the Interface of Pest Management and Conservation
  Jared Ali, director of the Center for Chemical Ecology and acting director of the Ecology Research Institute at Penn State University, will explore how various milkweed species influence monarch butterfly migratory patterns, shedding light on the chemical cues that guide migration while emphasizing methods to foster agricultural sustainability and insect diversity.
• July 30: Nitrogen as a Catalyst for Harmful Algal Blooms in the Great Lakes
  Silvia Newell, director of Michigan Sea Grant and professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability, will discuss how harmful algal blooms can lead to fish deaths, contaminate adjacent coastlines, and create hazardous conditions for aquatic life and humans. A nutrient biogeochemist and microbial ecologist, Newell investigates the effects of nutrient over-enrichment from fertilizers and wastewater on inland and coastal waters, specifically focusing on harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. She collaborates with stakeholders to forge practical strategies for nutrient reduction.

In partnership with community allies, UMBS will also bring its Summer Lecture Series to Charlevoix Public Library at 6 p.m. on July 29.

• July 29: The Art of Science Filmmaking with Sharon Shattuck
  Award-winning documentary filmmaker and U-M Biological Station graduate Sharon Shattuck will present three new short films and discuss how to portray science—particularly focusing on women in science—visually. From her Emmy-nominated documentary “Picture A Scientist” (2020) to a series of short films about microbes using handmade paper puppetry, Sharon will unveil her creative methodology and initiatives to make science engaging and enjoyable for all audiences.

Complete list of the 2025 Summer Lecture Series

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