Daniel Griffin, associate professor of geography at the University of Minnesota, will deliver “Tree Rings and the Promise of Environmental Change” as part of the Voices of Discovery speaker series on Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in McCrary Theatre.
Tree rings aren’t just good indicators of a tree’s lifespan, they provide a historical record of a local environment with critical information we can use to steward resources in the face of climate change.
Daniel Griffin’s research involves studying tree ring characteristics over long periods of time, called dendrochronology. An associate professor of geography at the University Of Minnesota, Griffin will explain how that study can inform our views and actions on climate change during a Voices of Discovery lecture Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in McCrary Theatre. The event is free and open to the public.
Griffin’s paleoclimate work in California showed that the recent drought, exacerbated by the heat of climate change, was unusual in the context of the last millennium. Griffin is also passionate about using dendrochronology for old-growth forest identification and conservation.
Voices of Discovery brings preeminent scientists and mathematicians to campus to share their experiences and perspectives with Elon students and the community. Sponsored by Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, and Elon University, the annual speaker series is fundamental to creating a science-conscious community and students who graduate as informed, critically thinking citizens.
The final 2023-24 Voices of Discovery lecture will be April 18 by the University of Florida’s Scott Arthur Banks, who will speak about biomedical engineering.