Western Mountains: March Meeting & Program

E. Lucy Braun during field research (date unknown). Courtesy, University of Cincinnati. 

Sunshine Brosi during filming of “A Force for Nature: Lucy Braun”.

The Life & Legacy of Lucy Braun

There will be a special showing of the film, “A Force for Nature: Lucy Braun”. This one-hour documentary explores the life and legacy of E. Lucy Braun (1889 - 1971), one of the foremost botanists and ecologists in American history. Sunshine Brosi, Associate Professor of Forest Ecology, at Frostburg State University will provide an introduction and lead a discussion following the film. 

Lucy Braun was a trailblazer in the emerging science of plant ecology, and a leader in the early conservation movement. In 1950, she published “Deciduous Forests of Eastern North America”, a landmark book that documented forest communities from Florida to Canada. An extraordinary woman of science, Braun helped to preserve many natural spaces in Ohio and Kentucky. 

Sunshine Brosi learned her plants on Braun's transects in Eastern Kentucky from her mother who had learned them from Lucy's assistants. Inspired by Braun who successfully juggled the rugged Appalachian terrain, the male-dominated field of forestry, and the injustices to women scientists, Sunshine dedicated her PhD to her. After thirteen years heading the Ethnobotany Program at Frostburg State University, Sunshine will be taking a new faculty position in Wildland Ecology at Utah State University. Join us as our local MNPS chapter bids our mentor and sponsor farewell.

This film is a co-production of Meg Hanrahan Media and Voyageur Media Group, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of public media about science, history and culture. This film has earned critical acclaim from screenings at numerous academic conferences, and is now distributed to regional and national public television stations. Educational materials, a Facebook site, DVD order forms, broadcast information, media kits, and background information  are all available at voyageurmedia.org

This free program will begin promptly at 7:00 pm; the public is welcome to attend.

Directions: From I-68 take exit 33 (Braddock Rd & Midlothian Rd exit). Follow Braddock Road approximately 1.3 miles to stop sign. Turn left onto Park Avenue. Drive a short distance and turn left, following signs for the Compton Parking Lot.

No registration is required.