Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, provides first-hand connections to the world of ecology and conservation by speaking with experts all around the world.
Joshua Benoit will be an assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Cincinnati, after completing his current work on a research project at Yale University involving the tsetse fly. He joins Thane Maynard by phone from New Haven to discuss his work in Yale’s Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, his current project, and his upcoming move to UC.
The book Harvest: An Adventure into the Heart of America's Family Farms tells of author Richard Horan’s coast to coast journey to work at various farms and help bring in the harvest. As he shares with Thane Maynard, the American farmer is still out there, fighting the odds and facing all challenges.
Native Cincinnatian David Quammen published his first novel at age 20, but after 3 books, realized the dire situation the world’s environment was in so became a dedicated science writer. His newest book paints a frightening picture of how infectious diseases such as AIDS and Ebola make their way more quickly around the globe, but points out that they begin in wild animals and pass to humans by a process called spillover.
The tight economy and rising prices hit everyone and every business, even a national park. Joining Thane Maynard this week is Ken Barrett from the Yellowstone Park Foundation, talking about the need for private funding to help maintain the beauty and integrity of the park. He also talks about his work with the fish population there and the increase in non-native species which are impacting the ecosystem of the native cutthroat trout.
