An interview with Alexis Nikole Nelson + news on an exciting conference

I spoke with Alexis Nikole Nelson—aka the "Black Forager"—about wild edible plants, SciComm, and summer plans to visit Atlanta for a fun ethnobotany conference!

Photo of Alexis Nikole Nelson.

It’s Podcast Day!

New on the Foodie Pharmacology podcast, I spoke with one of my science communication heroes: Alexis Nikole Nelson (aka the “Black Forager”)! Alexis is a cook, forager, and SciComm star who has introduced the incredible world of foraging to millions of people via her social media channels on TikTok (@alexisnikole) and Instagram (@blackforager). I had so much fun chatting with Alexis about the plants she loves and how she takes her passion for wild foods to the masses.

You can listen to this episode and others on the Foodie Pharmacology website or on your favorite podcast streaming platform. If you prefer a visual version of the episode, we also make the video recording available each week on the Teach Ethnobotany YouTube channel.

Join us at the SEB/SoE Conference!

I’m hosting the Joint Conference of the Society for Economic Botany and Society of Ethnobiology on the Emory University campus in Atlanta, GA from June 4-9, 2023! We have an incredible group of speakers, including Alexis! Take a sneak peek at the lineup:

Conference Theme

Human and Planetary Health: Everything is Connected

The health of the planet is closely tied to that of humanity. Research presented at this joint conference of the Society for Economic Botany and Society of Ethnobiology will explore themes of sustainability and conservation, resilience in human-environmental systems, ethical engagement with indigenous communities, and the impact of natural products on human health and therapeutic development.

Symposium Topics

The conference will center on six major thematic areas, all offering cross-systems insight to planetary and human health:

• Phytochemistry: Reading the Language of Nature

• Psychedelics: From Indigenous Knowledge to Applications in Medicine

• Traditional Medicine and Ethnopharmacology

• Urban Ethnobiology

• Community Based Conservation and Land Management

• Agroecology and the Future of Food

Important Deadlines

• Abstracts and documentary film submissions are due March 1st

• Early-bird registration on April 15th

• Last date to register is May 18th

We offer discounted rates for virtual attendance in addition to the traditional in-person participation. This option is ideal for individuals who are interested in the topics but unable to attend the event in person. Both in-person and virtual registrants will receive live stream access and recordings of the sessions.

Lastly, if you’re only interested in seeing Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s opening keynote, we have a special registration option for that as well!

I hope you to see you there!

Yours in health, Dr. Quave

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Nature’s Pharmacy is written by Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D.—a disabled writer, speaker, podcast host, professor, wife, mother, explorer, and ethnobotanist. Dr. Quave is Associate Professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory University School of Medicine. She has written about her work as a scientist in The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines (Viking/Penguin 2021). During the day, she teaches college courses and leads a large group of talented research scientists studying medicinal plants in the search for new life-saving drugs from nature. In her spare time she hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast and writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to share the incredible science behind the medicines found in nature. This newsletter is only possible through the generous support of fellow Nature’s Pharmacy community members. To support this effort and join the community, please consider a paid or founding subscription. Founding subscribers will receive an autographed 1st edition hardcover copy of The Plant Hunter!