Autumn Science Lecture 2022: Dr Jill Kowal

@oxfordbga Autumn Science Lecture from 2022 with Dr Jill Kowal - 'Understanding mycorrhizal fungi and their functional role to facilitate healthy soils and ecologically sustainable gardens'. Jill’s interest in vegetation ecology began 30 years ago as a volunteer in ‘urban greening’ projects throughout New York City. She then underwent formal training in horticulture with a Diploma from the Royal Horticulture Society and a subsequent gardener position at Kew Garden’s arboretum for over 10 years. Jill holds an MSc in Plant Diversity from the University of Reading and a PhD from Imperial College London. Her research focuses on mycorrhizal fungi, the beneficial plant root-fungus mutualism, and how they help nutritionally support plant species in exchange for carbon. One of her main projects at Kew involves developing a protocol to measure and compare their role in carbon sequestration across meadows, broadleaf woodlands and conifer plantations. It is becoming clearer that understanding this plant-fungus mutualism is critical for safeguarding plants in the wild. It is also a pathway towards more sustainable garden communities built on healthy soils, which is the focus of her talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXMVjbLSG6w