Nalini Nadkarni
Dr. Nalini Nadkarni is an emeritus professor of both The Evergreen State College and the University of Utah, one of the world’s leading ecologists and a popular science communicator. Dr. Nadkarni’s research and public engagement work is supported by the National Geographic Society and the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. @nalininadkarni
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A wooden pencil seems pretty simple — a cylinder of wood, a tube of graphite and an eraser. But pencils and trees have a history that’s been shaped by the economics and ecology of different tree species. -
In the diverse tropical forests of Central and South America, one tree is easy to recognize — the Cecropia tree. But its who lives inside of it that makes it especially interesting. -
Trees have been inspiring artists for centuries — including musicians. Host Nalini Nadkarni looks at a piece of classical music that tells the story of the generations who passed beneath a grove of Roman pine trees. -
Skateboards and trees may not have an obvious connection, but many skateboard decks are made from layers of wood. So the next time you see a skater carving through a turn, keep in mind that it all starts in the forest. -
The black walnut pulpit at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City has a personal history with the man who conceived of the building. -
If you walk through a recently-logged forest, you might see fresh green shoots growing out from a tree’s trunk. These epicormic shoots come from dormant buds hidden beneath the bark, ready to spring to life after disturbance. -
Some of our favorite trees have strange and often fascinating stories behind their names. -
Redwood forests have been named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of America. Once you learn a little about them, its easy to see why. -
If you've ever experienced a bamboo forest, then you know that it is serene and elegant. But what it isn't is a group of trees. -
Smoky the Bear is probably the best-known animal firefighter, but the North American beaver is the one doing the heavy lifting. -
A tree stump might look like the sad ending of a tree’s story. But to a sharp-eyed observer, that remnant can be the beginning of one. -
When I walk through an evergreen forest, I like to keep track of which way the trees twist. Many conifers have a spiral grain in their wood, meaning the fibers run in a gentle helix around the trunk rather than straight up and down.
