Science on the Rocks

Kick off the series with a conversation about microplastics in Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) from North Carolina. Rachel's research explores whether county-level urbanization is associated with the presence of microplastics in bat organs — a closer look at how human activity may leave traces in wildlife in unexpected ways.

Join HBS Research Assistant Nicci Barrett for a relaxed conversation about bat research and fieldwork at the Station — a behind-the-scenes look at the tools, questions, and discoveries connected to studying bats in the Southern Appalachians.

What can trees tell us about the past? Join Liam for an informal conversation on dendrochronology — the science of using tree rings to better understand history, climate, forest growth, and environmental change, and how trees serve as living records of the landscapes around us.

An evening focused on woodland salamanders. David's work integrates physiology with long-term mark-recapture data to understand salamander population demography, while Evie's research tests pace-of-life syndrome predictions. Together, their projects offer a deeper look at the lives of these important Southern Appalachian amphibians.

Explore the connections between bats, geology, and conservation in North Carolina. Cam's research considers how geological context shapes the way we understand bat ecology and conservation needs — encouraging us to look not only at the species, but at the physical landscapes that support them.

An informal conversation about the fascinating glow worms of the Highlands Plateau — tiny bioluminescent insects that bring a little nighttime magic to our forests. Heather shares their biology, behavior, and ecology: where they're found, why they glow, and what they teach us about the hidden lives of insects after dark.

A conversation about Kral's water plantain (Sagittaria secundifolia), a threatened aquatic plant with an important conservation story. Jake's research focuses on the propagation, growth, and reproduction of this rare species — building a better understanding of what it needs to survive and how conservation efforts might support its future.

A conversation about the hidden chemical world of salamanders. Paul's research focuses on the functional characterization of chemosensory secretions in plethodontid salamanders — a fascinating look at how these lungless amphibians use chemical signals to interact with their environment and with one another.

Close out the 2026 season with a special conversation featuring Dr. Jim Costa and his new book. Dr. Costa explores the scientific, historical, and personal forces that shaped Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man, tracing the intellectual world of Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace and how their ideas on evolution, natural selection, and humanity developed, overlapped, and diverged.

Drawing from his new book, he shares insights into the history of evolutionary thought, the correspondence and debates that shaped the era, and the “mountain of facts” Darwin worked to organize into one of his most significant works.