Highlands Biological Station

Story: Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Conservation, and the Science Inside the Nest
2026-06-18 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd., Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Zahner Conservation Lecture 2
Featured Speaker
Lauren D. Pharr, Ph.D., Postgraduate Researcher, North Carolina State University
Date: Thursday, June 18
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Cost: FREE | No registration required
Learn more: https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/#woodpeckers
Sponsored by Jennie Stowers
Organized by Highlands Biological Foundation

The Blue Wall: What we know--and don't know--about southern Appalachia's enigmatic weather-making landform
2026-06-25 18:00 - 19:00
Zahner Conservation Lecture 3
Featured Speaker
Philip S. Prince, Ph.D., Project Geologist, Appalachian Landslide Consultants, PLLC, Virginia Tech Department of Geosciences
Date: Thursday, June 25
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Cost: FREE | No registration required
Learn more: https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/#blue-wall
Sponsored by Suzanne & Don Duggan, Ruthie & Franko Oliver, Margaret Waters, Adele & Nick Scielzo, and Florence & Tom Holmes
Organized by Highlands Biological Foundation

Southern Appalachian Freshwater Resilience and Recovery Post-Hurricane Helene
2026-07-09 18:00 - 19:00
Zahner Conservation Lecture 4
Featured Speaker
Julie DeMeester, Ph.D., Director of Freshwater and Coastal Programs, The Nature Conservancy, North Carolina Chapter
Date: Thursday, July 9
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Cost: FREE | No registration required
Learn more: https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/#freshwater
Sponsored by Martha & Michael Dupuis, Monte & Palmer Gaillard, and Melanie & Tom Mauldin
Organized by Highlands Biological Foundation

The Venomous Snakes of Western North Carolina
2026-07-16 18:00 - 19:00
Zahner Conservation Lecture 5
Featured Speaker
Carlton Burke, local naturalist and wildlife rehabilitator, Carolina Mountain Naturalists
Date: Thursday, July 16
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Cost: FREE | No registration required
Learn more: https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/#snakes
Sponsored by Gayle Watkins & Andy Chmar
Organized by Highlands Biological Foundation

André Michaux in North America: Revealing the Botanical Treasures of the Carolinas
2026-07-23 18:00 - 19:00
Zahner Conservation Lecture 6
Featured Speaker
Dana Beach, Founder and former Executive Director, SC Coastal Conservation League, Board Member, Butler Parklands
Date: Thursday, July 23
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Cost: FREE | No registration required
Learn more: https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/#andre-michaux
Sponsored by Ruthie & Berry Edwards
Organized by Highlands Biological Foundation

Connecting Appalachia: Wildlife Connectivity, Corridors, and Road Crossings
2026-07-30 18:00 - 19:00
Zahner Conservation Lecture 7
Featured Speaker
Liz Hillard, PhD, Senior Wildlife Biologist-Appalachian Region for Wildlands Network
Date: Thursday, July 30
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Cost: FREE | No registration required
Learn more: https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/#connecting-appalachia
Sponsored by Lori & Ed Heys
Organized by Highlands Biological Foundation

Plastic Pollution on the Plateau: An Overview of Microplastics Research in the Southern Appalachians
2026-08-06 18:00 - 19:00
Zahner Conservation Lecture 8
Featured Speaker
Jason Love, Associate Director of Highlands Biological Station, Western Carolina University
Date: Thursday, August 6
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Cost: FREE | No registration required
Learn more: https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/#plastic-pollution
Sponsored by Paul Manos & Diane Lennox
Organized by Highlands Biological Foundation
