Interviews and discussions on a variety of nature, science and environmental topics. This podcast is a compilation of discussions from The Fusion Forest radio show that airs Monday 11 am – 12 pm EST on 103.3 Asheville FM, but has each discussion in it’s entirety instead of broken into segments as they are during the live broadcast. Some episodes of the podcast also feature special bonus material that did not air on the live broadcast.
Episodes:
3. Community Labs and the Soil Microcosmos with Craig Trester
Environmental educator and citizen scientist Craig Trester visits The Fusion Forest to discuss a range of topics including the fungi – microbe – soil health connection, open source community research labs, the importance of DNA to mushroom identification, and more.
Follow Craig’s work on Instagram: @nyc.myc
Contact Craig via email: craig@myc.nyc
2. The Central Asheville Watershed Plan with Renee Fortner
Renee Fortner is the watershed resources director for local environmental non-profit Riverlink. Her visit to The Fusion Forest involved a detailed discussion of the new Central Asheville Watershed Plan addressing stormwater management in the Downtown, River Arts District and Southside parts of the city that collectively drain into the most widely trafficked part of the French Broad River. Renee explains Riverlink’s background and mission, what watersheds are, how water quality is measured, current challenges to water quality in the city of Asheville, potential remedies for Asheville’s water quality problems, and projects that are now on the table to improve the city’s stormwater issues thanks to Riverlink and the Central Asheville Watershed Plan. This interview also includes bonus questions not aired during it’s broadcast on The Fusion Forest radio show.
Learn more about Riverlink:
Website: https://riverlink.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverlink
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/river.link/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiOZfkWSbKgnrflpKe42EcQ
To report an illicit discharge into a stream or storm drain, contact:
City of Asheville
Business hours (7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.): 828-232-4567.
After hours, weekends and holidays: 828-251-1122.
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality- Division of Water Resources
Phone: 828-296-4500
1. Animals and Environmental DNA with Clare Adams
Animal biologist Clare Adams visits The Fusion Forest to discuss her work with fur seals, abalone and turtles and the environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques employed to track and analyze the population health of these different types of animals. A researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand with previous graduate research experience at Iowa State University, Clare shares her knowledge and love of animals in a practical and scientific context, as well as joining me for a contemplation of unconventional pets.
