Mycologist, curator, and educator Dr. Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian is the author of Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature (Spiegel & Grau). In this book, she weaves memoir, natural history, and philosophy in order to challenge our expectations of what is normal, beautiful, and possible for life on earth.

She is the Curator of Mycology at the New York State Museum, as well as faculty with the Bard Prison Initiative. She earned her PhD in mycology from SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry. Her scientific research focuses on fungal taxonomy, diversity, evolution, symbiosis, and ecology, particularly of the less studied fungal groups, such as the insect-associated parasites. She conducts biodiversity surveys around the world, seeking to better understand fungal population patterns. Patricia is a co-founder of the International Congress of Armenian Mycologists, which seeks to jointly protect Armenian sovereignty and biodiversity. She also studies philosophy of science, queer ecology, and queer theory, exploring how mycology and other scientific disciplines are situated in and informed by our sociopolitical landscape. Her work, The science underground: mycology as a queer discipline (Catalyst, 2020) bridged the relationship between queerness and mycology. Patricia is interested in leveraging her knowledge as a scientist to advance imaginative solutions to climate change and systems of oppression.

This event will feature a presentation by Dr. Ononiwu Kaishian, followed by Q&A and a book signing, hosted by the Raven Book Store.

The Kenneth A. Spencer Lecture, hosted by The Commons, is an endowed lecture dedicated to bringing leading thinkers across disciplines and ways of knowing, to address the University of Kansas and regional communities. In recent years, the lecture series has featured writer/historian Rebecca Solnit, poet/scholar/artist Eve L. Ewing, activist/writer Jose Antonio Vargas, author/illustrator/screenwriter Jonny Sun, writer/scientist/enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Robin Wall Kimmerer, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, poet/essayist Ross Gay, forager/land access advocate Alexis Nikole Nelson, poet/novelist/photographer/teacher Ocean Vuong, writer/activist Brea Baker, and author Margaret Renkl.

LINK for FREE TICKETS: https://www.universe.com/kukaishian 

The Kenneth Spencer Lecture is presented by The Commons