A conversation on Soils, Plants and Microbes and the impact of science  

with by Lorna Dawson, James Hutton Institute, and SEFARI Gateway and Wendy Russell, Rowett  Uni of Aberdeen 

This discussion session between two senior Scottish sciences will cover a wide-ranging  conversation about soils, plants, agriculture, geography, environment, food, the microbiome,  health, science communication, forensic science, edible fungi and much more. Lorna and Wendy  both work at Scottish Government funded research institutes, coming from different science  backgrounds (geography and soils & chemistry and plants) - although both share a passion for  effective science communication and truly interdisciplinary research.  

They will discuss several projects they are currently working on, from the role of understanding  soil in trying to defeat grass sickness in horses, plastic pollution, to the role of hemp in arable  farming and understanding human diets in Scotland. Wild edibles will be on the menu for the  conversation, as will callous murders in the wild. Their careers span several decades, and both  have delivered positive impact on science and society. Impacts have been made in benefitting  human health, nutrition, to improved wellbeing and also in the delivery of ecological evidence in  civil and criminal court applications. Come along to learn about the exciting life of a career  scientist and to ask questions about a range of important current topics and how you too could  become a scientist!