Nonbinary, Cryptic, and Subversive": Queer Mycology with Dr. Patricia Kaishian

Please join us for a lecture by Dr. Patricia Kaishian on her work and research on mycological diversity, conservation, and and interdisciplinary studies focused on the philosophy of science, feminist bioscience, and science communication. In 2020, Dr. Kaishian published “The Science Underground: Mycology as a Queer Discipline,” which presented ways to use queer theory to interrogate the field of mycology and how it relates to scientific fields as a whole. She and her co-author draw comparisons between mycophobia (fear of mushrooms) to queerphobia, and how a fear of the “other” holds us back in scientific discovery and exploration. The authors argue that science must become comfortable with ambiguity, breaking binaries, and existing without clear borders to identities. Framing mycology through queer theory allows for an exploration of the philosophy of science that dissolves these boundaries and opens us up to new possibilities. 

This event is made possible through the support of the Sager Fund, the Cooper Serendipity Fund, the Environmental Studies Program, the Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, and the Libraries.

Free and open to the public; refreshments to follow.

This event is taking place in person, held in the Scheuer Room of Kohlberg Hall on Swarthmore College's campus (500 College Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081). All visitors must comply with the College's COVID policy. The closest parking lot to the event venue is the DuPont parking lot.

This event will also be livestreamed via Zoom for registered attendees: https://bit.ly/kaishiantalk

Lecture
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 4:30 – 6PM
Kohlberg Hall Scheuer Room - Multi-Purpose Room