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Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM

Monday, May 6, 2019 / 3:30 PM, Building 3 Auditorium

photo of Todd Brethauer

Todd Brethauer

"The First Farmers and the Origin of Crops"

ABSTRACT -- When the last Ice Age ended more than 12,000 years ago, the relationship between humans and the plants they consumed changed as agriculture began to develop. This process took thousands of years, and it is seen through preserved remains of plants, habitations, and tools of ancient people around the world. Join Todd to learn about the archaeological, botanical, and modern genetic evidence used to trace the appearance of agriculture, its spread, how it changed the plants, and how the plants changed human cultures.

SPEAKER -- After completing a 22 year career in the U.S. Navy serving on submarines, aircraft carriers and command centers ashore often as an interface between operating forces and the R&D community, Todd Brethauer worked as a contract science advisor for a Defense Department research and development activity for 12 years.

Since 2008, Todd has served at the United States Botanic Garden as a volunteer public science educator logging over 3000 hours.  He enjoys using the Garden's collection to excite people to learn more about the natural world.  He does informal "drive by" educational encounters using charismatic plants that engage all ages from around the world – orchids, carnivorous plants, the Titan Arum (AKA the corpse flower) and spices.  His short presentations have been broadcast by the Voice of America and appeared as American Chemical Society videos.  For those seeking a deeper understanding, Todd researches, prepares and presents on Saturday mornings ten formal college-level lectures each year covering a wide range of plant science and agricultural topics.  Todd takes his presentations on the road to Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory, the National Arboretum, the Mt Cuba Center in Delaware and local garden clubs.

Engineering Colloquium home page: https://ecolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov