Annual Spring Luncheon

11:30 AM, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

UCLA Faculty Center

 

Join us for lunch and a program by Distinguished Professor Philip W. Rundel, director of the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA. His impeccable scientific pedigree, vast leadership experience, and passion for conservation of plant ecosystems make him ideally suited to lead one of UCLA’s most beloved and scientifically important treasures.

Dr. Rundel’s research group in UCLA’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology focuses on the ecology, biodiversity, and conservation of plants in the five Mediterranean Climate Regions of the world. These regions, which include California, the Mediterranean Basin, central Chile, the Cape Region of South Africa, and Southwest Australia, are all recognized as globally significant “hotspots” of biodiversity. Dr. Rundel’s presentation is titled, “Our California Flora in a Global Context,” and will explain the reasons for our “hotspot” status.

Dr. Rundel has also worked extensively on the ecology and conservation of tropical forests in Costa Rica and Southeast Asia. He formerly served as a consultant to the World Wildlife Fund on conservation planning in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

A member of the UCLA faculty since 1983, Dr. Rundel holds joint appointments in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. He formerly served as faculty director of UCLA Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve, a field station for education and research situated between Malibu and Calabasas. In addition, Dr. Rundel was involved with the establishment of the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, and in 2011 received the UCLA Distinguished Teacher Award.

A fifth-generation Californian, Dr. Rundel earned his undergraduate degree from Pomona College and his Master’s and PhD degrees from Duke University.　

If you are interested in joining FWC, please contact our Membership Chair by sending an e-mail to uclafwc@ucla.edu and type Membership as the subject.