March 13th, Fiona MacNeill

Picking Your Poison: How Plant Chemical Traits Defend Against Herbivores, Attract Pollinators, and Influence Toxic Butterflies

Have you ever wondered why coffee plants make caffeine? Or why peppers evolved to be spicy? 🌶️ Join us on March 13th as PhD candidate Fiona MacNeill explores plant chemistry, the relationships between plants and their partners—like pollinators and insect herbivores—and how plant chemicals manipulate interactions with other species. Plus, why this matters for people too! 🌼🐝

Lecture Schedule

• 7:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays
• 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm: Guided tour of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (sturdy shoes and water recommended!)
• 8:00 pm: The talk begins!
• 8:45 pm: Q&A with the speaker

📍 Location: Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703
💡 No RSVP is required – just show up and enjoy!
🅿️ Free parking is available at BFL for all lecture events!
🌦️ While we aim to host all events outdoors, sometimes weather conditions or volunteer capacity may require that we move the event inside the laboratory building.

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