Host: Julia SmachyloLocation: YNG 132Webex Link: s.uconn.edu/psla_seminars Professor William (Ned) Friedman is the eighth Director of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (in its 152-year history) and Arnold Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. Friedman's scholarly studies have focused on the earliest phases of the evolution of flowering plants, Darwin's so-called "abominable mystery." He is also deeply interested in the history of pre-Darwinian evolutionary thought and particularly the largely forgotten contributions of horticulturists and botanists. As Director of the Arnold Arboretum, Friedman has worked to expand the Arboretum's efforts to promote ex situ conservation of endangered woody plant species through a focused ten-year initiative centered on eastern Asia and North America. He has also led the charge to increase societal impacts of the Arboretum through diverse initiatives in public programming, digital communications, enhanced dialogue between scientists and the public, and the promotion of scientific scholarship (especially global change research) within the living collections. As he continues to lead the Arboretum forward from its sesquicentennial year in 2022, two fundamental priorities will dominate the Arboretum's focus: environmental justice and combating climate change and extinction.

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