The Secret Lives of Fruit Flies & Why Are There Holes In My Plant?

In-Person Presentation

Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks.

2:00–2:30 pm – The Secret Lives of Fruit Flies

Speaker: Bronwyn Miller, Graduate Student in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, the Ben de Bivort Lab

How do fruit flies ALWAYS seem to find your ripe bananas? Believe it or not, not all fruit flies want to steal your fruit. In fact, there are an estimated 4,000 species of fruit fly! This includes species that develop on poisonous death cap mushrooms and a species whose head looks like a hammerhead shark’s! How did this diversity come about? What can their brains and behavior tell us about their evolution? Join Harvard scientist Bronwyn Miller to explore the amazing world of fruit flies and uncover the secrets of their hidden lives.

3:00-3:30 pm – Why Are There Holes In My Plant?

Speaker: Fitz Dougherty, Graduate Student in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, theHolbrook Lab

Did you know that plants have microscopic holes in their leaves and flowers that are important for different functions? They can acquire CO₂ for photosynthesis, cool leaves on a hot day, and even release nectar in flowers to attract pollinators. Join Harvard scientist Fitz Dougherty as he talks about what we know and still don’t know about two different types of holes in plants, and learn how even the smallest features can reveal big scientific mysteries.

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Regular museum admission rates apply.

Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science & Culture.