Further Reading - Forest Health Talk at Sheridan Museum

1. Prominent Scientists

Below is a list of scientists in that are active in the field of improving forest health. This is by no means a complete listing of all professionals involved in this pursuit. The list remains a work in progress and the names appear in no particular order.

- Steve Strauss, Professor of Forest Biotechnology at Oregon State University

• Forest Biotechnology Laboratory Website

• Prof. Strauss is a pioneer in the field of forest tree biotechnology and was instrumental in the development of transgenic trees in the United states. He maintains a vigorous research program and is a strong advocate of using biotechnology to improve forest health.

- William Powell, Professor of Forest Biology at SUNY

• Environmental and Forest Biology Group Website

• Prof. Powell developed the first transgenic American Chestnut tree with resistance to the fungus which decimated this iconic tree in early 20th century.

• Powell’s twitter handle is ChestnutPowell

- Sally Aitken, Professor of Forest and Conservation Sciences at UBC

• UBC Faculty Website

• Prof. Aitken is a longstanding forest conservation geneticists and one of the scientists at the forefront of this field. She has been a major driving force in devising/testing methods for assisted migration in forest tree species.

• Aitken’s twitter handle is SallyNAitken

- David Neale, Professor Emeritus of Plant Sciences at UC Davis

• Neale Lab Website

• Prof. Neale directed the complete genome sequencing of the first conifer (Pinus spp.) His lab has since been involved in producing the genome sequence of multiple other conifer as well as angiosperm tree species, most notably Redwood and Walnut.

- Ronald Sederoff, Professor Emeritus of Forest Biotechnology at NC State Univ.

• Prof. Sederoff is also an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences: Brief Biography

• Prof. Sederoff led a long career as an experimental geneticist and biotechnologist working primarily in tree improvement.

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2. Institutions

- The American Chestnut Foundation

• The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is dedicated to the revival of the iconic American chestnut tree in its native range in North America.

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3. Popular Science Articles, Websites and Phone/Tablet Apps

• Can Genetic Engineering Bring Back the American Chestnut?: New York Times - April 30, 2020.

• Forest Insect Pests: A photographic guide to the forest insect pests of North America. Phone/Tablet App.

• A New Generation of American Chestnut Trees May Redefine America’s Forests: Scientific American - March 1, 2014.

• To Save Iconic American Chestnut, Researchers Plan Introduction of Genetically Engineered Tree into the Wild: Science magazine - Aug 29, 2018.

• There used to be 4 billion American chestnut trees, but they all disappeared: Timeline - January 24, 2017.

• New England’s Forests Are Sick. They Need More Tree Doctors: New York Times Article & Podcast - November 4, 2020.

• After the Trees Disappear: New York Times - June 30, 2014

• Vast Forests of Dead or Stressed Trees Prompt New Federal Approach to Restoration Out West: Washington Post - December 7, 2018.

• They’re Among the World’s Oldest Living Things. The Climate Crisis is Killing Them.: New York Times - December 10, 2020.

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4. Reports, White Papers, and Scientific Articles

• Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations: National Academy of Sciences Consensus Study Report (January 2019).