Hermsen Lab

Modern and ancient passionflowers. Left: A maypop flower. Right: A fossil seed. I have recent been doing outreach about the fossil passionflowers I described from Gray Fossil Site, Tennessee. See the following for more: ETSU News: "Paleontologists discover extinct relative of Tennessee state wildflower":  https://www.etsu.edu/etsu-news/2021/12-december/passionflower.php In Defense of Plants: Episode 360: Exploring a 4.5 million year old flora:  https://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2022/3/13/ep-360-exploring-a-45-million-year-old-flora

  I gave a virtual presentation for the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Science Café on September 16, 2021. The video can be viewed on their website or on YouTube. Thanks to Atlanta Botanical Garden for the invitation and to everyone who attended! YouTube link:  https://youtu.be/z5pARaEXWpM

Magnolia leaf (image by E.J. Hermsen) I have posted a new page to the Digital Encyclopedia of Ancient Life: Angiosperm Leaf Architecture. The link is here:  https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/embryophytes/angiosperms/angioleaves/

I have a sole-authored paper out in the July/August issue of  International Journal of Plant Sciences  describing a new species of fossil passionflower ( Passiflora ) from Gray Fossil Site, Tennessee. This paper is part of the special issue "Celebrating Women in Paleobotany: A tribute to Edith L. Taylor." Citation: Hermsen, E.J. 2021. Review of the fossil record of Passiflora , with a description of new seeds from the Pliocene Gray Fossil Site, Tennessee, U.S.A. International Journal of Plant Sciences 182: 611–621. https://doi.org/10.1086/714282

Drawing of a waterfall by Sarah Hall (from Daring to Dig: Women in American Paleontology ) A news story on the "Daring to Dig" exhibit was recently published in the  Ithaca Voice.  The story provides a short overview of the exhibit and its development, as well as quotes from those who contributed to creating the exhibit content and design. Read it here:  https://ithacavoice.com/2021/05/museum-of-the-earth-exhibit-excavates-women-scientist-stories/

Flipper of Plesiosaur macrocephalus , cast of a fossil found by Mary Anning in 1830 On March 27, the Daring to Dig: Women in American Paleontology exhibit opened in-person and online at the Museum of the Earth . I helped create the content for the online and physical exhibits, along with many other contributors.  Visit the exhibit here:  https://www.museumoftheearth.org/daring-to-dig List of contributors (bottom of page):  https://www.museumoftheearth.org/daring-to-dig/looking-to-the-future