Every Thursday, Sept. 4 – Dec. 04, 2025, 4:30 pm.
About:
Step away from your daily routine and join us campfire-style, with a mug of hot coffee or tea, as we explore the vast arboreal world around us. From the science of orchard management to ancient tree lore, from the history of the local logging industry to a live spoon carving demo, each Tree Talk offers a unique perspective on the deep-rooted significance of trees. Join us for one session, a couple, or all of them! Everyone is welcome!
Schedule:
| DATE | NAME | JOB TITLE/DEPT | TOPIC |
| 9/4/25 | Dr. Chris Martine | David Burpee Professor in Plant Genetics & Research | Dr. Chris Martine, Biology, will talk about plant reproduction, the basic idea being that people, to avoid the mess of fruits, have planted more male trees…and this has meant more pollen. But the story really isn’t as simple (nor accurate). |
| 9/11/25 | Tasha Hall | Greenhouse Caretaker | Greenhouse Caretaker, Tasha Hall, will share recipes for floral essences of trees and their effects on the physical/emotional body. |
| 9/18/25 | John Bzdil | Business Manager, Dries Orchards | Business Manager at Dries Orchards, John Bzdil, to lead a conversation about maintaining orchards — from apple varieties to the challenge of finding field workers. |
| 9/25/25 | Wade Hutchison | Senior Cloud Systems Engineer/L&IT | L&IT Staffer, Wade Hutchison, discusses the craft of woodworking and demos spoon carving. |
| 10/2/25 | Fiona Powell | Folk Historian and Storyteller | Local folk historian & storyteller Fiona Powell recounts ancient Celtic tree stories. |
| 10/9/25 | Claire Campbell | Professor of History | Prof. Claire Campbell addresses the history of the local timber industry. |
| 10/16/25 | John Lantz | Luthier @ JR Violins | John Lantz, luthier at JR Violins, discusses types of woods used in instrument building. |
| 10/23/25 | Michael Palko | Communications Officer, Bucknell Public Safety | Michael Palko, former PA forester, will talk about his experience using trees as a fuel source in schools and hospitals and forest regeneration. |
| 10/30/25 | Tyler Yamin | Visiting Assistant Professor of Music (Ethnomusicology) | Music Dept. VAP, Dr. Tyler Yamin, will share findings from his doctoral work which focused on the sounds of gibbons in the forests of Borneo. |
| 11/6/25 | John Penniman | Associate Professor and chair of Religious Studies | This talk by Dr. John Penniman, Religious Studies, will explore the significance of trees within multiple religious traditions, with an emphasis on the central role that trees have played in myths, rituals, and ethics. We will discuss how trees have shaped cultural worldviews and, in turn, how these worldviews affect the meaning humans make of trees. |
| 11/13/25 | Amy Levan | Lewisburg Shade Tree Commission, Chair | Local Shade Tree Commission volunteer, Amy Levan, talks about the importance of urban trees. |
| 11/20/25 | Paul Siewers | Associate Professor of English | Rev. Fr. Paul Siewers is Associate Professor of English Literary Studies and will present an academic talk that includes Tolkein’s Ents. |
| 12/4/25 | Olyssa Starry | Director, Sustainable Technology Program • Bucknell Center for Sustainability and Environment | Olyssa Starry, Program Director at the BCSE, will share results from the Leaf It Be project and the importance of fallen leaves to soil health. |
For other tree-related programming, click here.