WVU Libraries

The West Virginia Botanic Garden will host Lara Farina, West Virginia University professor of English  in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences  and recipient of the WVU Libraries’ 2019 Faculty Exhibit Award, for a presentation titled “Big Green Data: Herbal, Science & Art” Sunday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. in their Education & Event Center.

Farina researched the early conceptualizations of botanic life in the pre-modern medicine world, as well as its effect on philosophy, art, and literature. She will discuss the categorization and naming of plants in ancient and medieval cultures, with a special focus on herbals.

“Archival research is always full of surprises, and sometimes these surprises are more worthy of study than the research we plan in advance. This was certainly true of my visits to British and American libraries for the purpose of looking at medieval herbals first-hand,” Farina wrote.

In addition, Donna Ford-Werntz, director of the WVU Herbarium, will discuss the Herbarium in historical and modern contexts of plant taxonomy.

After the presentation, participants are encouraged to view the “Big Green Data” display in the upper level of the Education & Event Center. This event is free for WVBG members and $15 for non-members. Register here.