About OMSI Science Pub: Slime Time
Science Pubs are a casual lecture series held in two locations across Portland. Grab a drink and get comfy as you learn about our slimy invertebrate friends in Slime Time: Slugs, Snails, and Their Management. Recommended for ages 10 and over.
About the lecture:
Are you frustrated with slugs and snails eating your garden plants? Maybe a little intrigued by them? Dr Rory Mc Donnell, a world expert on these creatures, has been fascinated by slugs and snails since he was a child growing up in Ireland. Through this lecture, Dr Mc Donnell will provide information on the biology of these invertebrates as well as the relationships humans have had with them. Visitors will also hear about some of the other strange pest species in the Pacific Northwest. Dr Mc Donnell will share some practical tips on how to manage slugs and snails in your garden, including the use of groundbreaking novel tools still being researched - such as bread dough and parasitic worms - that he and his team are developing.
Rory Mc Donnell has a PhD in Applied Ecology from the University of Galway in Ireland and has worked on the biology and management of slugs and snails throughout the world. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Oregon State University. His research is focused on the development of novel tools such as biological control, biorational pesticides, and novel attractants for managing pest species. He has published 75 papers in scientific journals, has two patents, and has worked on slugs with 20th Century FOX in Los Angeles, California as a Consulting Scientist for the Emmy-nominated TV series Bones.
