GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History wants you to learn about the connection between all organisms by grabbing a beer at First Magnitude Brewing Co.
First Magnitude, located at 1220 SE Veitch St., will bring back the “One Tree” pale ale during a “Science on Tap” event April 25 at 5 p.m. highlighting the importance of the links between all organisms in the Tree of Life, the family tree connecting the millions of species on earth.
Doug Soltis, a distinguished professor and curator at the Florida Museum and professor in the University of Florida department of biology, said humans are just one small part of the Tree of Life, and it is important for people to understand the connections between all life on Earth.
“The Tree of Life provides really everything,” he said. “It provides our food, our shelter, our medicine. Even if you don’t care that much about biodiversity, human existence depends on the Tree of Life. The loss of any species impacts all others, including our own species. Our species cannot flourish if we lose branches from the Tree of Life.”
Soltis said the main purpose of the event is to showcase the beauty and importance of the Tree of Life and for those attending to leave knowing what they can do to help protect biodiversity.
“There are definitely simple action items that we can all do to make a difference,” he said. “It’s not like people should walk away thinking, ‘We’re helpless.’ You can water your yard less, plant native plants, walk or bike more, contribute to local conservation efforts. All of these simple little things, that if everyone did just a little bit, would have a big impact.”
The “One Tree” pale ale is made from 11 different species in the Tree of Life, including orange peel, Irish moss, wheat, gallberry and bald cypress, among other traditional ingredients.
The event program begins at 6 p.m., including showings of the “TreeTender” movie, which gives background on the Tree of Life and its relationships. Entry to the event is free, but a $10 wristband earns the wearer discounts on all beers. Themed glasses and shirts will also be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to the UF Biodiversity Institute, which helps protect biodiversity at all levels.
“It’s the last day of classes, so it’s a good time to celebrate,” Soltis said.
For more information on the event, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/science-on-tap-tol. For more information on the Tree of Life, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/onetree.
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Source: Doug Soltis, dsoltis@ufl.edu, 352-273-1963
Writer: Mary-Lou Watkinson, swriterintern@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Paul Ramey, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu, 352-213-0999