Our Presenter:

Cory Harris is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Ottawa where he studies the ethnobotany, pharmacology and chemical ecology of plants with an emphasis on native Canadian species used for food and medicine.

The Presentation:

Wild plants have provided food and medicine to the peoples of North America, from pre-colonial times to the present day. In this talk, Dr. Harris will introduce concepts in ethnobotany – the study of how people interact with plants – to offer a new perspective on some of the well and lesser known plants of Ontario. Drawing on research in the field and the lab, I will discuss what’s good for your health, what’s good for your belly, and what’s best left alone.

Biography:

Cory Harris is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Ottawa. His research integrates laboratory, field and community-based approaches to study the ethnobotany, pharmacology and chemical ecology of plants with an emphasis on native Canadian species used for food and medicine. Working with Indigenous communities, patients and practitioners, as well as private sector partners, his team applies a “benchtop to community practice” approach to support the safe and effective use of natural products and alternative medicines.