Chicago Botanic Garden Summer 2019

duction and pollen flow of the nocturnal owering plant species, feed- ing on its nectar in ight and carrying its pollen up to 20 miles per night. More surprising, though, is that oral scent also attracts antagonists, such as the Mompha moth. ese insect preda- tors, Skogen says, may be “eavesdrop- ping on the signals pollinators use to nd attractive color, scent, and shape traits” to locate the same plants, whose seeds are used to feed their o spring. Natural selection does not necessarily favor the sweetest-smelling ower, but the one best suited to survive under competing selective pressures, “like an arms race with plants in the middle.” And following truth where it leads is what most excites Skogen about her work. “I came to this project as a pollination biologist in love with pol- linators and plants. What’s really excit- ing as a scientist is when you nd the thing you thought was most impor- tant—pollinators—isn’t. What’s the part of the story we missed and what have we got wrong?” Her quest for understanding reaches beyond eldwork. Skogen was recently selected as one of 100 women from 33 countries to participate in the fourth cohort of the Homeward Bound Pro- gram. She joins an international coali- tion of women with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or medicine (STEMM) who are helping to provide knowledge and leadership to address global prob- lems, such as chronic poverty and cli- mate change. e 12-month program includes online training and culmi- nates in a November 2019 trip to Ant- arctica. “I’ve always been involved and inter- ested in issues related to women’s rights,” Skogen says. “ e goal is for participants to have a toolkit, an inten- tional gameplan to go out and put this work into action, so that women can be better represented in leadership and policy-level positions and change the face of leadership.” Learn more chicagobotanic.org/research Let’s talk pollinators Krissa Skogen will be one of the Garden scientists at After Hours Buzz, a night- time series of talks (and cocktails) on plants and pollinators. It is part of Bees & Beyond, which was created to inspire appreciation for the vital role pollina- tors play in our everyday lives and in a healthy, diverse planet. See page 11 for more information.