Native Plants, Community, and Technology

May 19th: A Cuplet Fern Micro-Conference

Made possible by support from the Duke Energy Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation

Join us on May 19th at Rinker Environmental Learning Center!

With thanks to support from the Duke Energy Foundation and faculty and graduate student partners at UCF, Cuplet Fern is hosting a Micro-Conference to explore the relationship between our native environments and technology. Please join us for a day of talks and a native plant sale, with time to connect and converse!

Registration is closed! Thanks for your interest!

Schedule

  • Co-located with the micro-conference, Cuplet Fern will be hosting a mini native plant sale at Rinker Environmentl Learning Center. An assortment of shrubs, trees, vines, and wildflowers will be available!

  • Chelsea LeNoble, Assistant Professor, UCF will share opening remarks and kick off the micro-conference with thanks to our partners.

  • Sonia Stephens, Associate Professor, UCF:

    Have you ever used an app like iNaturalist or Pl@ntNet to help you identify a plant? Or are you unsure if these apps are actually any good at what they claim they can do? This presentation will discuss how plant identification apps work, what they are actually used for both by individuals and in community science projects, and talk about some of the concerns that naturalists and others have raised about their use.

  • Anastasia Salter, Professor, UCF:

    Have you seen photos circulating in your local nature groups or among your friends that seem too good to be true? Have you tried or heard about artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and wondered how well they understand your local ecosystem? This presentation will unpack some of the hype and concerns surrounding generative AI, with examples of how these tools are changing social media and suggestions for how to moderate and understand their influence on our communication.

  • Lunch will be provided, with time to socialize and connect.

  • Nathaly Rayo, Graduate Student, UCF:

    Have you ever wondered what we get out of being outside - and if those benefits extend to the virtual environment? This presentation shares a study in progress on the impact of different ecosystems on well-being through exploring the potential value of a virtual nature break.

  • John Murray, Assistant Professor, UCF:

    Games that entice us to spend more time on our phones and computers might seem like an odd way to appreciate the outdoors, but some games offer environmental education and calls to action that can inspire local activism. This presentation showcases environmental game design, with a demo of a game in progress focused on our Florida scrub ecosystem.

  • Florida Native Plant Society President Mark Kateli offers closing remarks and thanks.