Exploring the Hidden Life in Moss

Hosted by the Linnean Society of London, this free online event (donation requested)  by Dr Andy Chandler-Grevatt explores the rich microscopic ecosystems hidden within moss cushions. 
Moss grows almost everywhere: on tree trunks, lawns, walls, roofs and pavements, yet it is often overlooked. In this talk, Dr Andy Chandler-Grevatt invites audiences on a “Moss Safari”, revealing the rich microscopic ecosystems hidden within moss cushions. Through microscopy and live observations, he introduces an extraordinary community of organisms, including nematodes, rotifers, mites, gastrotrichs and tardigrades. These tiny animals display remarkable adaptations for survival, dispersal and enduring extreme environmental stress.
The lecture explores how moss-dwelling organisms contribute to wider questions in ecology, evolution and environmental change. Moss ecosystems act as accessible, everyday model systems for studying resilience, cryptobiosis, food webs, and the impacts of pollution and climate variability, even in urban settings. By reframing moss as a gateway to unseen biodiversity, this talk shows how scientific curiosity can begin literally at our feet and how ordinary habitats can inspire public engagement with biology, natural history and conservation.
Dr Andy Chandler-Grevatt is a science educator, writer and researcher with a long-standing interest in biology education, microscopy and public engagement with science and nature. He works part time as a Senior Lecturer in Science Education at the University of Brighton and is also the editor of the bestselling school science textbooks, Activate by Oxford University Press. He is the author of Moss Safari: Exploring the Secret Life in Moss, which combines introduces readers to the extraordinary ecosystem in moss.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-the-hidden-life-in-moss-tickets-1983440815873