Thursday, February 8th
Science Job Talk: 5:00 – 6:00 PM
Students only: 6:00-6:30
Room 1618, 79 5th Ave

Food of the Gods: Cacao Culture in Central America

Jillian De Gezelle, Teaching Assistant Professor of Ethnobotany, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University

Dr. De Gezelle will present the fascinating history, botany, and ecology of the cacao plant in cultures spanning Mexico, Belize and Panama. Indigenous innovations and extensive knowledge of cacao’s many benefits in the Maya, Ngäbe and Guna communities will be discussed, along with scientific studies further corroborating the benefits of cacao and dark chocolate for human health.   Publications include:
De Gezelle, Jillian. 2014. Q’eqchi’ Maya Reproductive Ethnomedicine. Springer Briefs in Plant Sciences. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland.
Balick, Michael J., Jillian M. De Gezelle, and Rosita Arvigo. 2008. Feeling the Pulse in Maya Medicine: An Endangered Tool for Diagnosis, Therapy, and Tracking Patients’ Progress. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing 4(2):113-119.

Students are encouraged to stay after the talk and chat +  share feedback with Dr. De Gezelle.