Nathalie Nagalingum Research Award

With great sadness, Kathleen Pryer, Eric Schuettpelz, and Emily Sessa share the news of the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum, McAllister Chair & Associate Curator of Botany at the California Academy of Sciences. Nathalie passed away on August 22nd, surrounded by her loving family in Melbourne, Australia.

Nathalie studied the evolution and diversification of plants, particularly ferns and cycads, and she oversaw the Academy’s botany collection since 2017. She made exceptional contributions to biodiversity science that spanned fossil and living plants. Nathalie was not only an accomplished paleobotanist but also fluent and skilled in dealing with “big data” and comparative genomics approaches. She was gifted in science communication and cared deeply about increasing diversity in science by being an outstanding mentor, teacher, and role model.

Nathalie has been an active and beloved member of the American Fern Society and the larger botanical community for over 20 years. To honor Nathalie, Kathleen, Eric, and Emily, seek to establish an award with the American Fern Society to support graduate student research. In this way, her name will continue to resonate with botanists well into the future.

If you had a personal and/or professional connection to Nathalie, we encourage you to join us in honoring this remarkable woman. Also, because Nathalie has been so cross-cutting in her professional activities, please spread the word to help us expand the reach of this effort.

In warmth and community -

Kathleen Pryer (Professor of Biology, Duke University; Past-President, AFS, 2012-14)

and

Eric Schuettpelz (Chair of Botany, Smithsonian Institution; Past-President, AFS, 2016-18)

and

Emily Sessa (Herbarium Director, New York Botanical Garden; Past-President, AFS, 2020-22)

__________________

All proceeds from this GoFundMe fundraiser will be gifted to the American Fern Society to establish an award to honor Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum. It is the intent of the American Fern Society to invest the funds raised to offer a Nathalie Nagalingum Research Award in perpetuity. Contributions to this fundraiser are considered personal gifts, and donors should consult with their tax advisers about the deductibility of any contribution to this effort. Contributions to the American Fern Society are not deductible for federal income tax purposes as charitable donations, and you will not be issued a tax receipt.