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Community Matters: Dr. Colleen Iversen and the intersection of science, art, and community.

Wild strawberries in watercolor and embroidery
Created and photographed by Dr. Colleen Iversen
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http://www.colleeniversen.com/embroideries.html
Wild strawberries in watercolor and embroidery

Listen to a conversation with enthusiasm for science, art, and community.

In an occasionally emotional segment Tuesday morning, John invited his friend (and collaborator/boss) Dr. Colleen Iverson to discuss her enthusiasm for science, art, and community. In addition to her 'day job' as a Senior Staff Scientist atOak Ridge National Laboratory, Colleen also creates breathtaking multimedia embroidery featuring her scientific subjects, special places, and the interests of her friends and family. Their discussion ranges from the biology of root growth (why do roots sometimes die back in a healthy plant?), how Covid-19 inspired her art, and the deep meaning of a gift of wild strawberries. It's an incredible radio segment, and a written transcript won't do it justice. Please enjoy, and Colleen, we hope to hear from you again soon!

Heidi Holtan is KAXE's Director of Content and Public Affairs where she manages producers and is the local host of Morning Edition from NPR. Heidi is a regional correspondent for WDSE/WRPT's Duluth Public Television’s Almanac North.
As a mail carrier in rural Grand Rapids, Minn., for 35 years, John Latimer put his own stamp on a career that delivered more than letters. Indeed, while driving the hundred-mile round-trip daily route, he passed the time by observing and recording seasonal changes in nature, learning everything he could about the area’s weather, plants and animals, and becoming the go-to guy who could answer customers’ questions about what they were seeing in the environment.
Charlie Mitchell (she/they) joined the KAXE team in February of 2022. Charlie creates the Season Watch Newsletter, writes segment summaries for the website, and coordinates our Engaging Minnesotans with Phenology project. With a background in wildlife biology, she enjoys learning a little bit about everything, whether it's plants, mushrooms, aquatic invertebrates, or the short-tailed shrew (did you know they can echolocate?).