Beginning ten years ago NC State scientists dared to go where few had gone before. They began to explore the biodiversity of belly buttons, bedrooms, backyards, showerheads and food. But they didn’t do it alone. This work required the collaboration of scientists at many other universities as well as that of thousands of non-scientists around the world who helped to take samples, to ask questions and even to think about new kinds of analyses. Now, Rob Dunn and the large team that carried out this work, are ready to report back to participants and to the public in general about what has been found.

On November 15, this work is culminating in a gala event, a kind of public, science party. To kick off the event, Rob Dunn will talk about his book Never Home Alone. The book tells the big story of the tens of thousands of species discovered in homes. It argues that, as often as not, more biodiversity in your home ends up being better than less (even, as it turns out, when it comes to your showerhead).

After the talk, more than fifty scientists who have been involved in the work will report on their own pieces of the big picture. And, of course, there will be food and drink, and live music (played, of course, by scientists, in this case MJ Epps and the thundering tardigrades). Both the food and music will be inspired by the study of the life in homes or, in some cases, even made using the life in homes. One of the realizations of the scientists studying the life in and around our homes have made is that such life is often very useful. Some of these species, for example, are useful in making beer, bread, cheese, coffee, kimchi and other foods, all of which will be available for sampling at the event.

The public event will take place on the evening of November 15th (the scientists themselves will hold a follow up meeting to plan next steps and studies on the 16th). If you are a scientist (or historian or other scholar) and would like to attend the all day meeting on the 16th send Rob an email.

If you would like to attend the event on the 15th, stay tuned. Tickets are available via Eventbrite. You must register for a free ticket to attend, even if you are a participating scientists.

This is a Quail Ridge Books event supported by North Carolina State University Libraries and the North Carolina State University Department of Applied Ecology.

Read more here.