Amanda Gehin

Through the research project "Tritrophic interactions with Silphium integrifolium at the axis," Amanda studies arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mediation of silflower-pathogen interactions and silflower-herbivore interactions. Her graduate work, funded by The Land Institute, will also include the development of ecological interpretive materials for TLI’s Silphium Civic Science program.

Amanda’s long-term goal is to maintain an interdisciplinary practice in the interface of art and ecology for the purpose of communicating ecological concepts to the public. Prior to coming to KU, she worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation as a Native Landscape specialist at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, teaching the public about native habitats and stewarding gardens in the Outreach and Education division. She also worked for Heartland Tree Alliance, a program of the Kansas City environmental nonprofit Bridging The Gap, developing curriculum and teaching children the community benefits of trees and leading volunteer tree planting workdays. In 2018, she traveled to Longo Maï, Costa Rica, where she earned Permaculture Certification through the Permaculture Institute. Alongside her environmental work, she has continuously maintained an artistic studio practice since graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute, which has included public art projects, lectures and artist residencies.